Intel Backs Startup With Chip Technology
Synopsis
The chipmaker has granted processor technology access to Rosaic, marking an uncommon partnership under CEO Lip-Bu Tan.
Key Highlights
- Intel grants processor tech access to startup RosaicLabs in rare licensing move,
- Amarjit Gill, who has been a co-investor of Intel for decades with CEO Lip-Bu Tan, is the leader of RosaicLabs.
- The startup plans to raise US$10 million in seed funding.
Intel has granted access to some of its processor technology to new startup RosaicLabs Inc., according to a source and documents, an unusual step for the U.S. chip maker.
The startup was incorporated in Delaware back in May. Its CEO Amarjit Gill, is a venture capital investor and semiconductor executive who helped Lip-Bu Tan assemble the founding team of Rivos, a chip startup that Meta acquired last year.
They also invested at the seed stage in chip startup Nuvia, which Qualcomm eventually bought.
Atom Technology Shared With Startup
Rosaic’s founding team comprises many former employees of Rivos, including ex-finance chief Amit Parikh, who signed the incorporation documents for Rosaic.
Intel is giving Rosaic early access to the Atom processor technology that is based on its x86 architecture and is designed to draw as little power as possible and generate as little heat for use in mobile and edge devices.
The source said Intel intends to provide register-transfer level (RTL) code of the Atom processor technology for the startup to create its own custom chip designs using Intel’s intellectual property.
Seed Funding Plans
Access of this nature is uncommon, as Intel had never broadly licensed segments of its x86 architecture or Atom technology in the past.
A revised Delaware filing made July 24 disclosed Rosaic’s equity structure, suggesting the company might pursue a US$10 million seed funding round. It also allows executives to authorise capital expenditures of as much as US$5 million without board or investor consent.
Source: Reuters
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