The Six Semiconductor
The Six Semiconductor is a Canadian DDR PHY IP company and wholly-owned subsidiary of OPENEDGES (KOSDAQ: 394280), licensing LPDDR5X/5/4X/4, GDDR6, and HBM3 physical interface cores to fabless semiconductor customers across AI, HPC, automotive, storage, and display driver markets.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersMarkham, Canada
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What The Six Semiconductor does
The Six Semiconductor Inc. (TSS) is a Canadian semiconductor intellectual property company headquartered in Markham, Ontario, founded in 2018 by five veterans of ATI Technologies, AMD, Synopsys, Peraso, and Pixelworks. The company develops high-speed DDR physical interface (PHY) IP cores spanning JEDEC standards LPDDR5X/5/4X/4, GDDR6, and HBM3, delivered as hard IP across process nodes from 22nm down to 5nm on Samsung Foundry (SAFETM ecosystem) and TSMC (OIP). Its PHY architecture centers on a firmware-based training engine driven by an embedded microcontroller, proprietary PLL/DLL design, continuous impedance and timing phase adjustment without data traffic interruption, and interconnect redundancy remapping; TSS also offers a fully integrated HBM3 memory controller per PHY channel and a compact footprint that customers report as roughly half the area of competing solutions.
TSS has been a wholly-owned subsidiary of South Korea-based OPENEDGES Technology, Inc. (KOSDAQ: 394280) since 2019, operating as the PHY IP development arm of OPENEDGES' integrated memory subsystem and AI IP platform, which also includes the OMC memory controller, OIC NoC interconnect, and ENLIGHT NPU. The company monetizes through upfront IP licensing fees plus per-unit production royalties, supplemented by engineering services from product planning through silicon bring-up and mass production support. Its end customers are fabless semiconductor companies and SoC designers across AI/ML accelerators, high-performance computing, automotive (Aisin), enterprise SSD controllers (Novachips), display driver ICs (LX Semicon), and ASIC design services (ASICLAND), with mass production shipments already in motion at Novachips (12nm LPDDR5/4x/4) and LX Semicon (22nm LPDDR4).
TSS goes to market primarily through direct enterprise sales and technical consultation, co-markets with parent OPENEDGES, and leverages validated foundry ecosystem memberships (Samsung SAFETM since 2018, TSMC OIP) for credibility and lead generation. Notable recent technical milestones include the world's first 7nm LPDDR5X PHY at 8533 Mbps and silicon-proven LPDDR5X Combo PHY on Samsung SF5A automotive-grade process, alongside an MOU with SEMIFIVE for an LPDDR6 chiplet platform at 4nm.
The Six Semiconductor firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Six Semiconductor
- Legal name
- The Six Semiconductor Inc.
- Website
- https://thesixsemi.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Six Semiconductor is a Canadian DDR PHY IP company and wholly-owned subsidiary of OPENEDGES (KOSDAQ: 394280), licensing LPDDR5X/5/4X/4, GDDR6, and HBM3 physical interface cores to fabless semiconductor customers across AI, HPC, automotive, storage, and display driver markets.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Six Semiconductor industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Semiconductor Memory Interface IP
- NAICS
- Semiconductor and Related Device Manufacturing (334413), Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing (3344)
- SIC
- Semiconductors & Related Devices (3674)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Hardware/Chip Design IP Cores (Processor, Interface, Analog, Security) (HDAHAFAF)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Memory Interface & PHY ICs (DDR/HBM/SerDes PHY) (HDAHAKAE)
Keywords
Where The Six Semiconductor is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Markham
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Six Semiconductor business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Semiconductor IP Licensing: TSS licenses its DDR PHY IP to semiconductor companies. License agreements include upfront licensing fees for technology access. The company has licensed its IP to multiple customers including Novachips, ASICLAND, Aisin Corporation, and LX Semicon.
- Production Royalties: Running royalties associated with mass production of semiconductor chips using TSS's IP. The company has achieved over 30 licenses worldwide and generates recurring revenue from chips in mass production.
- Engineering Services and Technical Support: Post-licensing technical support including silicon bring-up, integration, debug, and production support. The company provides expert technical consultation from product planning to mass production.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
The Six Semiconductor product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Six Semiconductor develops and licenses high-speed DDR PHY intellectual property (IP) solutions that enable reliable communication between processors and DRAM in system-on-chip (SoC) designs. The portfolio includes three product lines: LPDDR5X/5/4X/4 PHY supporting up to 8533 Mbps for mobile and edge applications, HBM3 PHY for AI/ML and HPC workloads, and GDDR6 PHY for graphics applications. The IP is delivered as hard-IP across multiple process nodes (5nm to 22nm) at TSMC and Samsung foundries, licensed to fabless semiconductor companies, IDMs, and system companies.
