a new approach to supporting early stage semiconductor … · 2019. 10. 11. · ambiq micro. this...

A New Approach To Supporting Early

Stage Semiconductor Innovation

Mike Noonen

Mike NoonenInterim CEO, Ambiq Micro

This Is The Best Time Ever For Semiconductor Innovation

But Traditional Venture Investors Are Gone

$100M To Start A Semiconductor Company Is Not

Necessary Or Typical

130nm has the most design starts65nm & 45nm have yet to peak

Even Leading Edge Designs Can Be Done Frugally

• 1st 50GFLOPS/Watt processor

• 1st crowd sourced funded semiconductor company

• Total invested <$5M

What Do Startups Say They Struggle With?

Source: Silicon Catalyst 2014 Entrepreneur Survey

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90%

Design Tools

IP

Test Equipment

Prototyping

Facilities

Salaries

Legal

Silicon Catalyst Provides Tools, Prototyping, Lab Space

So Early Stage Startups Can Get To Work

A Consortium of Industry Leaders

Eliminates Need To Raise Seed Capital

• Founders can get to work building a team & executing

• Founders retain more equity

• Follow-on cash goes to innovation , not table stakes

• Start-up is more “fund-worthy”

Silicon Catalyst’s 1st Location

San Jose

Opportunity To Get Involved

Thank You