ChipStart UK Startups Gaining Momentum as Programme Graduates 3rd Cohort and Launches 4th Cohort with Government Backing

LONDON, 19th March 2026 - ChipStart UK launched its fourth cohort of semiconductor startups at The Royal Institution, with Minister Kanishka Narayan MP from the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) delivering a video keynote to a registered audience of more than 200 industry delegates, including over 30 venture capital hardtech investors.

Across its first three cohorts, ChipStart UK alumni companies have now raised close to $100M in equity funding. Eleven new companies were selected from 42 applications to join the fourth cohort of the fully-funded, 12-month incubation programme, with applications up more than 50% and event attendance up 30% year-on-year.

Minister Narayan, who has spent a decade on the front line of technology investment across the UK and beyond, outlined the government’s commitment to the UK’s semiconductor ecosystem. DSIT is backing the sector with a £100M Advanced Market Commitment to purchase products from novel and promising UK chip companies, alongside over £6.5M to uplift university research infrastructure across the country.

Outlining the government's broader ambition for UK technology entrepreneurship, the Minister said: “At the heart of this change is embracing a culture that prizes innovation, that says to entrepreneurs that their success is our national success, that their companies are our national champions when they create jobs and invest in frontier innovation here.” He described ChipStart UK as an important part of that shift, adding: “ChipStart is about giving startups the best possible chance to succeed, the tools to take those risks.”

Moshe Gavrielov, former CEO of Xilinx and current board member of TSMC, NXP Semiconductors and Cadence Design Systems, delivered a keynote on where the industry is heading: custom silicon making a comeback, AI cutting design costs by 30-80%, and power efficiency becoming the defining challenge of the age.

Gavrielov later joined Jalal Bagherli CBE and Rodolfo Rosini on an expert panel chaired by Nitin Dahad, editor-in-chief of EE Times, to explore whether the semiconductor industry's future lies solely in AI or in a much broader set of opportunities.  The consensus which emerged was that the industry focuses solely on AI at its peril.

The ChipStart UK programme is led by Sean Redmond, Russell Haggar and Ross Addinall of Silicon Catalyst.UK.

Russell Haggar, Managing Partner of Silicon Catalyst.UK,  commented:

“It is so exciting to see the ChipStart UK programme growing so strongly.  We are starting to see a renaissance of strong semiconductor startups in the UK, building on the talent and experience of our industry, and the innovation of our research base. Our graduating cohort of 12 fantastic startups did themselves proud in presenting at such a prestigious venue for science and innovation.  They have been a real pleasure to work with over the past twelve months, and it has been so rewarding to watch them develop.  We are now looking forward to start working with our next group of ambitious startups, equipping them with the tools and experience needed to fulfill their goals.”

Cohort #4: The Eleven Companies

Eleven companies were selected to join the programme, spanning quantum computing, photonics, AI processing, biosensing, satellite communications, and biotech manufacturing. Nearly half of the eleven companies are founded or co-founded by women.

• Asentas Quantum Systems — Utilising atomically precise manufacturing to create a scalable, modular, quantum processor with all-to-all connectivity and full error correction in silicon, to provide the ultimate computation power.

• Altro Photonics — Building an integrated photonic platform that combines best-in-class materials onto a single chip to cut power, complexity, and cost for AI data centre infrastructure, with a path into computing applications.

• Analogue Opto — Developing integrated technologies that solve the memory scalability challenge in AI infrastructure. By combining high-speed mixed-signal electronics with advanced photonic integration, the company enables disaggregated, high-bandwidth memory architectures — the foundation for the next generation of agentic AI systems.

• Atlas Processing — Building the infrastructure for AI at scale, combining memory and computation into a fabric that eliminates GPU idle time and enables AI systems to continuously share, reuse, and build upon knowledge at the speed and scale of modern AI, purpose-built for hyperscaler deployment.

• Compound Hound — Developing a broad-spectrum, solid-state electronic nose that reads 280+ volatile compounds and distinguishes closely related compounds that portable alternatives struggle to tell apart, with an initial focus on food supply chain spoilage monitoring.

• Nibras Communications — A UCL spin-out developing photonic chip-enabled, ultra-low-noise signal generators for satellite and 6G communications, covering 1–300 GHz from a single module, providing a solution enabling superior noise performance, faster and more resilient connectivity.

• Orbicom — Developing a new class of qubits that removes a major obstacle to scalable quantum computing: the need for large magnetic fields and complex control hardware.

• Qascade — Developing ultra-fast, energy-efficient photonic communication hardware based on advanced interconnect architectures. Its systems enable high-performance AI and datacom while accelerating emerging hybrid quantum-computing platforms.

• RobQuant — Developing a solid-state quantum magnetometer for measuring the magnetic fields produced by neural activity, enabling next-generation magnetoencephalography (MEG). Its patent-pending technology enables high-sensitivity, room-temperature, on-chip brain monitoring without external magnetic shielding.

• Skoosh — Building the measurement layer for the future of biomanufacturing, with proprietary sensing technology delivering rapid, quantitative insight into living cells at-line and ultimately in-line, enabling automated, closed-loop processes and scalable bio-derived products.

• TrackStar — Building a chip-scale gaze-tracking module for smart glasses, delivering sub-degree accuracy with a fraction of the size, power and data volume of camera-based eye tracking, while integrating across a wide range of frame styles.

Cohort #3 Graduation

The event celebrated the graduation of Cohort #3: Smith Displays, Prospectral, SiDesign Works, Ethicronics, Chipletti, Rayd Technologies, RX Watt, quadrAI, Quantopticon, Kāhu SiliconBio, Xen Quantum and Kelvin Quantum.

Previous graduate Wave Photonics from ChipStart UK’s first cohort also presented at the event.  A large number of graduates from the first three cohorts attended the event in the audience.

About ChipStart UK

ChipStart UK is the UK’s leading semiconductor startup incubator, delivered by Silicon Catalyst.UK. The programme has supported 33 companies across its first three cohorts, with alumni raising close to $100M in equity funding to date. It is a fully funded programme from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. It is provided free to participating companies.