Product overview
The Six Semiconductor (TSS) is a Canadian technology company and wholly-owned subsidiary of OPENEDGES Technology that specializes in developing advanced high-speed DDR PHY IP solutions. The product portfolio consists of three distinct DDR PHY IP cores: (1) LPDDR5X/5/4X/4 PHY supporting low-power mobile and edge device memory interfaces up to 8533Mbps; (2) HBM3 PHY designed for ultra-high bandwidth AI/ML and HPC applications supporting up to 16 channels at 8.4Gbps; and (3) GDDR6 PHY optimized for graphics and high-performance computing with data rates up to 16Gbps. These PHY IPs are offered as hard-IP solutions across multiple process nodes (5nm to 22nm) and are designed to integrate seamlessly with OPENEDGES' OMC memory controller and OIC interconnect IPs to provide complete memory subsystem solutions.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- LPDDR5X/5/4X/4 PHY High-performance DDR PHY IP supporting JEDEC JESD209-5C (LPDDR5X/5), JESD209-4-1A (LPDDR4X), and JESD209-4D (LPDDR4) standards. Operating speeds up to 8533Mbps with DFI5.1 interface compliance, x16 and x32 channel support, multi-rank support up to 4 ranks, and firmware-based training with embedded microcontroller. Available in 7nm, 6nm, 5nm, 12nm, 16nm, and 22nm process nodes. Licensed to fabless semiconductor companies for mobile, edge device, automotive, and AI/ML SoC designs.
- HBM3 PHY High-bandwidth memory PHY IP compliant with JEDEC JESD238A HBM3 standard. Supports up to 16 independent and asynchronous channels each with 2x32-bit DWORD pseudo-channels, maximum data rate of 8.4Gbps, integrated HBM3 memory controller, multiple frequency set points, interconnect redundancy remapping, and DFI5.1 interface. Optimized for AI, machine learning, and GPGPU applications. Available in 7nm and 6nm process nodes.
- GDDR6 PHY Graphics DDR PHY IP compliant with JEDEC JESD250D GDDR6 standard. Operates at up to 16Gbps data rates in a 32-bit 2-channel configuration providing peak memory bandwidth of 64GB/s. Features DFI 4.0 interface, continuous IO impedance and timing phase updates without traffic interruption, and ultra-low PHY read/write latency. Designed for AI, DNN, ADAS, and HPC applications. Available in 12nm process node.
Quantifiable outcome
- 50% smaller area footprint compared to competing DDR PHY solutions
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use The Six Semiconductor
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
The Six Semiconductor technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature9 records
The Six Semiconductor partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and supporting.
- TSMC (OIP Ecosystem)coreActive participant in TSMC Open Innovation Platform (OIP) Ecosystem Forum. Attends annual TSMC Technology Symposium. Partnership provides access to TSMC process technologies and ecosystem validation.
- SEMIFIVE (Chiplet Development)strategicMOU for developing advanced chiplet platform incorporating OPENEDGES LPDDR6 memory subsystem optimized for 4nm process node. Collaboration aims to create HPC SoC chiplet platform setting new standards in semiconductor industry.
- ASICLANDstrategicASICLAND licenses OPENEDGES/TSS memory subsystem IPs including DDR memory controller (OMC), DDR PHY (OPHY), and NoC interconnect (OIC) for AI application SoCs. Partnership dates to 2019 when ASICLAND first licensed OPENEDGES' memory subsystem.
- SEMIFIVEstrategicStrategic partnership to establish user-friendly SoC ecosystem integrating silicon-proven IPs and optimized design methodologies. SEMIFIVE develops SoC design platforms for AI chips and has completed 8 custom silicon tapeouts. Partnership enables lower cost, reduced risk, and faster turnaround for customers.
- ventureLabsupportingTSS is an ecosystem partner with ventureLab, a Canadian technology accelerator. Companies participate in joint meetings and initiatives to drive innovation in the semiconductor ecosystem.
- ASICLANDstrategicASICLAND licensed LPDDR5/4 PHY and memory controller IP in 12nm technology. Expanded partnership from initial 2019 engagement to elevate innovation through OPENEDGES' IPs for AI, data centers, and HPC applications.
- imec.IC-link USsupportingTSS collaborated with imec.IC-link US for tape-out of two 7nm memory subsystem validation testchips. imec.IC-link provided ASIC solutions, design optimization, and logistics for the advanced 2.5D integration platform including HBM3 stack assembly.
- OPENEDGES Technology, Inc.coreTSS is a wholly-owned subsidiary of OPENEDGES Technology, Inc. since 2019. OPENEDGES acquired TSS to add high-speed memory PHY capabilities to its total memory subsystem and AI IP platform. Together they provide the only integrated solution combining NPU, NoC interconnect, DDR memory controller, and DDR PHY from a single vendor.
- Samsung Foundry (SAFETM Ecosystem)coreOfficial partner in Samsung Advanced Foundry Ecosystem (SAFETM) since 2018. Has ported various IPs supporting JEDEC standards in 5nm, 8nm, 14nm, and 28nm process technologies. LPDDR5X PHY achieved silicon-proven success on Samsung Foundry SF5A automotive-grade process.
