What GarField Microelectronics does

GarField Microelectronics (trading as GF Micro) is a UK-based ASIC design and development house founded in 1994 by Rod Oldfield. The company operates two design centres in Stroud (Gloucestershire) and Bristol and specialises in custom Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) design across CMOS, BICMOS, and SiGe process technologies. It serves enterprise customers in industrial, medical, communication, aerospace and defence, and smart mobility markets, with named relationships including 3M, Renishaw, 4D, a leading radiation detection developer, and a world leader in FLCoS devices.

The company combines full turnkey design services — from specification through fabrication, test, packaging, and supply-chain management — with a portfolio of four silicon-proven IP products: a Microdisplay Backplane using a patented P-OLED drive scheme for AR/VR applications, a low-power Temperature Sensor IP, a 10 Base-T PHY chip, and a 12-bit SAR ADC IP for battery-powered systems. Engineering capabilities span analogue/mixed-signal blocks (LDO, PLL, ADC/DAC, bandgaps, HV, oscillators) and digital SoC work using ARM, LEON, and RISC-V processor cores.

GF Micro operates a project-based professional services and IP licensing model with no publicly disclosed pricing. In November 2025 the company was acquired by Presto Engineering Group, positioning the combined entity as a pan-European ASIC design-to-production one-stop-shop. Strategic ecosystem partnerships — Arm Approved Design Partner, Global Foundries Global Solutions Partner, long-tenured Cadence and Mentor/Siemens tooling relationships, and Silicon Catalyst ecosystem membership — underpin go-to-market reach.

Name

GarField Microelectronics

Legal name

GarField Microelectronics Ltd.

Website

https://gfmicro.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

GarField Microelectronics is a UK-based ASIC design house providing custom Application-Specific Integrated Circuit design services and proprietary silicon IP for enterprise customers in industrial, medical, communication, aerospace & defence, and smart mobility markets. Acquired by Presto Engineering Group in November 2025.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Custom ASIC Design and Semiconductor IP

NAICS

Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing (3344), Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing (33441)

SIC

Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812), Electronic & Other Electrical Equipment (No Computer Equip) (3600)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Networking & Data Center Silicon (Switch/NIC/DPU/SerDes) (HDAHABAB), Power Management & Power Conversion ICs (PMIC/DC‑DC/AC‑DC/Gate Drivers) (HDAHABAE), Real-Time & Industrial Control Processors (RT MCUs/PLC-class SoCs) (HDAHAJAL)

Keywords

• ASIC design services
• Custom integrated circuits
• Semiconductor IP licensing
• Microdisplay backplane design
• Silicon chip development

Headquarters

HQ city

Stroud

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. ASIC Design Services: Custom ASIC design and development services from specification through to layout, fabrication and test of final products. Also offers FPGA design services. Revenue is generated through project-based engineering fees for design implementation.
2. IP Licensing and Products: Licensing of proprietary IP blocks including temperature sensor, ADC, and microdisplay backplane designs. Customers can license IP blocks for integration into their own designs, generating recurring licensing revenue.
3. Turnkey Silicon Supply: Full turnkey service covering design through to fabrication, test and supply. Manages sourcing from silicon manufacture, device package/assembly through to production test and inventory management, providing supply chain management services.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

GarField Microelectronics (GF Micro) is an independent ASIC design and development company providing custom silicon solutions from specification through to layout, fabrication, test, and supply. The company delivers turn-key designs or bespoke consultancy across CMOS, BICMOS, and SiGe process technologies, supporting both digital and analogue implementations. In parallel, the company licenses proprietary silicon IP blocks (microdisplay backplane, temperature sensor, 12-bit SAR ADC, and 10 Base-T PHY) for integration into customer designs.

