NationalChip

What NationalChip does

NationalChip (杭州国芯微电子股份有限公司) is a Hangzhou-based fabless semiconductor company founded in 2001 that designs SoC chips and total solutions for two end markets: digital television set-top boxes and AIoT/edge-AI voice devices. On the STB side, the company supplies highly integrated SoCs covering global broadcast standards — DVB-S2/S, DVB-C, DVB-T2/T, DTMB, ABS-S, and IPTV/OTT — with its GX6605S chipset having shipped over 100 million units worldwide and holding the leading position in the Middle East and North Africa. On the AIoT side, NationalChip has built a portfolio of edge-AI voice chips (GX8002, GX8005, GX8006, GX8008, GX8009, GX8302) centered on its proprietary gxNPU neural network processor, which features a custom instruction set and compiler and enables fully offline voice processing (AEC, noise suppression, VAD, wake-word, command recognition) without cloud dependency, at power profiles as low as 70 micro-watts standby for wearables. The company's customer base includes set-top-box OEMs globally, iFLYTEK's Vision Intelligence subsidiary (iFLYBUDS Pro 2 TWS earphones), multiple robot-dog brands selling over 50,000 units per month, smart-home appliance makers, and partners such as Eutelsat, Amazon (AVS qualification), and the OpenHarmony ecosystem.

The business operates as a B2B fabless model: NationalChip generates revenue primarily through one-time hardware (chip unit) sales to enterprise OEMs, supplemented by system-and-solution development services including reference designs, firmware, algorithms, and development boards. Distribution is via direct enterprise sales (regional offices in Hangzhou, Shenzhen, Chengdu), OEM design-in relationships, and channel partners/distributors across EMEA, Southeast Asia, Central Asia, Africa, and India, with customer development supported by presence at IBC (Amsterdam) and Convergence India (New Delhi). Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. NationalChip has participated in formulating nine national and industry digital broadcasting standards, holds 40 granted patents in the digital TV domain, was recognized in 2025 as a National Manufacturing Single Champion Enterprise by China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and has won the China Chip ("中国芯") award eleven times since 2006, including for its Pegasus satellite-broadcast SoC in 2025. The company is privately held and disclosed no institutional investor roster beyond the 2019 funding round led by Sinovation Ventures and State Development & Investment Corporation.

Name

NationalChip

Legal name

杭州国芯微电子股份有限公司

Website

https://nationalchip.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

NationalChip is a Hangzhou-based fabless semiconductor company designing SoC chips and total solutions for digital TV set-top boxes (DVB/DTMB/ABS-S) and edge-AI IoT voice devices, serving STB OEMs, wearable/robotics brands, and smart-home appliance makers across China, EMEA, and Asia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Semiconductor ICs / Set-Top Box SoCs

NAICS

Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing (334310), Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing (33411)

SIC

Computer Communications Equipment (3576)

akta.pro primary industry

Compute & Acceleration ICs (CPU/GPU/AI/FPGA/ASIC) (HDAHABAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Audio, Imaging & Multimedia SoCs (ISP/Codec/Display) (HDAHABAH), Audio & Voice Mixed-Signal ICs (Codecs/Amplifiers) (HDAHAIAG), General-Purpose Logic & Microcontrollers (MCU/MPU) (HDAHAAAA)

Keywords

• Set-top box SoC
• AIoT voice chips
• Fabless semiconductor design
• Digital TV broadcasting ICs
• Neural network processor

Headquarters

HQ city

Hangzhou

HQ country

China

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Semiconductor Chip Sales (SoC / ASIC): NationalChip generates revenue primarily through the sale of its proprietary semiconductor chips — both complete SoC solutions for digital TV set-top boxes and AIoT/voice processor chips. Customers are set-top box makers, IoT device manufacturers, consumer electronics brands, and wearable product companies that embed NationalChip chips into their products. Revenue is one-time hardware (chip unit) based, with volume driven by end-product demand.
2. System and Solution Development Services: NationalChip provides total solutions including SoC, algorithm, and software alongside its chips, offering reference designs and development platforms to customers. This includes turnkey STB solutions, AI voice modules, and development boards that customers can quickly integrate into end products.

