What Pseudolithic does

PseudolithIC, Inc. is a Santa Barbara, California-based RF semiconductor company developing heterogeneous integration technology that combines high-performance III-V compound semiconductor chiplets (InP, GaN) with large-diameter 300mm silicon CMOS wafers. Founded in 2019 and operating with more than 15 employees as of January 2025, the company targets defense, aerospace, telecommunications (5G/6G, satellite communications, cellular and backhaul), long-range radar, and IoT applications where traditional silicon RFICs lack the required high-frequency performance and traditional compound semiconductor MMICs are too costly and limited in volume.

The company's product portfolio consists of three core offerings: mm-Wave power amplifiers (Ka- and W-band) combining Si CMOS with GaN and InP; low-noise amplifiers using CMOS/InP for lowest noise figure and power consumption; and transmit/receive (T/R) front-end products for communication systems. The proprietary heterogeneous integration approach is claimed to deliver MMIC-class performance at silicon RFIC cost and volume, with cited metrics of 100x better compound semiconductor wafer utilization, more than 10x cost reduction for compound semiconductor die, and 2x faster prototype cycle times. Seven granted U.S. patents in heterogeneous integration packaging underpin the technology.

PseudolithIC operates a direct, enterprise field-sales go-to-market model and is transitioning from R&D to commercialization. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and product samples for the three core product families are scheduled for release in 2026. The company has raised $6 million in seed funding led by Entrada Ventures with participation from Foothill Ventures and Uncork Capital, and was awarded a SpaceWERX Tactical Funding Increase (TACFI) grant in March 2025 for E-band transmitter and receiver development. Leadership comprises co-founder and CEO Prof. James Buckwalter (IEEE Fellow, UCSB Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering) and co-founder and COO Dr. Florian Herrault (IEEE ECTC General Conference Chair, 20+ patents in heterogeneous integration packaging).

Name

Pseudolithic

Legal name

PseudolithIC Inc.

Website

https://pseudolithic.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

PseudolithIC is a Santa Barbara-based RF semiconductor company that integrates III-V compound semiconductor chiplets with 300mm silicon CMOS wafers to deliver mm-wave power amplifiers, low-noise amplifiers, and transmit/receive front-ends for defense, aerospace, telecommunications, and IoT customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

RF Semiconductor Chipsets

NAICS

Semiconductor and Related Device Manufacturing (334413)

SIC

Semiconductors & Related Devices (3674)

akta.pro primary industry

Millimeter-Wave (mmWave) ICs & Beamforming ICs (HDAHAMAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Networking & Data Center Silicon (Switch/NIC/DPU/SerDes) (HDAHABAB), RF, Microwave & Wireless ICs (HDAHAAAF)

Keywords

• RF semiconductor chipsets
• Heterogeneous integration
• Mm-Wave power amplifiers
• Compound semiconductor chiplets
• Silicon CMOS RFICs

Headquarters

HQ city

Santa Barbara

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. RF Semiconductor Products: Revenue from sale of mm-wave power amplifiers, low-noise amplifiers, and transmit/receive front-end products. The company offers the performance of a monolithic microwave IC (MMIC) at the cost and volume of silicon processing, targeting 5G/6G networks, satellite communications, and autonomous systems.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

PseudolithIC designs and manufactures RF and mm-Wave semiconductor products using proprietary heterogeneous integration technology that combines III-V compound semiconductor chiplets (InP, GaN) with low-cost 300mm silicon CMOS wafers. Its portfolio includes mm-Wave power amplifiers, low-noise amplifiers, and transmit/receive front-ends that target 5G/6G, satellite communications, defense radar, and IoT applications. Product samples are scheduled for release in 2026.

Product overview

PseudolithIC offers a portfolio of RF and mm-Wave semiconductor products based on heterogeneous integration technology that combines compound semiconductor chiplets (III-V materials) with silicon CMOS wafers. The product line consists of three core offerings: mm-Wave Power Amplifiers (Ka- and W-band amplifiers using Si CMOS, GaN and InP), Low-Noise Amplifiers (CMOS/InP amplifiers optimized for lowest noise figure), and Transmit/Receive Front-Ends (integrated front-end solutions). Product samples for all three product categories are scheduled for release in 2026. The heterogeneous integration approach enables the performance of monolithic microwave ICs (MMICs) at the cost and scalability of silicon RFIC processing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• mm-Wave Power Amplifiers Ka- and W-band power amplifiers combining Si CMOS, GaN and InP technologies, designed to deliver exceptional performance and reliability for high-frequency RF and mm-Wave applications in defense, aerospace, and telecom systems.
• Low-Noise Amplifiers Advanced CMOS/InP amplifiers engineered to provide the lowest noise figure and lowest power consumption for RF and mm-Wave applications.
• Transmit/Receive Front-Ends State-of-the-art transmit/receive front-end products that integrate amplifier and switching functionality to enhance performance and efficiency in mm-Wave communication systems.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100x better usage of compound semiconductor wafers
• +3 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Qorvo: Major RF semiconductor supplier offering GaAs/GaN power amplifiers, LNAs and front-end modules for 5G, defense and aerospace. Overlaps directly with PseudolithIC's mmWave PA, LNA and T/R front-end roadmap and represents the most established incumbent in the target customer base.
• Skyworks Solutions: Large RF semiconductor incumbent supplying PAs, front-end modules and connectivity solutions for mobile, IoT and infrastructure. Competes with PseudolithIC in adjacent RF front-end sockets and represents a scale benchmark for what a successful RF semis exit can look like.
• GlobalFoundries: Major foundry offering RF SOI, SiGe BiCMOS and other silicon RF process platforms used by many fabless RF/mmWave designers. Competes indirectly with PseudolithIC by providing a low-cost silicon alternative to heterogeneous III-V integration.
• Tower Semiconductor: Specialty foundry offering RF CMOS, SiGe and analog process platforms for wireless, radar and communications ICs. Represents an alternative silicon-based supply chain for PseudolithIC's target customers and competes on the 'silicon-only' thesis.
• Mixcomm (Silicon Labs): Mixcomm developed mmWave beamforming front-end ICs for 5G and satellite before being acquired by Silicon Labs. Provides a useful acquisition-exit benchmark and product/market overlap with PseudolithIC's beamforming front-end roadmap.

Direct peers

• MACOM Technology Solutions: Designs and manufactures high-performance RF, microwave and mmWave semiconductors including GaN-on-SiC PAs and InP-based devices for telecom, defense and aerospace. Directly comparable in product mix (mmWave PAs, LNAs, front-ends) and target end markets to PseudolithIC.
• Anokiwave: Fabless provider of mmWave silicon beamforming ICs and front-end ICs for satellite, 5G and defense applications. Closely comparable in fabless mmWave IC business model and target use cases, though based on silicon rather than heterogeneous III-V integration.
• Sivers Semiconductors: Specializes in mmWave and beamforming ICs for satellite communication, 5G and radar. Comparable product portfolio (mmWave ICs and front-ends) and comparable end-market focus, providing a like-for-like benchmark for a smaller public mmWave fabless player.
• Filtronic: Designs and manufactures mmWave components, modules and subsystems for defense, aerospace, telecom and satellite communications. Comparable in mmWave PA, front-end and T/R product positioning and target customer segments.

Emerging players

• Pharrowtech: Early-stage fabless designer of mmWave RFICs and phased-array modules for 5G, fixed wireless access and satellite. Comparable emerging peer in the mmWave fabless space with overlapping target use cases but a different technical approach.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Pseudolith_IC
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pseudolithic

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors4 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Pseudolithic