XMOS Semiconductor secures $16 million for Software Defined Silicon

XMOS Semiconductor, the creator of Software Defined Silicon (SDS) chips, has secured 16 million USD of Series A venture capital funding. The funding is being provided by Foundation Capital and existing investors Amadeus Capital Partners and DFJ Esprit.

XMOS has created a new category of semiconductors for consumer electronics applications that need high performance, low manufacturing cost and extreme design flexibility – at a price point and a time-to-market that promises to revolutionise the consumer electronics ASIC and ASSP markets.

XMOS’s reprogrammable software defined silicon chips provide high volume consumer electronics system designers with an adaptable, economic alternative to standard products. Targeting the $1- $10 price range these devices are ideal for high volume consumer electronics applications where they offer high degrees of flexibility to differentiate products and react quickly to changes in standards or functions. Silicon, development tools and software components will sample to lead customers through Q4 and be broadly available from Q1 2008.

XMOS CEO James Foster said, “XMOS has assembled an outstanding team of people clearly focused on delivering this industry-changing technology to its customers. We are thrilled to welcome Foundation, and to have the continued support of our founding investors at Amadeus and DFJ Esprit.”

“Foundation is very excited to be involved with XMOS and to be able to support the global roll-out of the company’s unique technology,” said Bill Elmore of Foundation Capital. “As the pioneer in software defined silicon, XMOS is well positioned to dominate the consumer electronics space.” Elmore will join the XMOS board of directors.

Dr. Hermann Hauser of Amadeus Capital Partners said, “We are delighted to continue our support of XMOS. The speed at which the company’s technology has moved from University science to a commercial proposition has been remarkable. Customer reaction has been extremely positive and SDS has the opportunity to be a truly disruptive technology.” Hauser will also join the XMOS board of directors.

Alan Duncan, a partner with Esprit Capital Partners and a director of XMOS added “We are very pleased with the progress that XMOS has made since our investment last year and have been greatly encouraged by the level of interest in their products already being shown by some of the world’s leading consumer electronics companies.”

Heller Ehrman advised XMOS on the Series A funding round; the investors were advised by Taylor Wessing and Cooley Godward.