Xelic
Xelic was a privately held engineering services and Networking IP provider specializing in ASIC and FPGA designs for telecom applications, founded in 2002 and acquired by Ciena in Q2 fiscal 2022 to support its WaveLogic coherent technology roadmap.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2002
- HeadquartersPittsford, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Xelic does
Xelic was a privately held engineering services and standards-based core technology provider founded in 2002 and headquartered in Pittsford, United States, with a headcount in the 11–50 range. The company specialized in the development of Networking IP used for both ASIC and FPGA telecom applications, building a strong internal competency in ASIC design and verification methodology. Its product was effectively a portfolio of networking intellectual property blocks intended for integration into telecom equipment, rather than a packaged end-product sold at unit pricing.
In Q2 fiscal 2022, Xelic was acquired by Ciena. The deal rationale, as stated by Ciena, was to bring Xelic's highly-skilled engineering talent and key technology and intellectual property into Ciena's WaveLogic coherent technology roadmap. No pricing, revenue figures, customer logos, or capital structure details are publicly disclosed in the source data, and no independent funding rounds are recorded. As of the acquisition date, Xelic ceased to operate as an independent company and now exists as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ciena, with its IP and engineering capacity folded into Ciena's portfolio of high-speed coherent optical networking systems.
Xelic firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Xelic
- Legal name
- Xelic
- Website
- https://xelic.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2002
- Operating status
- Acquired
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Xelic was a privately held engineering services and Networking IP provider specializing in ASIC and FPGA designs for telecom applications, founded in 2002 and acquired by Ciena in Q2 fiscal 2022 to support its WaveLogic coherent technology roadmap.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Xelic is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Pittsford
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Xelic business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations
Xelic product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Xelic was a privately held engineering services and standards-based core provider company focused on the development of Networking IP used for both ASIC and FPGA telecom applications. The company had strong expertise in ASIC design and verification methodology, and was acquired by Ciena in Q2 fiscal 2022 to bring engineering talent and intellectual property into Ciena's WaveLogic coherent technology roadmap.
Product overview
Xelic was a privately held engineering services and standards-based core provider company focused on the development of Networking IP for ASIC and FPGA telecom applications. The company had strong expertise in ASIC design and verification methodology. Xelic was acquired by Ciena in Q2 fiscal 2022, bringing its highly-skilled engineering talent and key technology and intellectual property to advance Ciena's market-leading WaveLogic coherent technology roadmap. The Networking IP products are now integrated into Ciena's product portfolio for high-speed connectivity solutions.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Networking IP (ASIC and FPGA)
Companies that use Xelic
Customer profileIdeal customer profiles1 record
Xelic technology and API
TechnologyAPI detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Xelic partnerships and signals
Strategic signalRecent moves1 record
Expansion highlights1 record
Xelic competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Rambus: Rambus licenses high-speed interface and security IP cores for ASICs and FPGAs, including serial link and memory interface IP used in networking and telecom. It is a direct comparable to Xelic's networking IP licensing model.
- Ceva: Ceva licenses DSP and connectivity IP cores (including 5G modem, Wi-Fi, and SerDes-adjacent IP) to ASIC and FPGA developers in communications markets. Overlaps directly with Xelic's networking/telecom IP focus, though Ceva emphasizes DSP rather than coherent DSP.
- Alphawave Semi: Alphawave Semi designs and licenses high-speed connectivity IP for ASICs and FPGAs targeting data center and telecom applications, the same core activity as Xelic. Its portfolio includes SerDes and coherent-relevant IP that competes for the same design wins Xelic's IP supports.
Broad incumbents
- Arm: Arm licenses processor and connectivity IP that ships inside many networking and telecom SoCs and FPGAs. It is a broad incumbent adjacent to Xelic's networking IP licensing business, with a much larger catalog and ecosystem footprint.
- Marvell Technology: Marvell, via its Inphi acquisition, is a leading supplier of high-speed DSP and interconnect silicon for coherent optical and telecom ASICs. Competes with Ciena's WaveLogic line that Xelic's IP supports, making Marvell a relevant adjacent peer for the underlying IP market.
- Synopsys: Synopsys is the largest EDA and semiconductor IP vendor, with a DesignWare portfolio that includes interface, SerDes, and networking IP used in telecom ASICs. It is the broad incumbent that any independent Xelic would have to compete against for ASIC/FPGA IP sockets.
- Cadence Design Systems: Cadence offers EDA tools and a broad IP portfolio including connectivity, SerDes, and protocol IP for telecom/networking ASICs. Comparable to Xelic as a full-stack design services and IP incumbent, though Cadence operates at vastly larger scale.
- Broadcom: Broadcom supplies networking ASICs, DSPs, and physical-layer silicon across telecom and data center markets, including coherent optical components. A broad incumbent competing in the same end markets Xelic's IP addresses.
Emerging players
- Silvaco: Silvaco provides EDA tools and semiconductor IP, including IP cores for interconnect and SerDes-adjacent applications used in networking ASICs and FPGAs. A smaller emerging player overlapping with Xelic's networking IP focus, with an adjacent EDA software footprint.
- eInfochips (an Arrow Electronics company): eInfochips provides ASIC/FPGA design services and IP integration across telecom, networking, and adjacent markets. Comparable to Xelic as an engineering services and design services peer, although eInfochips operates at larger scale and across more verticals.
Market position
Strengths3 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat2 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
Xelic social profiles
Digital presenceXelic financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Xelic leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Xelic funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Xelic 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 Xelic
What does Xelic do?
Xelic was a privately held engineering services and standards-based core provider company focused on the development of Networking IP used for both ASIC and FPGA telecom applications. The company had strong expertise in ASIC design and verification methodology, and was acquired by Ciena in Q2 fiscal 2022 to bring engineering talent and intellectual property into Ciena's WaveLogic coherent technology roadmap.
Is Xelic a public or private company?
Xelic is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently acquired.
When was Xelic founded?
Xelic was founded in 2002. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Xelic based?
Xelic is headquartered in Pittsford, United States, in the North America region.
Who are Xelic's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Rambus, Ceva and Alphawave Semi. Broad incumbents are Arm, Marvell Technology, Synopsys, Cadence Design Systems and Broadcom. Emerging players are Silvaco and eInfochips (an Arrow Electronics company).
Does Xelic have an API?
No public API is recorded for Xelic.