What are Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs)?
Field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) are a type of integrated circuit that can be programmed and reprogrammed after manufacturing. They are essentially customizable chips that can be used for a wide range of applications, from artificial intelligence to machine learning. FPGAs have been gaining popularity in recent years due to their flexibility, affordability, and performance.
The Global FPGA Market Size
The global FPGA market size is expected to reach $14 billion by 2028, up from $6 billion in 2021. This growth can be attributed to the increasing adoption of FPGAs in various industries, including artificial intelligence, machine learning, healthcare, automotive, and more.
Rapid Silicon: The Startup Revolutionizing the FPGA Space
Rapid Silicon is a startup that aims to promote, adopt, and implement open-source technology to address the low-to-mid-range FPGA market. Launched in 2021, the company has already raised $15 million in a Series A round led by Cambium Capital.
An Interview with Naveed Sherwani, CEO and Co-Founder of Rapid Silicon
Naveed Sherwani, previously a General Manager at Intel and the former CEO of semiconductor startup SiFive, said in an email interview: "Rapid Silicon’s … software leads the programmable revolution as the industry’s first and only commercial open-source FPGA design suite."
The Two Products Developed by Rapid Silicon
Rapid Silicon is developing two products at present: Raptor and Gemini. Raptor is electronic design automation (EDA) software with an interface for FPGA application design, while Gemini is a 16-nanometer FPGA with hardware including a dual-core Arm processor, external memory controller, and ethernet connectivity.
Open-Source Software: The Key to Rapid Silicon’s Success
Rapid Silicon is based on open-source software – another industry first, according to Sherwani. This approach allows customers to design complex applications quickly and efficiently on the company’s FPGA devices. The open-source software enables users to leverage the active expertise and development engineers within the ecosystem.
Gemini: The 16-Nanometer FPGA
Gemini is not commercially available yet, but Sherwani expects it to come to market by the end of Q1. In the meantime, Rapid Silicon is generating revenue between $2 million and $3 million a year from licensing its intellectual property (IP).
Competitors in the FPGA Space
The FPGA space has formidable competitors, including Intel, which acquired U.K.-based Omnitek and Altera to double down on FPGA-based solutions for video and AI applications. However, Landon Downs, the managing partner at Cambium Capital, believes that Rapid Silicon’s tooling and hardware strategy has immense potential.
The Future of Rapid Silicon
Rapid Silicon expects to close a $15 million extension of its Series A within the next few months at an $80 million pre-money valuation. Driven by its purpose and world-class talent, the company aims to revolutionize design-to-silicon turnaround time and provide solutions that meet and exceed the robust performance, power, area, and time-to-market requirements.
Conclusion
FPGAs are becoming increasingly popular in various industries due to their flexibility, affordability, and performance. Rapid Silicon is a startup that is leading the charge in promoting open-source technology to address the low-to-mid-range FPGA market. With its innovative products and approach, Rapid Silicon has immense potential for growth and success.
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