TechWorks and SiliconCatalyst.UK Announce Collaboration

Companies will jointly work to accelerate early-stage semiconductor start-ups across the UK and Europe

September 26, 2025, London, England and Silicon Valley, California - Silicon Catalyst, the world’s only incubator and accelerator focused on the global semiconductor industry, is pleased to announce a collaboration agreement with TechWorks, the UK's semiconductor and deep tech industry association. The two companies will work to strengthen support for UK- and EU-based start-ups and accelerate their journey to becoming global scale-ups, in alignment with the goals of the ChipStart UK and ChipStart EU programs.

The UK has a long and accomplished history in semiconductor research, design, manufacturing, and innovation. Today, start-ups are a critical driver of that innovation, contributing significantly to the sector's prosperity and global relevance. SiliconCatalyst.UK delivers the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology funded early-stage semiconductor start up incubator ChipStart UK. It also accelerates seed-stage semiconductor startups to series-A investment with its 2-year commercial Silicon Catalyst programme. Having now launched ChipStart EU from their Silicon Catalyst EU Ltd company in Malta, funded by Chips Joint Undertaking and Malta Enterprise, they now have a portfolio exceeding 50 start-ups across Europe.

By aligning Silicon Catalyst's incubation and acceleration expertise with TechWorks' membership base of established industry leaders, the agreement aims to create fertile conditions for semiconductor start-ups to progress from innovative prototypes into large-scale industrial deployment.

Charles Sturman, CEO of TechWorks, commented, "The UK and Europe have both the talent and innovations to create a new generation of billion-dollar semiconductor companies. This agreement with Silicon Catalyst brings together the best of start-up incubation with the strength of our industrial networks, creating a powerful pathway from concept to commercial scale. Together, we are building the conditions for long-term success in the global semiconductor market."

Under the agreement, Silicon Catalyst will become a member of TechWorks, strengthening collaboration across their ecosystems and the joint activities will include:

- Promotion opportunities for startups: Eligible Chip Start Portfolio Companies will be given the opportunity to exhibit at flagship TechWorks events, helping showcase UK and EU start-up talent.

- Ecosystem collaboration: The parties will work together to encourage collaboration and support partnerships between start-ups and established companies, enabling cross-fertilisation of innovation across semiconductor systems and vertical market sectors.

Sean Redmond, President of SiliconCatalyst.EU, added “This collaboration reflects a shared Common Vision: to create the conditions necessary to release the next generation of transformative semiconductor companies in Europe. By combining the innovation of start-ups with the reach of established industry networks, TechWorks and SiliconCatalyst.UK and SiliconCatalyst.EU are working to strengthen the UK and Europe's position in the global semiconductor ecosystem.”

About TechWorks

TechWorks is the UK industry association for deep tech and semiconductors. Established in 1996, we operate a series of events, networking and collaboration hubs. Our 300+ members work across five domain-focused communities to address shared opportunities and challenges, creating vision and scale, and driving business growth to ensure the UK realizes its full potential. We also work closely with government bodies and international partners to align shared interests and objectives. Our collaboration networks cover: Microelectronic and Photonic system design, Semiconductor manufacturing, Automotive electronics, IoT Cybersecurity, AI and Power Electronics.

More information is available at: techworks.org.uk

Press Release - 24th September 2025

SiliconCatalyst.UK Showcases ChipStart Companies at Microelectronics UK

Britain's semiconductor startup ecosystem took centre stage as SiliconCatalyst.UK showcased its ChipStart UK programme achievements at the inaugural Microelectronics UK conference at Excel London.

The two-day event on 24-25 September brought together over 4,000 professionals from across the semiconductor value chain, providing SiliconCatalyst.UK with a platform to demonstrate how targeted incubation transforms innovation into investable companies. Opening proceedings, Kanishka Narayan MP, Under-Secretary of State for AI, Online Safety and Semiconductors, announced a £10 million Innovate UK fund for semiconductor businesses, underlining the government's commitment to growing the UK's £10 billion semiconductor sector by 2030.

"We are delighted with the success of our UK semiconductor startup showcase. Leaving standing room only during the many compelling pitch sessions, the global semiconductor audience applauded the market winning companies on stage" Sean Redmond, President of SiliconCatalyst.UK and SiliconCatalyst.EU, speaking at the event.

The Startup Launchpad stage featured rapid-fire pitches from ChipStart UK companies. MintNeuro showcased neural implant technology for treating Parkinson's disease, while Wave Photonics demonstrated tools that simplify photonic chip design - using light instead of electricity for faster, more efficient processing.

“It was great to be able to showcase our innovation in front of industry leaders within the UK Semiconductor and Photonics ecosystem.” said Gwen Wyatt-Moon, CEO of Prospectral (ChipStart UK Cohort #3 company).

ChipStart UK operates at zero cost to participating startups and takes no equity, funded entirely by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. Startups receive free Electronic Design Automation tools, complimentary prototype fabrication at leading foundries, and mentorship from over 350 industry advisors including Arm co-founders.

With more than 30 UK semiconductor executives upskilled through intensive monthly training sessions, and with a third cohort now underway, SiliconCatalyst.UK is establishing a sustainable pipeline of semiconductor talent and innovation.

"Seeing our fledgling companies stand up in front of the entire industry and deliver their pitches in such an accomplished manner was actually really inspiring. We have such fantastic talent in the UK, and it’s a real privilege to work with them on our programme.” Russell Haggar, Managing Director at ChipStart UK Programme, SiliconCatalyst.UK.

If you’re building innovations in semiconductors, photonics, sensing or embedded systems, register your interest with ChipStart UK. If you’re an investor or industry partner, contact us to learn how we can help your portfolio or business lines accelerate.

Government scheme helps UK chip start-ups raise £10 million: From new fertility treatments to improving the efficiency of AI, British semiconductor innovators are reshaping global technology

Backing for firms will make chips to help phone batteries last longer, and train AI models with less energy.

• Second round of companies to receive support also announced, including chip designers to make more efficient AI systems, and make wearable hormone monitoring patches for fertility treatment.

• Government-backed chip support service helped semiconductor start-ups close over £10 million of funding from private investors and grants, with a total of nearly £20 million in commitments.

Eleven semiconductor start-ups working on chips that make AI more efficient and create new lifesaving healthcare tech have joined a government-backed support service to help turn their research into business realities.