- Samsung System LSI (Founding Team Origin)supportingMost founding team members of OPENEDGES previously worked at Samsung System LSI in System-on-Chip development, bringing sophisticated technical knowledge and wealth of experience to the company.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The Six Semiconductor competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- ARM: ARM offers memory interconnect and system IP as part of its broader compute platform, and competes with TSS in the broader memory subsystem IP space. While not a direct DDR PHY competitor, ARM's bundled offerings and dominant position in the SoC ecosystem make it a frequent point of comparison for memory interface IP decisions.
- Siemens EDA (formerly Mentor Graphics): Siemens EDA is a major EDA and IP vendor and competes broadly with TSS-adjacent IP ecosystems. While not a direct DDR PHY competitor, Siemens EDA's toolchain and IP offerings are part of the broader competitive context for advanced memory subsystem design.
Direct peers
- Synopsys: Synopsys is the largest semiconductor IP vendor and directly competes with TSS via its DesignWare DDR PHY IP portfolio. Several TSS co-founders (Ricky Lau, Eric Ng) previously led DDR PHY design at Synopsys, and the two companies target the same fabless/SoC customer base for LPDDR/DDR/GDDR memory interface IP.
- Cadence Design Systems: Cadence offers DDR/LPDDR PHY IP as part of its broader IP portfolio and competes with TSS for memory subsystem design wins. Cadence's bundling with EDA tools and verification IP makes it a frequent alternative for fabless customers evaluating TSS's PHY offerings.
- Rambus: Rambus is a long-established memory interface IP company offering DDR5/5x and HBM PHY IP, and is a direct competitor to TSS in high-speed memory PHY. Rambus's memory interface heritage and patent portfolio position it as a primary alternative for customers sourcing DDR/HBM PHY IP.
- Silicon Creations: Silicon Creations is a mixed-signal IP company offering DDR PHY IP across multiple process nodes and is a direct competitor to TSS. They are commonly evaluated as alternatives for high-speed memory interface IP in advanced node SoC designs.
- Alphawave IP (now part of Qualcomm): Alphawave IP specializes in high-speed connectivity PHY IP including DDR/LPDDR/PHY and is a direct competitor to TSS in advanced-node memory interface IP. Alphawave targets hyperscaler and AI accelerator SoC customers — overlapping with TSS's HBM3 and LPDDR5X customer segments.
Emerging players
- Mobix Labs: Mobix Labs (which acquired the former Mixed-Signal IP business) offers DDR and other memory interface PHY IP. It is a smaller-scale emerging competitor in the DDR PHY IP market targeting similar fabless customer use cases as TSS.
- Credo Technology: Credo is a high-speed connectivity semiconductor company focused on SerDes IP and ICs for data center and AI infrastructure. While primarily SerDes-focused, Credo's customer base and advanced-node expertise overlap with TSS's AI/HPC memory PHY target market.
- Astera Labs: Astera Labs is a fabless semiconductor company specializing in high-speed connectivity IP and retimer ICs for AI/cloud infrastructure. While primarily focused on PCIe/CXL SerDes rather than DDR PHY, Astera Labs is increasingly adjacent to the AI accelerator memory subsystem market that TSS targets.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The Six Semiconductor social profiles
Digital presenceThe Six Semiconductor financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Six Semiconductor leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
The Six Semiconductor funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Six Semiconductor 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 The Six Semiconductor
What does The Six Semiconductor do?
The Six Semiconductor develops and licenses high-speed DDR PHY intellectual property (IP) solutions that enable reliable communication between processors and DRAM in system-on-chip (SoC) designs. The portfolio includes three product lines: LPDDR5X/5/4X/4 PHY supporting up to 8533 Mbps for mobile and edge applications, HBM3 PHY for AI/ML and HPC workloads, and GDDR6 PHY for graphics applications. The IP is delivered as hard-IP across multiple process nodes (5nm to 22nm) at TSMC and Samsung foundries, licensed to fabless semiconductor companies, IDMs, and system companies.
Is The Six Semiconductor a public or private company?
The Six Semiconductor is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was The Six Semiconductor founded?
The Six Semiconductor was founded in 2018. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is The Six Semiconductor based?
The Six Semiconductor is headquartered in Markham, Canada, in the North America region.
How does The Six Semiconductor make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Semiconductor IP Licensing is the primary driver. The others are production Royalties and engineering Services and Technical Support.
Who are The Six Semiconductor's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are ARM and Siemens EDA (formerly Mentor Graphics). Direct peers are Synopsys, Cadence Design Systems, Rambus, Silicon Creations and Alphawave IP (now part of Qualcomm). Emerging players are Mobix Labs, Credo Technology and Astera Labs.
Does The Six Semiconductor have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Six Semiconductor.
What industry is The Six Semiconductor in?
The Six Semiconductor's product category is Semiconductor Memory Interface IP. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAHAFAF, Hardware/Chip Design IP Cores (Processor, Interface, Analog, Security), with a secondary code of HDAHAKAE, Memory Interface & PHY ICs (DDR/HBM/SerDes PHY). Its NAICS code is 334413 and its SIC code is 3674.