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

NationalChip is a fabless semiconductor company that designs and sells proprietary system-on-chip (SoC) solutions for digital TV set-top boxes (covering DVB-S2/S, DVB-C, DVB-T2/T, DTMB, ABS-S standards) and AIoT voice-enabled devices. Its offerings combine chips, algorithms, and software stacks around a proprietary neural network processor (gxNPU) to deliver fully offline AI voice processing, ultra-low-power operation, and high integration for set-top box makers, robot dog/AI toy manufacturers, TWS earphone brands, and smart home appliance OEMs globally.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Pegasus Satellite Broadcast & Streaming Media SoC Chip A proprietary satellite broadcast and streaming media intelligent terminal SoC chip with fully independent intellectual property, designed for digital TV STB applications. It is part of NationalChip's flagship digital home product line and was awarded the 20th "China Chip" Excellent Market Performance Product Award.
• GX6605S DVB-S2 HD Set-Top Box Chip DVB-S2 HD set-top box SoC chip with integrated Eutelsat Sat.tv electronic program guide support for Free-to-Air satellite TV. Enables visual channel discovery, program guides, and content information without internet. Used in set-top boxes serving 120 million homes across Europe, Middle East, and Africa.
• GX8302 AIoT SoC Chip Multi-functional AIoT SoC chip integrating AI voice recognition, QSPI LCD display driving (up to 480x480), 2D graphics acceleration, and Bluetooth BLE 5.4 connectivity on a single low-power die. Features proprietary QGIF animation compression and ultra-low standby power (1uA). Targets smart home appliances, smart door locks, wireless audio devices, IoT devices with screens, and PC peripherals.
• GX8002 Ultra-Low Power Voice Chip Ultra-low power AI voice chip designed for wearables and battery-powered AI devices. Provides hardware VAD with 70uW standby power, ~0.6mW running power, and ~300uW average chip power to enable wake-free voice control. Integrated into iFLYTEK iFLYBUDS Pro 2 flagship AI TWS earphones and suitable for smart watches, smart glasses, and smart helmets.
• GX8006 Robot Dog & AI Toy Voice Solution AI voice interaction SoC solution for robot dogs, AI toys, children's interactive robots, desktop AI companions, and smart pets. Integrates AEC echo cancellation, NS noise suppression, and VAD voice activity detection all running locally on-chip without cloud dependency, with sub-0.1s response time. Reduces BOM from 15+ components to under 5 and PCB area by 30-40%.
• GX8008 Amazon AVS-Qualified 2-Mic AFE Solution Amazon Alexa Voice Service-qualified 2-microphone far-field Audio Front End (AFE) solution for Alexa Calling and Messaging. Supports beamforming, noise reduction, stereo acoustic echo cancellation, and hands-free Alexa integration on smart devices. Designed as a cost-attractive solution to reduce BOM for Alexa-enabled IoT and smart home products.

Quantifiable outcome

• BOM cost reduction from 15+ components to under 5 components per device, with 30-40% smaller PCB area (GX8006 robot dog solution)
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability8 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• OpenHarmony (开源鸿蒙)coreTechnology or Integration · 30 October 2024NationalChip's GX8302 chip and development board passed OpenHarmony ecosystem certification. OpenHarmony is an open-source operating system hosted by the OpenAtom Foundation and co-developed by Huawei and other developers for IoT devices. NationalChip's chip enables AI-powered IoT devices to run the OpenHarmony ecosystem.
• Eutelsat CommunicationscoreTechnology or Integration · 14 September 2023NationalChip and Eutelsat integrated Sat.tv electronic program guide services into NationalChip's GX6605S set-top box chipset — the first mass-market DVB-S2 HD STB chipset to support Sat.tv services. This enhances Free-to-Air satellite TV viewing for 120M+ homes in Europe, Middle East, and Africa by providing visual channel discovery, program guides, and content information without requiring an internet connection.
• Amazon (Alexa Voice Service)coreTechnology or Integration · 22 February 2023NationalChip's GX8008 series 2-microphone array far-field ACM (Alexa Calling and Messaging) solution achieved Amazon AVS (Alexa Voice Service) qualification, enabling hands-free Alexa calling and messaging on devices embedding NationalChip chips. This positions NationalChip as a qualified hardware partner for Alexa-integrated IoT and smart home products.
• iFLYTEK (科大讯飞)coreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 1 January 2001iFLYTEK's Vision Intelligence subsidiary integrates NationalChip's GX8002 ultra-low power voice chip into iFLYBUDS Pro 2 AI flagship earphones for wake-free voice control. Long-standing AI voice technology partnership for TWS earphones and wearable AI products.
• Amazon AlexacoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2001Amazon Alexa listed as an AIoT industry partner; NationalChip achieved AVS-qualified AFE ACM solution for Alexa (separate official announcement in 2023).
• JD.com (京东)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2001JD.com listed as an AIoT industry partner, with potential distribution/marketing collaboration for smart products powered by NationalChip chips.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Strengths5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/nationalchip
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nationalchip

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors4 records

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

M&A

Investments1 record

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

Frequently asked questions about NationalChip