Semiconductor chips are fundamental to the technology that we interact with daily, underpinning everything from smartphones to AI and advanced medical devices.

The companies will be the second group to go through ChipStart, an incubator programme launched in October 2023 with £1.3 million of backing to nurture a new generation of chip designers and crowd in investment totalling nearly £20 million in commitments from private investment and grants to help drive economic growth. 

POM Health is among the companies joining the second round of the programme. It is pioneering the use of semiconductors to create a wearable patch for continuous hormone monitoring. This technology could transform healthcare by enhancing fertility treatments, offering women precise, real-time insights into their hormonal health.

HeronIC, another new joiner to the programme, has developed a software design tool that quickly creates custom chips for AI applications, boosting their energy efficiency and increasing performance for complex tasks.

Minister for Science, Patrick Vallance said:

"Innovation in semiconductors can underpin technological advancements in every field, from AI to consumer devices and healthtech. British researchers across the country are leading in R&D in this essential field and the support we are delivering through ChipStart is helping their ideas become reality.

“As well as the commercial success of the first cohort, the innovations ChipStart is supporting could help to change lives, from helping to develop new fertility treatments to optimising AI and extending the battery life of devices we use every day. We are making sure British science leadership converts to help address critical global challenges and drive economic growth.”

Following a first round that saw participants close over £10 million of funding from private investors and grants, with a total of nearly £20 million in commitments being finalised, ChipStart will continue to provide these early-stage semiconductor companies with:

• Access to commercial design capability: Including the full Silicon Catalyst ecosystem, design tools, IP, and prototyping capability.

• Commercial expertise and mentorship: Startups receive guidance from experienced semiconductor industry executives and connections to Silicon Catalyst’s global network.

• Exposure to private capital: Access to over 270 Silicon Catalyst advisors, Strategic Partners, and an extensive network of investment groups.

On completion, the pilot will provide the UK’s semiconductor industry with a pipeline of new startups that have an innovative product, route to market, and are a foundation for future growth, including routes to future seed funding.

Sean Redmond, Managing Partner, Silicon Catalyst UK said:

"ChipStart UK is leveraging the UK’s position as a global centre of semiconductor research to transform academic innovations into market-ready technologies.

“Nine of the eleven firms in the next group come from UK universities and are set to build on the success of the first cohort, which secured a strong position in the international semiconductor supply chain through private funding and global partnerships. After nine months of rigorous training, ChipStart has created over thirty new UK semiconductor executives, ready to scale their businesses towards global success."

Dorian Haci, CEO and Co-Founder of MintNeuro:

“The ChipStart UK programme, along with the Silicon Catalyst ecosystem, has equipped MintNeuro with essential design and manufacturing tools and a network of semiconductor-focused mentors and advisors, crucial for our go-to-market strategy. 

“Since joining the programme, we have secured additional funding and formed key partnerships. These developments accelerate the commercialisation of our pioneering neural implant technologies, aimed at improving the lives of millions suffering from neurological conditions.”

After receiving this support over the last year, Vaire Computing raised $4.5m to develop their revolutionary chips that use nearly no power at all. This innovation in energy efficiency has the potential to significantly extend smartphone batter life. With Vaire’s semiconductors, smartphones could soon only need charging once a month. 

Another cohort member, Wave Photonics, closed an early funding round at £4.5m for their tool which simplifies the design of highly complex photonic chips, chips that use light instead of electricity, meaning they operate at much faster speeds and use much less power. This technology could transform a wide range of industries by enabling faster, more energy-efficient communications, improving diagnostic capabilities in healthcare, and enhancing data processing in everything from data centres to autonomous vehicles.

Rodolfo Rosini, cofounder and CEO, Vaire Computing said:

“As any founder will tell you, building a company in one of the most dynamic technology industries requires a tremendous amount of grit, ingenuity and support.

“The networking opportunities provided by the Silicon Catalyst.UK ChipStart programme enabled us to execute on our vision and helped to set our company on a trajectory for long-term success. I strongly believe that expanding the program’s role in the near term would be extremely beneficial for the UK chip industry.”

James Lee, CEO, Wave Photonics said:

“Having raised funding during the programme, Wave Photonics is now deploying its technology to enable an explosion of integrated photonics applications beyond datacoms, including biosensing and quantum computing.

“The ChipStart programme, run by semiconductor industry experts from Silicon Catalyst UK, helped us to learn from the development of the semiconductor industry and apply these lessons to the young, but growing, integrated photonics industry. The individual mentors and in-kind partnerships gave us easy access to expertise and tooling that would be difficult to find elsewhere.”

Press Release - 27th March 2025

ChipStart UK Cohort #2 Graduates, and Cohort #3 Unveiled, at the Royal Institution

Key points:

●     ChipStart UK Cohort #2 graduated on 27 March 2025 at the Royal Institution, London

●     First two ChipStart UK cohorts have collectively raised £45m+ in private investment

●     Programme extended from 9 to 12 months for Cohort #3

Britain’s semiconductor founders gathered at the historic Royal Institution on 27 March 2025 as SiliconCatalyst.UK marked a dual milestone: graduating ChipStart UK Cohort #2 whilst unveiling the third cohort, which will benefit from an extended 12-month programme.

Sean Redmond, Managing Partner of SiliconCatalyst.UK, captured the occasion’s significance: “The ChipStart UK early-stage semiconductor incubator programme, funded by the Department for Science Innovation and Technology and delivered by SiliconCatalyst.UK, has been an outstanding success. The first two graduated cohorts of over 20 early-stage semiconductor startup companies have collectively raised over £45 million in private VC and Angel funding investment. VC’s are the professionals that pick winners. The fact that 9 of the 11 startups in the first Cohort have closed their seed investment rounds is a vote of confidence into the ChipStart incubator programme.

Central to this success is ChipStart’s comprehensive support structure. The programme provides zero-equity, fully funded access to EDA tools and product prototyping run through the Silicon Catalyst ecosystem, designed to de-risk first silicon and accelerate commercial traction.

