CompactFlash Assocation
The CompactFlash Association is a nonprofit standards body founded in 1995 that defines professional flash memory card specifications (CompactFlash®, CFexpress®, CFAST®, XQD®) and certifies performance via VPG, serving 90+ member companies across imaging, automotive, and industrial markets.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1995
- HeadquartersCupertino, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What CompactFlash Assocation does
The CompactFlash Association (CFA) is a California nonprofit mutual benefit corporation founded in 1995 by SanDisk (then SunDisk) and other industry participants to create standards for flash-based memory cards. Headquartered at 16185 Los Gatos Blvd, Suite 205, Los Gatos, CA, CFA defines and maintains professional removable media specifications including CompactFlash® (PCMCIA/ATA-based), CFAST® (SATA-based), XQD® (PCIe-based, co-developed with Sony and Nikon in 2012), and CFexpress® (PCIe Gen 3 + NVMe, introduced in 2016 with Type A, B, and C form factors). The organization complements its specifications with the Video Performance Guarantee (VPG) certification program, most recently extended in February 2025 with VPG Profile 5 introducing VPG800 and VPG1600 sustained write performance classes for CFexpress cards.
CFA serves three primary markets: professional imaging (digital cameras and camcorders from Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Leica), automotive and industrial applications (data acquisition for AI-based industrial systems and autonomous transportation), and member companies that design, manufacture, or sell CFA-compliant products. Membership comprises over 90 companies including memory card manufacturers (SanDisk, Lexar, ProGrade Digital, Exascend, Wise Advanced, Nextorage, Angelbird, Delkin, OWC), controller vendors (Phison, Silicon Motion), and camera OEMs. The organization is governed by a 12-member Board of Directors representing Executive Member companies.
Revenue is generated through fixed annual membership dues (Executive at $5,000/year with voting rights, Affiliate at $2,500/year without voting rights), one-time purchases of legacy specifications by non-members ($100 each for CompactFlash and CFast), and royalty-free trademark licensing to members. Compliance testing, the VPG certification process, and standards development are conducted through working groups (Strategy, Marketing, CFexpress Technical, VPG Profile Technical, Licensing/Trademark Compliance) supported by Basecamp-based member collaboration. CFA holds semi-annual general meetings and an annual executive meeting, with recent and upcoming locations including Shanghai (Spring 2025), Milpitas (Fall 2025), and Honolulu (Spring 2026).
CompactFlash Assocation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CompactFlash Assocation
- Legal name
- CompactFlash Association
- Website
- https://compactflash.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1995
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The CompactFlash Association is a nonprofit standards body founded in 1995 that defines professional flash memory card specifications (CompactFlash®, CFexpress®, CFAST®, XQD®) and certifies performance via VPG, serving 90+ member companies across imaging, automotive, and industrial markets.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CompactFlash Assocation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Memory Card Standards
- NAICS
- Computer Storage Device Manufacturing (334112), Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing (3341)
- SIC
- Computer Storage Devices (3572)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Memory Cards (SD/microSD/CFexpress) (HDACAIAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Gaming Storage & Memory (SSDs, Memory Cards) (CRACAOAI), Internal Storage Components (SSD/HDD, M.2, controllers) (HDACAGAH)
Keywords
Where CompactFlash Assocation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cupertino
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
CompactFlash Assocation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Membership Dues: Executive Membership at $5,000/year provides voting rights and eligibility for board membership. Affiliate Membership at $2,500/year provides non-voting access to specifications and participation in working groups.
- Legacy Specification Sales: Existing specifications (CompactFlash and CFast) can be purchased by non-members for $100. CFexpress and VPG specifications are only available to CFA members.
- Trademark Licensing: Trademarks including CompactFlash, CFast, XQD, and CFexpress are licensed royalty free to CFA members for the duration of their product lifecycle.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Executive Membership with voting rights |
| Subscription | Annual | Affiliate Membership non-voting access |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Legacy Specification Purchase (Non-members) |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
CompactFlash Assocation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The CompactFlash Association defines and maintains industry standards for professional removable flash memory cards, including CFexpress (PCIe Gen 3 + NVMe), CompactFlash (PCMCIA/ATA), CFAST (SATA), and XQD (PCIe). It provides compliance testing processes and tools for each specification and operates the Video Performance Guarantee (VPG) certification program that guarantees minimum sustained write performance for video capture on memory cards. Specifications and trademarks are made available to member companies via a member portal, with legacy specifications also sold to non-members.
