Semiconductors
and computing
Chip architectures, embedded systems and the tools that enable computing.
Semiconductors and computing are part of CIR Ventures’ technology interests. Their commercial value depends on the workload they improve and the engineering required to put that improvement into a customer’s product.
Performance within
a complete system
Compute, memory and interfaces have to work together. Software determines how an application uses that hardware, while power delivery and heat removal constrain its operation.
Power deliveryAvailable energy and electrical limits
Thermal designHeat removal under the intended load
The schematic separates logical functions and system constraints. Physical implementation varies with the product and its packaging.
Reading a benchmark
A useful comparison starts with the task the customer needs to complete. Describe the workload and data, the software used, and the result being measured.
- The baseline
- Identify the alternative system and its configuration. Include the software versions and optimisation work behind both results.
- The operating assumptions
- State the memory, interfaces, power and thermal conditions. Explain tradeoffs in accuracy, capacity or implementation complexity.
- The customer application
- Show how the measured result relates to the intended product, including the integration work required to reproduce it.
Different evidence
at each stage of development
A working prototype, a qualified product and a manufacturing plan answer different questions. The work can overlap, and the requirements depend on the product and its customer.
PrototypeEstablish what the design can demonstrate.
Distinguish simulation results from measurements on physical hardware. Describe the workload, tools and test configuration, including the functions that are incomplete or represented by other equipment.
Record the observed limitations and the engineering work required for the next version. A prototype result needs enough detail for a customer to understand what has been demonstrated.
QualificationExamine the intended operating environment.
Customer requirements can include electrical behaviour, reliability, software integration and compatibility with the wider product. Identify the tests completed, the conditions covered and the specifications still to be evaluated.
Component and interface tests contribute evidence. The customer's qualification requirements determine which further work is needed for the intended application.
ProductionConnect the design to repeatable delivery.
Fabrication, packaging, inspection and testing require their own arrangements. Explain the manufacturing dependencies, the quality requirements and the assumptions behind expected yield and unit cost.
Distinguish measured production results from planning assumptions. Supply commitments, delivery obligations and working capital should correspond to the volumes the business expects to serve.
Financing the work
between milestones
Engineering, fabrication, packaging and testing can require capital before a product is ready for customer delivery. The plan needs to accommodate investigation, revision and qualification.
Separate the cost of reaching the next engineering milestone from the unit economics expected at production volumes. Manufacturing dependencies and customer schedules belong in the same commercial plan.
Our investment approach