Tudor Brown, Arm’s former president and co-founder, delivered unvarnished advice to the entrepreneurs from both cohorts during his keynote speech. He challenged the entrepreneurs to think beyond quick exits. “Don’t worry about your exit strategy, build for the long term”. He added: “It took seven years for Arm to get appreciable revenue. There’s no quick fix in this business”. His insights on business models, capital discipline and strategic hiring resonated with founders at every stage.

Programme alumni and industry leaders added practical perspectives. James Lewis, CEO of RED Semiconductor and ChipStart UK Cohort #1 graduate, detailed how the programme accelerated his company's development, whilst a panel chaired by Neil Parris of Arm brought together founders Steinn Gustaffson (Chevin Technology), Tanya Mangoma (HyperCIM), and Martin Macdonald (weeteq) to discuss the unique challenges of scaling UK semiconductor startups beyond seed funding.

The event showcased pitches from all the graduating Cohort #2 companies including Visionchip (edge AI vision processing), Metahelios (revolutionary camera sensors), PhovIR (photonics), Qontrol (quantum), and Chevin Technology, who delivered rapid-fire pitches demonstrating their progression from concept to commercial traction.

Looking ahead, the newly unveiled ChipStart UK Cohort #3 (comprising Chipletti, Ethicronics, Kelvin Quantum, Kahu SiliconBio, Prospectral, quadrAI, Quantopticon, Rayd Technologies, RxWatt, SiDesign Works, Smith Optical, Xen Quantum) now has a clear benchmark set by their predecessors.

As Cohort #3 prepares to embark on their own twelve-month incubation journey, ChipStart UK continues to demonstrate how the right combination of mentorship, resources and ecosystem access can transform Britain's semiconductor innovations into commercial successes.

SiliconCatalyst.UK Announces Second Cohort Applications

London, UK – February 22nd, 2024 – SiliconCatalyst.UK, the UK arm of the world's only incubator focused exclusively on accelerating semiconductor solutions, is pleased to announce that the ChipStart UK incubator for early-stage UK semiconductor startups is now open for its next round of applications. ChipStart UK is backed by the UK Government to provide early-stage semiconductor companies with the technical and commercial help they need to help bring new products to market. Following on from the successful first cohort launch in 2023, the second cohort of selected startup companies will start their nine-month incubation on June 1st 2024.

The £1.3m programme is delivered by SiliconCatalyst.UK, a wholly owned subsidiary of Silicon Catalyst LLC, the world’s most experienced start-up accelerator, who have engaged globally with hundreds of entrepreneurial teams targeting the semiconductor industry. The first cohort of eleven semiconductor startups are currently halfway through their nine-month incubation, gaining access to bespoke chip design tools, commercial expertise and specialised mentorship from semiconductor industry veterans, and networking opportunities with prospective investors and commercial partners.

Minister Saqib Bhatti, Minister for Tech and Digital Economy said:

“Semiconductors underpin our economy, national security and modern way of life, and are vital to our position as a science and tech superpower. That’s why our ambitious £1bn Semiconductor Strategy is designed to grow our semiconductor sector, secure our supply chains and protect national security. SiliconCatalyst.UK is helping us to deliver exactly that. Since launching the world’s first and only incubator for semiconductor design start-ups, they have helped UK firms attract close to £7m of additional investment, creating high-value jobs and training the next generation of UK chip business leaders.”

Semiconductor startup applicants accepted into the ChipStart UK incubator will get access to electronic design tools, design IP functional blocks, semiconductor foundry prototyping, packaging and test capabilities, at either no cost or significantly discounted, through the Silicon Catalyst ecosystem. Each ChipStart UK startup is assigned a dedicated Mentor, selected from the Silicon Catalyst advisor base for their relevance to the startup, who will work with the startup over the nine-month incubation period. The Mentors will help guide the startup teams through the semiconductor industry-specific training, held 3 times per month, and then help workshop these learnings to their startup’s specific needs. The intensive and valuable training is geared to create the next generation of semiconductor business leaders for the UK.

“The first call for ChipStart UK applications last year attracted 27 high quality semiconductor startups from across the UK. To be eligible they must have raised less than £1m of private funding. We are now reaching deep into the UK semiconductor research and innovation base for the second cohort”, said Sean Redmond, Managing Partner of Silicon Catalyst UK Ltd, “The chosen few will have a fast track to success into the global semiconductor supply chain”. Applications are now being accepted with the on-line form here. The application deadline is midnight April 19th, 2024.

Testament to the success of the programme are the glowing remarks from these ChipStart UK companies in Cohort #1:

Dorian Haci, CEO and co-founder of MintNeuro (a spin-out from Imperial College, London) says, “access to multiple licenses of Electronic Design Automation tools at no cost and free prototype runs with TSMC, the leading foundry in the world, is accelerating our go to market plan. The training, advice and support from some of the best semiconductor experts in the world today is significantly mitigating our risks to deliver our high quality implantable medical devices for neural stimulation of the brain much faster than we thought possible. This fully funded UK Government ChipStart UK incubation, delivered by SiliconCatalyst.UK, is providing a clear path to our initial seed investment. It is providing demonstrable risk reduction in every aspect of our business plan.”

Vaire is the first chip company in the world to deliver on the promise of near zero energy AI compute. “We have made connections into the global semiconductor industry that would have been near impossible without the help of SiliconCatalyst.UK delivering this fantastic ChipStart UK incubation programme”, said Rodolfo Rosini, CEO and co-founder.

Helen Duncan, Chief Marketing Officer, for BlueShift Memory said “The training and advice we have received from the Silicon Catalyst ecosystem has helped us sharpen our value proposition and go to market strategy. Putting us on the ChipStart UK stage has enabled us to attract the right investors at the right time, and we believe it has provided a springboard for our future success.”

Tanya Mangoma, CEO and founder of HyperCIM said “to have a founder of Arm, Jamie Urquhart, as our ChipStart UK personal Mentor is gold dust. We are absolutely delighted to be one of the chosen few to be allowed to drink from the fire hydrant of global semiconductor opportunity that SiliconCatalyst.UK is pouring into us with this fabulous fully UK Government funded incubator”.

James Lewis, CEO of RED Semiconductor, said “winning a coveted place on the ChipStart UK semiconductor startup incubator delivered by SiliconCatalyst.UK has been pivotal for our go to market strategy. The semiconductor industry specific deep dive training has refined our business plan. The global market leading customers and partner opportunities that Silicon Catalyst has delivered to us are game changing.”

