TSMC is the Taiwanese company that became the world’s largest dedicated semiconductor foundry and ranks among the richest companies by market cap.
Founded in 1987 by Morris Chang, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company pioneered the pure-play foundry model. Instead of designing and selling its own branded processors, TSMC manufactures chips designed by other companies, allowing customers to avoid building their own fabrication plants.
Its customers include major technology firms such as Apple, AMD, Nvidia, and Qualcomm. TSMC’s market value reflects both its manufacturing scale and the strategic importance of advanced chips. It is often confused with Samsung Electronics, which both designs products and operates foundries, and with Intel, historically known mainly for its own processor designs.