Product overview

GarField Microelectronics (GF Micro) is an ASIC design and development company offering a combination of design services and proprietary silicon IP products. The company provides custom ASIC design from specification through to fabrication, test, and supply, utilizing both in-house expertise and third-party foundry partnerships. Their product portfolio includes four silicon-proven IP cores and standalone products: Microdisplay Backplane for AR/VR applications, Temperature Sensor IP for industrial applications, 10 Base-T PHY Chip for network interface, and 12 Bit SAR ADC IP for battery-powered systems. These products can be licensed as IP blocks for integration into customer designs or supplied as standalone components.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Microdisplay Backplane

Quantifiable outcome

• Tape-out achieved within six months of design start for sensor interface project
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Global FoundriescoreTechnology or IntegrationGF Micro is part of the Global Foundries Global Solutions Partner Program, designed to support customers of GLOBALFOUNDRIES technologies by expanding availability of enabled offerings including design methodology, IP development expertise, HW/SW system integration expertise.
• ArmcoreTechnology or IntegrationGF Micro is an Arm Approved Design Partner - a global network of design service companies endorsed by Arm with track record of success using Arm IP, audited processes, quality standards and financial stability.
• Silicon CatalystcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGF Micro is a Silicon Catalyst In-Kind Ecosystem Partner. Silicon Catalyst is the world's only incubator + accelerator focused on semiconductor solutions. Their In-Kind Ecosystem Partners help provide startups with EDA tools, IP, PDKs, prototypes, design and test services.
• AnySiliconminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAnySilicon is a semiconductor services and IP marketplace that helps ASIC decision makers find the best partner with the right solution, best cost and shortest time to market.
• CadencecoreTechnology or IntegrationIndustry leader in electronic systems design software. GF Micro has been using Cadence tools and derivatives for over 30 years. Their tools are particularly efficient in physical implementation of complex designs.
• Mentor (Siemens)coreTechnology or IntegrationMentor offers comprehensive EDA software portfolio. GF Micro uses Calibre Design Solutions - the industry leader for IC verification, DFM optimisation and sign-off.
• TechWorksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechWorks is the UK's leading Deep Tech industry association. GF Micro collaborates with TechWorks to build a stronger ecosystem in the UK and drive tech innovation.
• UKESF (UK Electronics Skills Foundation)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUKESF is an independent UK charity working to address the skills gap in Electronics. GF Micro is actively engaged with UKESF in supporting development of those who choose electronics and building relationships for a thriving sector.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Presto Engineering: European ASIC back-end services and test specialist that acquired GF Micro in November 2025. Direct peer in the ASIC services value chain and now parent, but pre-acquisition served overlapping enterprise customers in industrial, medical, aerospace and smart mobility.
• Synopsys Design Services: Design services arm of leading EDA vendor Synopsys, offering full custom ASIC design, verification and implementation. Competitor in the broader ASIC services market, leveraging deep EDA tool integration to win programmes GF Micro also targets.
• Cadence Design Services: ASIC design services arm of Cadence, providing full-chip design implementation and physical design. Direct incumbent competitor for ASIC design engagements; Cadence is also a long-standing tool partner of GF Micro.

Direct peers

• Open-Silicon (SiFive): ASIC design services platform acquired by SiFive, historically focused on custom SoC design through to silicon. Direct peer in ASIC turnkey services with overlapping foundry partnerships and end-market exposure.
• Sondrel: UK-headquartered fabless ASIC design house offering full turnkey design services for advanced nodes. Closest direct peer to GF Micro in size, geography, business model and customer base (industrial, automotive, AI, consumer).
• Faraday Technology: Taiwan-based ASIC design services and IP provider serving communications, consumer, industrial and automotive markets. Comparable as an integrated ASIC design services + IP licensing competitor with foundry relationships and a long customer track record.
• VeriSilicon: China-based fabless ASIC design services and semiconductor IP licensing platform. Highly comparable in dual business model of design services plus IP licensing, and competes for similar global enterprise customers needing custom silicon.
• Custom Silicon Solutions: US-based custom mixed-signal ASIC design house serving industrial, medical, military and aerospace markets. Closely comparable in business model (custom mixed-signal/analog ASIC design) and end-market mix, including hi-rel and DO-254-class work.

Emerging players

• IC Mask Design: Specialist independent design services firm offering mask/layout, physical design and full ASIC implementation support. Partial overlap with GF Micro's layout and physical implementation services for fabless semiconductor customers.
• Agile Analog: Mixed-signal IP and design services company (formed from the analog IP business of S3 Group). Comparable as a specialist in analogue/mixed-signal IP licensing and design services – a direct overlap with GF Micro's analogue capabilities.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gfmicro/mycompany/?viewAsMember=true

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 GarField Microelectronics