“The Silicon Catalyst ecosystem delivered through the superb ChipStart UK semiconductor startup incubator has been of immense support during our spin-out process from Edinburgh University,” said CEO and co-founder of Singular Photonics, Shahida Imani. “Their In-Kind Partners have provided free EDA tools and access to advanced TSMC foundry runs. Their advisers have built mutual respect and trust up and down the supply chains that we need to build our business in, and their deep knowledge and advice has been seminal to attract our first pre-seed investment.”

Silicon Catalyst at Global Semiconductor Alliance’s 2024 International Semiconductor Conference in London

Silicon Catalyst sponsored the GSA International Conference held in London on March 13th and 14th. This was the first time an international semiconductor conference was held in the UK for close to a decade.

Having reinvigorated the appetite for semiconductor startups in the UK, our regional Silicon Catalyst events have been regularly attracting over 100 attendees. The ChipStart UK launch in October ’23 hosted 150 attendees. The GSA ambition was to reach an audience of 250. With less than a month to the event, the registration had not exceeded 40. Using our Silicon Catalyst branding with a doppalganger Lord Kitchener, we projected the message that your UK semiconductor industry needs you to get involved in this international debate about the future path of global semiconductors. With this call to action, we successfully accelerated registrations to well above the required target with the final number being 320 tickets.

The compelling content of the conference was kicked off with a GSA Women Leadership Initiative session addressed by their wonderful CEO Jodie Shelton. Our very own Maria Cristina Borelli is actively involved in this brilliant initiative representing Silicon Catalyst in Europe. A powerful keynote address was delivered by Francoise Chombar, founder and Chairwoman of one of Europe’s up and coming semiconductor companies, Melexis.

Silicon Catalyst featured prominently in the two-day agenda, with our Strategic Partner, Arm, launching the joint semiconductor startup competition that we are running together for the second year in a row. The lucky winner will receive $250k of Arm credits plus unique networking opportunities and significant marketing exposure.

Our co-founder and board member, Dan Armbrust chaired a thoughtful and well-informed panel discussion on semiconductor policy interventions from the US Chips Act and comparing and contrasting strategies from the EU Chips Act and UK semiconductor strategy.

The final afternoon of the second day was devoted entirely to semiconductor startups.

Our UK Managing Partner, Sean Redmond introduced the ever-growing Silicon Catalyst ecosystem to lead into a showcase of SiliconCatalyst.UK early stage semiconductor startups from the 9 month UK Government funded ChipStart UK incubator. Each startup projected their value for 5 minutes in fast succession, convincingly and professionally making their case for seed investment.

 Incubator Press Release

HELPING PARKINSONS PATIENTS AND OPTIMISING AI – MEET THE UK CHIP START-UPS CHANGING THE FUTURE

Eleven semiconductor design start-ups have joined government-backed incubator – ChipStart UK – launched through the National Semiconductor Strategy.

Two-year programme will give companies support to get innovative semiconductors to the global market.

The cohort are working to design chips that are better for brain implants, can improve online user security through transformative quantum computing, and that will reduce the computing resource and energy needed to train AI models.

British start-ups solving some of the world’s most complex issues through the design of semiconductor chips have today (Thursday 12 October) been named as members of a new government-backed incubator that will provide support as they grow to become future global chip leaders.

Companies chosen for the pilot are already innovating in a range of exciting areas, including developing chips for brain implants that will address debilitating conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, groundbreaking chips that could boost the capability and efficiency of AI and new ways of reducing vast energy use in data centres across the world, helping to tackle climate change.

ChipStart UK is a two-year pilot programme backed by the Government that will provide early-stage companies involved in the design of semiconductors with the technical and commercial help they need to help bring new products to market.

The £1.3m programme will be delivered by SiliconCatalyst.UK, the world’s most experienced start-up accelerator, which has engaged with hundreds of chip companies on scaling up and growing. It will give companies access to bespoke chip design tools, commercial expertise, specialised mentorship, and networking opportunities with prospective investors and partners.

Minister for Technology Paul Scully said:

“Semiconductors are the bedrock of our modern economy and an increasingly integral part of our lives. These firms are building on Britain’s research leadership to open doors to innovation and growth, while designing chips that could truly change the way we live our lives.

“Whether they’re innovating how we support patients with Parkinsons or are on the cusp of supercharging how AI is used, these firms are the brightest sparks in the UK’s thriving semiconductor industry. This incubator will make sure they have the skills they need to revolutionise the lives of people not only in the UK, but across the world.”

Among the companies that have been announced as joining the pilot today are MintNeuro, which is pioneering the use of semiconductor technology to support patients with neurological conditions by developing physical neural implants that can reduce the need for surgery.

Mignon and Vaire Computing have also joined the pilot, both design hardware that is built to run large-scale AI models using more efficient chips – allowing AI models to use less energy and computer resource, leading to more efficient training and research.

SiliconCatalyst.UK CEO Sean Redmond said:

"This is one of the most exciting times to start and grow a globally successful semiconductor company from the UK. The first group of 11 UK semiconductor startups to enter ChipStart UK incubator have been selected from 27 applications following two rounds of intensive panel interviews made up of semiconductor startup experts from the UK and Silicon Valley. Over the next 9 months we will shape and mould these outstanding new innovative companies into the next generation of semiconductor leaders."

The UK’s established, world-leading capability in semiconductor design is at the heart of the programme, with five of the firms initially founded as ‘spinouts’ from the UK’s leading universities, and two more originating from research carried out at Oxford and Cambridge universities.

The launch of the pilot delivers on a key commitment made in the National Semiconductor Strategy. On completion, the pilot will provide the UK’s semiconductor industry with a pipeline of new startups that have an innovative product, route to market and are a foundation for their forward growth, including routes to future seed funding.

The pilot is a clear example of the Government’s commitment to working in partnership with the semiconductor industry to support the competitiveness of UK businesses, and to achieve the wider goals of the National Semiconductor Strategy by growing the UK sector through building on our strengths.

The programme will run two consecutive cohorts and end in March 2025. Start-ups that have been chosen will be provided with:

• Access to, and support for, commercial design capability. This includes the full Silicon Catalyst ecosystem, access to design tools, IP, and prototyping capability.

