Ambitious Axelera aiming to bring edge AI to the masses
Spun out of Dutch unicorn Bitfury, Eindhoven-based stealth startup Axelera AI stepped into the spotlight with a €10M seed investment. Leveraging expertise from IBM, Imec, Intel and Qualcomm, the amibitious young company wants to lower the AI threshold for European SMEs by supplying a cost-effective range of plug-and-play products based on its own chip.
The good old FET still has more to give
The field-effect transistor has undergone radical changes over the years, but the same basic principle is still powering our chips. That won’t change in the foreseeable future.
Agile: the emperor’s new clothes?
In the second of my column articles in the run-up to the Software-Centric Systems Conference, I’d like to see if I can provoke a debate about Agile development methods. Before people start flaming me for holding controversial opinions, I’d like to remind you of what I said in the first article. #1: my goal here is to seed a discussion that will enlighten us all and, #2: caring about whether you think I’m right or wrong is on my f**k-it list.
The inner dashboard
Angelo Hulshout has the ambition to bring the benefits of production agility to the market and set up a new business around that. An important first step to sway potential customers is triggering their inner dashboard and getting them to rethink their way of working.
Silicon anode startup Leydenjar raises money for the home stretch
Aiming to revolutionize the battery industry, Leydenjar raised 22 million euros to perfect its silicon anode recipe as well as the equipment to manufacture these components in high volumes. The first tool shipments are expected in two years’ time.
Decades of experience drives one-of-a-kind switched-mode power supply training
For 40+ years, Frans Pansier has worked designing, developing, teaching and training advanced power supplies. According to him, challenging the mindset of young engineers is how he draws his energy. His favorite part? Sharing his knowledge and information that people simply can’t get at university – or anywhere else.
Engineering to enhance customization, efficiency and the customer experience
How can you realize the benefits of immersed computing? It’s easier than you think. With its simple three-step certification process, Asperitas has the knowledge, passion and a vast network to help engineer a customized immersion cooling system to fit your specific needs.
“Concerning China, we shouldn’t blindly follow America’s agenda”
A recent German report states that competitive pressure from China is increasing. Chinese companies are marketing more and higher-quality products in Europe. The EU is struggling to formulate a proper response. Bits&Chips asked China expert Sanne van der Lugt to put things in order.
“Power and RF should be priorities for European collaboration in chips”
The Chip Integration Technology Center started with lead customers Ampleon, Nexperia and NXP, and is now courting material suppliers for packaging applications. In the next phase, CITC aims to commit manufacturers of back-end assembly equipment.
Ask the headhunter
We’re in advanced talks with a candidate for an executive role within our company. We’ve had a series of discussions with him and are now contemplating what further assurances we can get that he’s indeed the right man for the job. A colleague suggested a psychological test, but a team majority rejected this idea. They believe that it’s more useful to check references before making an offer.
10 intra/entrepreneur lessons I learned the hard way
Over thirty years ago, I started my first company. Since then, I’ve started more companies, acted as an angel investor in more than ten ventures and as a board member or advisor in several others, and interacted with numerous founders and entrepreneurs. In addition, I’ve collaborated with intrapreneurs inside large organizations trying to get innovations off the ground and commercialized, both while working inside those organizations as well as through consulting arrangements.
