The startup Itera has unveiled a prototype in which fixed copper traces on glass are replaced by controllable liquid metal alloys—allowing them to be rewired in the blink of an eye.
The U.S. startup “Itera” is drawing attention with a concept that may seem surprising at first glance: the “world’s first fluid circuit board.”
To achieve this, Itera relies on electro-wetting—a process in which electric fields alter the surface properties of liquids on a substrate to precisely guide liquid metal alloys and thus form the circuit traces on a board.
As Itera toldTom’s Hardware explains that this would allow engineers to physically wire the circuit ”before the coffee gets cold.”
How the technology works
Conventional printed circuit boards (PCBs) consist of copper traces on an epoxy substrate.
- Once produced, the connections are fixed; anyone wishing to test a different circuit route must have a new board manufactured.
- Depending on the complexity, this can take weeks—and therefore potentially have a massive impact on the development budget.
Iterainstead relies on a glass substrate in which liquid metal alloys function as dynamic conductive paths. Using the aforementionedelectrowettingtechnique, these paths can be reconfigured during operation—while actual electronic components remain mounted and provide genuine electrical behavior.
Itera’s model envisions engineering firms and manufacturers having their designs built and tested at secure locations in the U.S. When an engineer adjusts the layout, the metal flows into new paths; the mounted components remain in place and deliver immediately testable electrical results.
$12 million in funding – and the first reservations already in
Following its stealth exit, Itera has raised over $12 million (approximately €10.9 million) in an initial funding round. The capital is to be used to bring the first product to market readiness.
- According to Itera, this first production run has already been reserved by a “top-5 global automaker and a defense company.”
- In addition, the startup reports interest from a “leading hyperscaler and several chipset manufacturers”—though Itera does not name any specific companies.
However, it remains to be seen whether this approach will deliver in industrial practice what the stealth exit promises. There is no timeline for a product release; the official Itera website currently only offers the option to sign up for a waiting list.