• Commercial expertise and bespoke mentorship. Startups will be mentored by experienced semiconductor industry executives and connected into Silicon Catalyst’s global network.

• Exposure to private capital. Participant companies will also have access to the 270+ Silicon Catalyst advisors, Strategic Partners, and an extensive network of investment groups.

 News Release

Chip Innovators Join Forces with Government to Steer Future of UK Semiconductor Sector

Government forms expert semiconductor panel with leading names working together to boost UK semiconductor sector and grow the economy

Group will harness domestic semiconductor strengths, ensure secure supply of chips, and protect national security

Start-up incubator also launched to give innovators the resources and support needed to grow into tomorrow’s chip champions

From: Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and Paul Scully MP

Published 3 August 2023

Experts working at semiconductor titans such as Arm, IQE and PragmatIC will meet with Technology Minister Paul Scully today (Thursday 3th August) at Imperial College London, as part of the first meeting of the Semiconductor Advisory Panel.

With industry and government working hand in hand to deliver the National Semiconductor Strategy, it offers a twenty-year vision for the sector around three key goals: growing the domestic semiconductor sector, mitigating the risk of supply chain disruptions and protecting national security.

Semiconductors are an essential component of almost every electronic device we use, and as a result are vitally important for the modern world we live in. From phones and computers to ventilators and power stations, nearly every piece of technology in the world depends on them.

The panel will be made up of ten experts from across the semiconductor sector, with representatives from business and technology, alongside experts in venture capital, skills and research.

This includes Richard Grisenthwaite, Chief Architect at Arm, the British-headquartered semiconductor firm that has designed billions of the world’s chips, and Americo Lemos, CEO of IQE, a leading British advanced semiconductor manufacturer. The panel will also include Dr Eben Upton, CEO of the Raspberry Pi Foundation, a UK charity ensuring wider access to technology through the development of ultra-low cost computers.

Co-chaired by Technology Minister Paul Scully and renowned industry veteran and former Chief Executive of Dialog Semiconductor Dr Jalal Bagherli, the panel will provide the Government with advice and feedback on how it can support companies involved in the delivery of semiconductor products and ensure critical British industries have safe and steady access to the chips they need to drive innovation and grow the economy.

Future meetings will focus on how to nurture skills, improving access to finance, and developing stronger international collaboration, setting out how industry can work directly with Government to achieve these goals.

Technology Minister Paul Scully said:

“Properly engaging and listening to the experts at the heart of researching, designing and producing semiconductors is essential if we’re serious about growing our domestic sector, protecting our national security, and unleashing rapid innovation across the British economy.

“The Semiconductor Advisory Panel serves as the perfect way for industry and Government to work together closely on this critical industry so that we can deliver on our Semiconductor Strategy.”

In addition to the two co-chairs, the Semiconductor Advisory Panel includes:

• Amelia Armour - Partner, Amadeus Capital Partners

• Janet Collyer - Senior Independent Director at EnSilica, Independent NED at the UK Aerospace Technology, Chair of the Board at Quantum Dice and at Machine Discovery

• Prof. John Goodenough - Chair in Microelectronic Systems, University of Sheffield

• Richard Grisenthwaite - Executive VP & Chief Architect, Arm

• Rae Hyndman - Managing Director, Clas-SiC Wafer Fab

• Americo Lemos - CEO, IQE

• Dr. Andy Sellars - Strategic Development Director, Compound Semiconductor Applications Catapult

• Dr. Eben Upton - CEO, Raspberry Pi

• Scott White - Executive Director, Pragmatic

Co-chair Dr Jalal Bagherli said:

“I am thrilled to be a member and co-chair of the upcoming UK Semiconductor panel, which presents a remarkable opportunity to bridge the gap between industrial executives, academia and national government. Each member brings a unique perspective and expertise, making it an ideal platform to collaborate with national government in shaping an effective policy for our industrial sector.”

The panel will meet every two months from now, agreeing key actions for both industry and government to take to further the sector. While the panel is a small, focused group of leading industry figures, it will engage broadly across the sector and government will continue to speak to a wide range of players across the UK semiconductor industry. 

Richard Grisenthwaite, EVP and Chief Architect, Arm, said:

“The UK is home to a thriving technology ecosystem and Arm is proud to have its headquarters in Cambridge, as we continue our work to enhance every walk of life with Arm technology.

“I look forward to serving on the Semiconductor Advisory Panel to ensure the UK has a strong place in the extraordinarily globalised semiconductor industry. We will focus on developing the UK's already considerable strengths, while working with like-minded nations to ensure resilient supply chains.”

The Government has also today announced details of the UK’s first semiconductor design incubator, which will give early-stage semiconductor companies in the UK technical and business support they need to bring new products to the market.

The pilot scheme will be run by SiliconCatalyst.UK, an experienced start-up accelerator, and will nurture semiconductor start-ups from across the UK through an extensive nine-month incubator programme.

Applications for companies wishing to join the first cohort of the nine-month incubator process (starting in the first week of October) can be made now on the SiliconCatalyst.UK website and will close on 15th September 2023.

Sean Redmond of Silicon Catalyst Named TechWorks 2022 Award Recipient

RECOGNITION FOR SUPPORT OF THE UK DEEP TECH STARTUP COMMUNITY

Sean Redmond, Silicon Catalyst.UK Managing Partner, has been awarded the highest accolade in the UK Deep Tech Industry - The Techworks Contribution to Industry Award. This award celebrates the UK Deep Tech industry's best of the best. Previous winners include legends of the UK Semiconductor industry, Sir Hossein Yassaie, CEO of Imagination Technologies and Jamie Urquhart co-founder of Arm.

John Moor, COO of Techworks reflected "I've lost track of all the things Sean has done to support the semiconductor industry in the UK over the years and I am honoured to have worked with him on a few of them." As Sean was in Silicon Valley for the Silicon Catalyst Portfolio Company update when the awards event was held, Richard Ord, who along with Russell Haggar, both Silicon Catalyst advisors, received the award on Sean's behalf saying "I can't think of a more worthy winner. Well deserved credit for pulling up trees in the UK semiconductor industry."

