Kilopass
Kilopass Technology develops embedded non-volatile memory IP manufactured in standard logic CMOS processes, serving semiconductor designers that require on-chip NVM without specialty process steps. Founded in 2001 and headquartered in Santa Clara; now part of Synopsys.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2001
- HeadquartersSanta Clara, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Kilopass does
Kilopass Technology develops embedded non-volatile memory (NVM) IP fabricated in standard logic CMOS processes, enabling semiconductor designers to integrate on-chip persistent memory without requiring specialty process steps. Founded in 2001 and headquartered in Santa Clara, California, the company is privately held with 51-100 employees and is led by founder Jack Peng and COO James T. Lindstrom. Its core offering centers on anti-fuse NVM bitcell and compiler IP that customers embed into SoC designs across consumer, mobile, and adjacent applications.
The company historically financed its R&D and customer-acquisition efforts through venture capital, completing six disclosed funding rounds between 2004 and 2013 that totaled roughly $49.6M, with investors including BlueRun Ventures, Pitango VC, U.S. Venture Partners, iGlobe Partners, and InveStar Capital. Its go-to-market is consistent with the semiconductor IP licensing model — upfront design-win license fees paired with per-unit royalties on customer chips that ship — though no pricing, contract-value, or customer-logo data is disclosed in the available source material. The ownership commentary indicates Kilopass was acquired by Synopsys, with the technology subsequently reflected in Synopsys's DesignWare Non-Volatile Memory IP portfolio, meaning the company no longer operates as a fully standalone entity in the same form.
Kilopass firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Kilopass
- Website
- https://kilopass.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2001
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Kilopass Technology develops embedded non-volatile memory IP manufactured in standard logic CMOS processes, serving semiconductor designers that require on-chip NVM without specialty process steps. Founded in 2001 and headquartered in Santa Clara; now part of Synopsys.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Kilopass is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Santa Clara
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Kilopass business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Kilopass product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Kilopass Technology develops embedded non-volatile memory (NVM) intellectual property (IP) that is manufactured in standard logic CMOS processes, eliminating the need for additional or specialty process steps. The company licenses this NVM IP as design blocks to semiconductor companies and SoC designers for integration into their chips. Its technology is targeted at on-chip, persistent storage in standard CMOS logic wafers.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Embedded Non-Volatile Memory (NVM) IP Licensable embedded NVM IP cores that provide on-chip persistent memory in standard CMOS logic processes without additional process steps; targeted at semiconductor and SoC designers integrating configuration storage, trimming, security keys, or code storage into their chips.
Companies that use Kilopass
Customer profileIdeal customer profiles1 record
Kilopass technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Kilopass partnerships and signals
Strategic signalRecent moves5 records
Expansion highlights3 records
Kilopass competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Sidense: Direct competitor in embedded one-time-programmable (OTP) NVM IP, also using anti-fuse technology in standard CMOS—competes head-to-head with Kilopass for the same SoC design wins.
- eMemory Technology: Taiwan-based embedded NVM IP provider (NeoBit/NeoFlash) for logic and mixed-signal processes; competes with Kilopass in secure and code-storage applications across foundries.
Broad incumbents
- Synopsys (DesignWare NVM IP): Acquirer of Kilopass and the broader DesignWare IP portfolio; offers competing embedded NVM, OTP, and eFlash IP as part of a much larger semiconductor IP catalog.
- ARM (semiconductor IP): Dominant semiconductor IP licensor with an embedded memory footprint; comparable as a peer IP vendor with similar per-design royalty model, though broader in scope than NVM.
- CEVA, Inc. Licensor of DSP, AI, connectivity, and sensor IP to the semiconductor industry; comparable as a fabless IP royalty business model, though focused on different IP categories.
- Imagination Technologies: Semiconductor IP licensor (GPU, CPU, AI accelerators) serving similar SoC customer base; comparable business model and licensing structure to Kilopass.
- Rambus: Semiconductor IP and chip company with security, memory interconnect, and interface IP; comparable as an IP-licensing business that monetizes through royalties and patent licensing to chipmakers.
Emerging players
- Everspin Technologies: Standalone MRAM vendor pursuing embedded MRAM (eMRAM) on advanced CMOS processes; represents the next-generation alternative to Kilopass's anti-fuse OTP NVM.
- Crossbar: ReRAM IP and technology developer targeting embedded memory and neuromorphic applications—a competing emerging NVM technology path versus Kilopass's CMOS anti-fuse approach.
Regional players
- VeriSilicon: China-based semiconductor IP and chip design platform provider with embedded memory IP; comparable as an IP licensor serving similar SoC customers with overlapping NVM/memory offerings, though with stronger China-region focus.
Market position
Strengths3 records
Weaknesses3 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks4 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
Kilopass social profiles
Digital presenceKilopass financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Kilopass leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Kilopass funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds6 records
Investors5 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Kilopass M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Kilopass
What does Kilopass do?
Kilopass Technology develops embedded non-volatile memory (NVM) intellectual property (IP) that is manufactured in standard logic CMOS processes, eliminating the need for additional or specialty process steps. The company licenses this NVM IP as design blocks to semiconductor companies and SoC designers for integration into their chips. Its technology is targeted at on-chip, persistent storage in standard CMOS logic wafers.
When was Kilopass founded?
Kilopass was founded in 2001. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Kilopass based?
Kilopass is headquartered in Santa Clara, United States, in the North America region.
Who are Kilopass's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Sidense and eMemory Technology. Broad incumbents are Synopsys (DesignWare NVM IP), ARM (semiconductor IP), CEVA, Inc., Imagination Technologies and Rambus. Emerging players are Everspin Technologies and Crossbar. VeriSilicon is listed as a regional player.
Does Kilopass have an API?
No public API is recorded for Kilopass.