What Fortemedia does

Fortemedia is a privately held fabless semiconductor company headquartered in Milpitas, California that designs and sells voice processing solutions combining proprietary algorithms, DSP integrated circuits, and MEMS microphone/speaker components. Founded in 1996 (corporate history references 1998), the company has spent over two decades building a vertically integrated voice technology stack centered on its AMAP (Advanced Microphone Array Processing) platform, which combines spatial filtering, source separation, and adaptive statistical signal processing to deliver noise suppression, acoustic echo cancellation, far-field voice pickup, and beamforming. The product portfolio spans embedded voice processing software (ForteVoice for mobile, SAMSoft for Windows PC, ForteAuto for automotive), DSP ICs (FM1288, FM1388, FM1488, FM1505, iM401, iM501, iM505), microphone ASICs (FL/FL2xx families), MEMS sensors (TMS01/TMS02 families), the HDmic301 array microphone, and the 2024-launched ForteSound coil-based MEMS speaker family.

Fortemedia sells primarily through direct B2B relationships with OEMs and tier-1 suppliers, supported by regional offices and channel partners across North America, China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Singapore, and Europe. Its revenue model blends hardware sales (MEMS components, DSP/ASIC ICs) with software licensing embedded on codecs and application processors. The company serves mobile (smartphone/tablet), automotive (in-vehicle infotainment), computing (notebook/PC), wearable (earbuds, hearing aids), and smart home/IoT end markets, with cumulative shipments of over 1 billion MEMS sensors and microphone chips and a patent estate of 130+ granted patents out of 200+ filed worldwide. Named design-win relationships include Samsung Galaxy smartphones (multi-generation since at least 2018) and Japan's largest automaker for a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle (FM1388, February 2024).

Fortemedia is self-funded with no disclosed recent institutional rounds beyond an earlier 2006 round led by Intel Capital with Cipio Partners. The company is led by Dr. Paul Huang as CEO and Chairman and Haiqing Lin as CEO & President, with engineering leadership based in Singapore (Dr. Rohan Kumar Das, R&D Manager). Operating presence spans wholly owned subsidiaries including Fortemedia Singapore Pte. Ltd. and regional channel affiliates such as Fortech Korea and Nessie Industrial (Taiwan). The company maintains active technical positioning through IEEE ICASSP and ISCSLP participation and certifications with Microsoft Teams/Cortana, Amazon Alexa, and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto.

Name

Fortemedia

Legal name

Fortemedia, Inc.

Website

https://fortemedia.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Fortemedia is a privately held fabless semiconductor company that designs voice processing SoCs, MEMS microphones and speakers, and embedded voice software (ForteVoice, SAMSoft, ForteAuto) for OEMs in mobile, automotive, PC, wearable, and smart home markets, with cumulative shipments exceeding one billion MEMS sensors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Voice Processing Semiconductors

NAICS

Other Communications Equipment Manufacturing (334290), Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing (334310), Other Communications Equipment Manufacturing (33429), Computer Terminal and Other Computer Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing (334118)

SIC

Communications Equipment, Nec (3669), Computer Peripheral Equipment, Nec (3577)

akta.pro primary industry

Digital Signal Processors (DSPs) (HDAHAJAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Audio & Voice Mixed-Signal ICs (Codecs/Amplifiers) (HDAHAIAG), Audio, Imaging & Multimedia SoCs (ISP/Codec/Display) (HDAHABAH), Microphones, Headsets & Audio Input Devices (HDACAFAH), Analog & Mixed-Signal ICs (HDAHAAAD)

Keywords

• Voice processing semiconductors
• MEMS microphone sensors
• Audio DSP ICs
• Noise cancellation algorithms
• Automotive voice solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Santa Clara

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 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. Hardware Sales - MEMS Components: Sale of MEMS microphones, speakers, and microphone sensors including TMS series sensors and FSM series speakers. Components are integrated into consumer electronics devices by OEM customers.
2. Semiconductor IC Sales: Sale of DSP ICs (FM1388, FM1505, iM401, iM501, iM505) and microphone ASICs (FL204, FL205, FL214, FL215, FL216) for voice processing applications.
3. Software Licensing: Licensing of voice processing software including ForteVoice (for mobile), SAMSoft (for computing/notebooks), and ForteAuto (for automotive). Software is embedded on popular codecs and application processors.
4. Integrated Solutions: Complete voice interface solutions combining hardware (MEMS, ASIC, DSP) with proprietary algorithms (AMAP, iSAM) delivered as system-on-chip packages or easy-to-integrate IC solutions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Fortemedia designs and sells voice processing technology comprising DSP (digital signal processor) integrated circuits, MEMS microphones and speakers, and proprietary software algorithms for mobile, automotive, and consumer electronics applications. The company provides both hardware ICs and accompanying software/algorithm IP that enable noise cancellation, voice enhancement, and far-field voice capture in end products.