Receiving the award, Sean Redmond said "I am truly honoured to receive the Techworks Contribution to Industry award. Unfortunately, this year I had to be in Silicon Valley to attend our Silicon Catalyst Portfolio Company update meeting, so could not be there in person to receive it. I am overjoyed to receive this honour with deep gratitude and great humility. It is more a recognition of our European Silicon Catalyst Advisor team, our Strategic Partners, especially Arm with their hugely generous Arm Flexible Access program and our In-Kind Partners. Our advisors have such great depth and breadth and it is they that should be receiving this contribution to our industry award."

"We are honored that our Managing Partner in the UK should be the recipient of such a prestigious award. Well done Sean," said Pete Rodriguez, CEO of Silicon Catalyst. 

Techworks Award Video

SiliconCatalyst.UK and the National Microelectronics Institute (NMI) launch initiative for Semiconductor Start-ups

THE GOAL: TO MAKE THE UK AN EPICENTER OF SEMICONDUCTOR START-UP INNOVATION

Glasgow, UK and Santa Clara, California – SiliconCatalyst.UK (Silicon Catalyst) and the National Microelectronics Institute (NMI) have signed an agreement to collaborate to make the UK a leader in semiconductor start-up innovation in the next five years.

Silicon Catalyst.UK and the NMI have a common interest in helping to create the right conditions in which aspiring UK semiconductor start-ups can become global scale-ups:

• Silicon Catalyst.UK’s parent company, Silicon Catalyst, is the world’s only incubator focused exclusively on accelerating solutions in silicon with a mission to help semiconductor hardware start-ups succeed.

• NMI is the home and voice of the UK semiconductor industry and has successfully supported the domestic eco-system since it was established in 1996.

Silicon Catalyst has created a network that lowers the capital expenses associated with the design and fabrication of silicon-based IC’s, sensors, and MEMS devices by providing advanced design tools and services from a comprehensive network of In-Kind Partners (IKPs). Its Portfolio Companies utilize IKP tools and services including design tools, simulation software, design services, foundry PDK access and MPW runs, test program development, tester access, and banking and legal services. In addition, an advisory network totaling some 200 seasoned semiconductor veterans provide startups with invaluable guidance as they progress from PowerPoint to product. SiliconCatalyst.UK is actively seeking to engage with local VC’s and Angel groups in an effort to put its startups on a path to funding.

NMI has international and domestic semiconductor industry members, helping them build local capability and engineering excellence across design, test and manufacture of semiconductor-based products ranging from discrete products to complex AI-based systems. NMI also represents sector interests to Government and its agencies, facilitating innovation through collaboration in order to grow the UK economy and strategic interests.

Sean Redmond, Managing Partner SiliconCatalyst.UK said “the UK has world class research universities and a track record for semiconductor innovation. It also has fifteen semiconductor fabs specialising in advanced processes for photonics, power and mixed-signal RF applications. This manufacturing base has been extended with a strong MEMS, PICs and ASIC ecosystem. Combining these local assets with international partners and entrepreneurial drive creates a springboard for semiconductor start-up success.”

Alan Banks CEO of TechWorks, the legal entity behind NMI said “we are delighted to be working with Silicon Catalyst.UK and share the common vision of putting the UK in a leading position in Europe for creating semiconductor start-ups and creating the best environment for those companies to grow. By cultivating collaboration and ensuring government recognition of the semiconductor sector in areas such as automotive, IoT, communications, AI and edge computing, we have ambitions to facilitate the next generation of semiconductor companies building on the legacy of companies such as Arm, Wolfson, Icera and, more recently, Graphcore.”

Pete Rodriguez, CEO of Silicon Catalyst, said, "we have been delighted by our successful launch in the UK. The local reception has been very strong. Our team in the UK is establishing collaborations with local universities, investors and now the home of UK semiconductors, the NMI. They have signed-up several new advisors, a couple of new in-kind partners and attracted eight applications to our summer screening process. We look forward to their continued success."

Vaysh Kewada CEO and Co-Founder at Salience Labs, a UK-based start-up developing a low latency photonic AI processor, based on research from Oxford University said “as a newly admitted SiliconCatalyst.UK Portfolio Company, we were very excited to hear about the new partnership with the NMI. Having access to the many benefits of NMI membership will help amplify the richness and reach of collaboration opportunities that will be facilitated by NMI working closely with Silicon Catalyst.UK.”

The partnership of NMI and Silicon Catalyst.UK will provide the right support at the right time for start-ups moving through the early growth period through to business engagement and scaling up phases. The world-class Silicon Catalyst network of advisors and investors further facilitates their journey from idea through prototype toward volume production.

Live Event October 12, 2021 - To be recorded

The first of many semiconductor leadership events has been jointly organised by the NMI and Silicon Catalyst.UK at Bletchley Park’s National Museum of Computing for the 12th October 2021.

If you’re an early-stage semiconductor company based, or looking to be based in the UK, get in touch.

How to join/learn about the Silicon Catalyst.UK program?
Contact Sean Redmond Silicon Catalyst: sean@siliconcatalyst.uk

How to join/learn about TechWorks and NMI?
Contact Alan Banks NMI: alan.banks@techworks.org.uk

About NMI and TechWorks

NMI (National Microelectronics Institute) is the semiconductor branch of TechWorks (see below) and consists of members across the UK’s design and manufacturing semiconductor ecosystem. It’s members include fabless semiconductor manufacturers, integrated device manufacturers (IDM’s), Tool and EDA vendors, IP (intellectual property) providers, design and test consultants.

NMI Semiconductor Design - https://nmi-design.org.uk

NMI Semiconductor Manufacturing - https://nmi.org.uk

TechWorks

TechWorks is the hub for a growing number of UK technology communities. Its mission is to strengthen the UK’s deep tech capabilities as a global leader of contemporary and future technologies. It works across its member communities by developing industry-led collaborative programs, catalysing innovation, strengthening capability, increasing capacity and supporting Government’s goal to ensure UK is amongst the best locations to start build and scale technology companies.

See https://www.techworks.org.uk

Silicon Catalyst Launches UK-based Accelerator

Santa Clara, California and Stewkley, England, June 1, 2021 - Silicon Catalyst, the world’s only incubator focused exclusively on accelerating solutions in silicon, announced today SiliconCatalyst.UK, bringing Silicon Catalyst’s platform locally to the UK and European start-up community. Heading SiliconCatalyst.UK is Sean Redmond, an experienced semiconductor executive with international experience and a strong connection to the United Kingdom.

Silicon Catalyst’s mission is to help semiconductor hardware start-ups succeed. The ecosystem that Silicon Catalyst has created lowers the capital expenses associated with the design and fabrication of silicon-based integrated circuits (ICs), sensors, and microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) devices by providing advanced design tools and services from a comprehensive network of In-Kind Partners (IKPs). The Portfolio Companies in the Accelerator utilize IKP tools and services including design tools, simulation software, design services, foundry PDK access and MPW runs, test program development, tester access, and banking and legal services. The world-class Silicon Catalyst network of advisors and investors further facilitates their journey from idea through prototype toward volume production. See www.siliconcatalyst.uk for further background about the Accelerator.

“The UK has incredible innovation through its world-class universities, already significant startup community, and support from the government,” said Sean Redmond. “We look forward to working closely with the U.K. start-up ecosystem, bringing a small part of Silicon Valley to further accelerate entrepreneurial teams to their full potential. We will be hosting a webinar on Wednesday, June 23, 2021 and invite members of the semiconductor value chain to attend and learn more about our comprehensive accelerator program.” Registration details will be available shortly.

Nick Kepler, Chief Operating Officer of Silicon Catalyst, said “Silicon Catalyst exists to help start-ups, and we’re excited for the opportunity to accelerate the technology innovation happening in the United Kingdom. Over the last six years, Silicon Catalyst has made available to its Portfolio Companies over $100 million dollars of in-kind services and helped them to raise more than $250 million dollars in funding. In addition, many of our Portfolio Companies credit their success to the extensive network of nearly 200 advisors which saved them literally years by avoiding mistakes that most start-ups make.”

“Having recently worked closely with the U.K. government, industry, and universities to guide their industrial digital strategy, this launch is a great opportunity to put that work into action for U.K. semiconductor start-ups,” said Sean Redmond.

“Start-ups can capitalize on major growth opportunities in areas such as IoT and machine learning with fast, low cost and low risk access to best-in-class SoC design technology,” said Phil Burr, senior director of strategic programmes, Arm. “Combining Silicon Catalyst’s support with Arm Flexible Access for Startups, which provides free access to Arm IP and tools for prototyping silicon, will help startups get to working prototypes as quickly as possible, accelerating innovation in the UK.”

“Silicon Catalyst has opened the doors to Silicon Valley for us,” exclaimed Huw Davies, CEO of UK startup Trameto. “In addition to affordable access to high-value In-Kind Partners like TSMC, Synopsys, and Advantest, Trameto has been strongly supported by experienced semiconductor industry veterans such as Mark Ross, ex-CTO of Cypress Semiconductor, as technology contributor and advisor, and John East, ex-CEO of Actel, as advisor.”

“ST works with a large number of innovative tech start-ups across the world to help them develop and industrialize their products and get to market faster, targeting automotive, industrial, personal electronics and communication infrastructure applications,” said Kirk Ouellette, Vice President Strategic Marketing and Strategy Development, STMicroelectronics. “Our engagement as a Silicon Catalyst Strategic and In-Kind Partner helps us find and engage with relevant start-ups, and surrounds them with the supportive Silicon Catalyst ecosystem that is critical to their success. We look forward with excitement to engage with many more start-ups and the various tech ecosystems in the U.K. with this additional Silicon Catalyst team.”

“We are pleased to be working with SiliconCatalyst.UK to ignite the next generation of innovation,” said Steve McDonald, Synopsys VP of Sales for Europe. “The strengthening economic pull from new market verticals for custom silicon is creating tremendous opportunity for chip design start-ups. With a distinguished track record enabling emerging businesses, Synopsys provides Silicon Catalyst portfolio companies with state-of-the-art tools and IP that reduce risk and accelerate time-to-market.”

“It has been a pleasure for Real Ventures to partner with Silicon Catalyst over the past several years,” said Mark McDowell, Partner at Real Ventures. “Silicon Catalyst is incubating a fascinating collection of semiconductor hardware start-ups. As investors in SPARK Microsystems we have experienced how the Silicon Catalyst ecosystem surrounds each start-up with support that de-risks our investment.”

“Salience Labs joined Silicon Catalyst earlier this year and has already gained extensive value,” said Vaysh Kewada, CEO of U.K. start-up Salience Labs. “Silicon Catalyst provides start-ups with far more than in-kind services. It facilitates deep connections into the semiconductor industry through its advisors, who have spent time getting to know the company well, and then introduce and facilitate business-critical relationships. These relationships are already proving invaluable to Salience Labs, and we look forward to continuing to work with Silicon Catalyst.”

Agile Analog, based in Cambridge U.K., is Silicon Catalyst’s newest In-Kind Partner. John Hartley, CCO said, “We look forward to helping the Silicon Catalyst Portfolio Companies by quickly customizing their analog IP needs using our programmatic, systematic and repeatable methodology.”

”As Silicon Catalyst has grown, we have been impressed that many of their start-ups are developing interesting technologies to address important problems in the world,” commented Kirill Kuzmichev, Principal at NanoDimension. “In addition, the support of the Silicon Catalyst ecosystem, from partners providing tools and services to advisors providing expertise, increases the chance that each of these start-ups will succeed. Silicon Catalyst is one of the best places to look for good investments in semiconductor hardware.”

Upcoming Webinar and Accelerator Application Deadline

SiliconCatalyst.UK will be hosting a webinar for interested start-ups, university staff, investors, and potential in-kind partners on Wednesday, June 23. The webinar will feature presentations by Vaysh Kewada, CEO of Salience Labs in Cambridge and Huw Davies, CEO of Trameto in Wales, both UK companies in the Silicon Catalyst Portfolio. Also presenting will be other Silicon Catalyst partners. Registration details will be available shortly.

For those early-stage companies interested in applying to the Silicon Catalyst Accelerator, the deadline is July 2, 2021 for the next screening cycle. More details can be found at: https://www.siliconcatalyst.uk/application