Product overview

Fortemedia offers a unified platform-plus-modules architecture for voice processing solutions, combining SAM (Smart Array Microphone) technology with software products and semiconductor components. The core SAM technology mimics human auditory processing through AMAP (Advanced Microphone Array Processing), integrating spatial filtering, source separation, and adaptive statistical signal processing. Software products include ForteVoice® for mobile platforms, SAMSoft® for Windows laptops/tablets, and ForteAuto® for automotive applications—all based on AMAP technology. Hardware offerings span DSP ICs (FM1288, FM1388, FM1488, FM1505, iM401, iM501, iM505), microphone ASICs (FL204, FL205, iM205, FL214, FL215, FL216, FL216C), MEMS sensors (TMS01, TMS01SM, TMS02, TMS02SM), and the HDmic301 array microphone. The 2024 ForteSound™ product family introduces coil-based MEMS speakers (FS01) extending audio frequency response to 80kHz. Additional technologies include iSAM® integrated solutions with 3CT calibration technology, VOS (Voice Operating System), and AoAA (Always-on Acoustic Awareness) for always-on keyword detection. Products serve mobile (smartphone, tablet), automotive (in-vehicle infotainment), computing (notebook, PC VoIP), wearable (earbuds, hearing aids), smart home, and IoT markets.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ForteSound: Coil-based MEMS speaker product family supporting Ultra HD Music
• ForteVoice
• SAMSoft
• ForteAuto
• AMAP
• iSAM
• AoAA
• HDmic301

Products and services

• DSP ICs (FM series, iM series) Digital signal processor integrated circuits designed for voice and audio processing, used by device OEMs in mobile, automotive, and consumer electronics products.
• MEMS ASICs (FL series) MEMS companion ASICs used to interface with MEMS microphone and speaker elements in voice-enabled devices.
• MEMS sensors (TMS series) MEMS microphone sensor components for capturing audio in mobile, notebook, and automotive applications.
• HDmic301 High-definition MEMS microphone product for devices requiring high-fidelity voice capture.
• FS01 Audio sensor product targeting consumer electronics and automotive voice input applications.
• ForteVoice Voice processing software offering that runs on Fortemedia DSP ICs to provide noise cancellation and voice enhancement capabilities.
• SAMSoft Software product associated with Fortemedia's Small Array Microphone (SAM) technology for voice capture in devices.
• ForteAuto Automotive-focused voice processing solution combining DSP hardware and algorithms for in-cabin voice, hands-free calling, and cabin noise control.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100uA ultra-low power consumption for always-on voice detection
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability6 records

Feature10 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• Japan Largest Automaker (Hydrogen Vehicle)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 February 2024Fortemedia collaborated with a trusted partner in automotive technology to integrate its FM1388 voice processing solution into Japan largest automaker's hydrogen fuel cell vehicle. This partnership enhances driver experience with safety, efficiency, context-awareness, and convenience features. The collaboration marks Fortemedia becoming an integral part of the customer's commitment to sustainable voice solutions.
• SamsungcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 July 2019Fortemedia has been providing ForteVoice voice processing solutions to Samsung for multiple generations of Galaxy devices since at least 2018. The iS860 was used in Galaxy S9/S9+ and iS890 was deployed in Galaxy devices from Q1 2019, providing advanced noise suppression, wind noise reduction, and voice quality enhancement.
• Fortech Korea Inc.secondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized channel partner and distributor for Fortemedia products in South Korea. Located at 1304 Sungji Bldg, 538 Dohwa-dong, Mapo-ku Seoul. Contact: Jay Eom.
• Nessie Industrial Corp.secondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized channel partner and distributor for Fortemedia products in Taiwan. Contact: Diane Yeh. Provides additional sales and support coverage for Taiwan market.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Knowles Corporation: Leading global supplier of MEMS microphones and audio processing components for smartphones, hearables, and IoT — directly competes with Fortemedia's MEMS sensor, microphone ASIC, and voice processing business across overlapping OEM customers.
• Cirrus Logic: Designs low-power, high-performance mixed-signal ICs for audio and voice applications, including codecs, smart codecs, and DSPs — directly comparable to Fortemedia's DSP IC portfolio (FM and iM series) for mobile and PC OEM customers.

Emerging players

• Vesper Technologies: Developer of piezoelectric MEMS microphones targeting consumer electronics and IoT — competes with Fortemedia's TMS MEMS sensor line in smartphone, hearable, and smart home applications with differentiated transducer technology.
• Andrea Electronics: Specializes in microphone array hardware and noise reduction software for PC, automotive, and industrial markets — comparable to Fortemedia's AMAP technology platform in software-driven beamforming and noise suppression.

Broad incumbents

• Infineon Technologies (XENSIV MEMS): Large semiconductor incumbent with a significant MEMS microphone portfolio (acquired Merus Audio) and audio DSP offerings — competes broadly with Fortemedia across automotive, consumer, and IoT audio markets as a scaled incumbent.
• STMicroelectronics: Major IDM offering MEMS microphones, audio amplifiers, and DSP/microcontroller solutions for automotive, mobile, and industrial — overlaps with Fortemedia's MEMS sensor and audio DSP IC products as a broad incumbent with deep automotive customer relationships.
• Synaptics: Provides audio and voice processing solutions for IoT, automotive, and PC markets following acquisitions of Conexant and others — overlaps with Fortemedia's SAMSoft PC and ForteAuto automotive voice software portfolios.
• Qualcomm: Dominant mobile SoC vendor integrating audio DSPs, voice processing, and sensor hub capabilities into Snapdragon platforms — competes with Fortemedia's standalone DSP ICs and software by bundling voice features into application processors.
• TDK (InvenSense): Supplies MEMS sensors (microphones, motion, environmental) to consumer electronics OEMs globally — competes with Fortemedia's TMS MEMS microphone sensors through broader sensor portfolios serving overlapping customers.

Regional players

• Goertek: Major Chinese MEMS microphone and acoustic component manufacturer with strong domestic OEM relationships — competes with Fortemedia in Asian smartphone, TWS earbud, and smart home markets with a regional incumbent position.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/fortemediatech
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fortemedia

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors2 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 Fortemedia