Product overview
The CompactFlash Association (CFA) is a standards body that defines professional removable media standards rather than manufacturing products. Its core offerings include memory card specification standards: CFexpress® ( PCIe+NVMe), CompactFlash® (original PCMCIA/ATA-based), CFAST® (SATA interface), and XQD® (PCIe interface). These standards are developed and maintained for professional imaging, automotive, and industrial markets. CFA complements its specifications with the Video Performance Guarantee (VPG) certification program, which verifies minimum sustained write performance for video recording. The VPG Profile 5 specification introduces VPG800 and VPG1600 performance classes. CFA provides compliance testing processes and tools, and conducts marketing activities to promote member products. The association has over 90 member companies including Canon, Nikon, Sony, SanDisk, Lexar, and others.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- CFexpress® Standard Flash memory card standard built on PCIe Gen 3 and NVMe protocols, available in Type A, Type B, and Type C form factors. Designed to replace CF and CFast for ultra-high-speed data transfers and widely adopted by professional camera manufacturers.
- CompactFlash® (CF) Standard Original flash memory card standard established in 1995. Based on PCMCIA/ATA interface, later evolving with UDMA modes for increased performance. CF 6.0 supports up to 167GB storage capacity.
- CFAST® Standard High-speed flash memory card standard using Serial ATA (SATA) interface instead of parallel ATA, offering speeds up to 300 MB/s. Designed for demanding industrial and professional applications.
- XQD® Format Flash memory card format developed in collaboration with Sony and Nikon, using a PCIe interface. Designed for high-end video and photography applications.
- Video Performance Guarantee (VPG) Certification Program Certification program that guarantees minimum sustained write performance for video capture on CFexpress and CF cards. Includes VPG200, VPG400, VPG800, and VPG1600 performance classes.
- VPG Profile 5 Specification Latest VPG specification defining VPG800 (800MB/sec sustained write) and VPG1600 (1600MB/sec sustained write) classes. Utilizes TLC NAND Flash technologies with preconditioning requirements for economical high-performance video recording.
- CFexpress Compliance Testing Compliance testing processes and tools provided by CFA for each specification. Members can request CFexpress Test Guideline 4.1.0 and other test specifications through the member access portal.
- VPG Certification Service Official certification process for VPG compliance. Card manufacturers test cards per CFA's VPG test script, submit a test report with a certification request form, and after a minimum 10 business days for confirmation, products are added to the official list of VPG certified cards.
Quantifiable outcome
- Widely adopted by professional/prosumer digital cameras and camcorders across 28+ years of operation
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use CompactFlash Assocation
Customer profileNamed customers15 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
CompactFlash Assocation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
CompactFlash Assocation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Sony CorporationcoreSony collaborated with CFA and Nikon to develop the XQD format, using PCIe interface for high-end video and photography. Sony is a current Executive Member with representation on the CFA Board of Directors.
- Nikon CorporationcoreNikon collaborated with CFA and Sony to develop the XQD format. Nikon is an active Executive Member with representation on the CFA Board of Directors, and a vocal supporter of CFA standards for professional imaging.
- SanDisk CorporationcoreSanDisk Corporation (then known as SunDisk) was the founding company of the CompactFlash Association in 1995, establishing standards for CompactFlash memory cards. SanDisk remains an active Executive Member and board participant, contributing to ongoing standards development.
- Canon, Inc.coreCanon is an Executive Member of CFA and has been loyal to CompactFlash since its inception for the performance, capacity, and reliability of CFA product specifications. Canon has representation on the CFA Board of Directors.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
CompactFlash Assocation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- SanDisk / Western Digital: Founding member and leading flash card manufacturer that implements CFA standards; an ecosystem participant rather than a competing standards body.
- Wi-Fi Alliance: Industry consortium that certifies and brands products to a standard; analogous certification-and-trademark model to CFA's VPG program, in a different technology domain.
- Bluetooth SIG: Member-funded standards body that develops specifications and licenses trademarks; comparable governance and business model though in wireless rather than storage.
Direct peers
- JEDEC Solid State Technology Association: Standards organization for memory and storage technologies including UFS and flash; overlaps with CFA as an industry consortium setting memory specifications.
- SD Association: Standards body defining SD, microSD, and SD Express memory card specifications; directly competes with CFA for adoption of removable flash card standards in cameras and consumer devices.
- NVM Express (NVMe): Consortium defining the NVMe protocol that underpins CFexpress; a standards body governing the storage interface CFA builds its cards upon.
- USB Implementers Forum: Non-profit member consortium that develops and certifies USB standards and trademarks; mirrors CFA's model of specification development, compliance testing, and logo licensing.
- PCI-SIG: Standards body for the PCIe interface used by CFexpress and XQD; comparable member-driven consortium developing and licensing hardware specifications.
Emerging players
- UHS / SD3.0 (Ultra High Speed) working groups: Performance-tier standards efforts within the SD ecosystem targeting high-speed removable media, competing for the same high-performance card use cases CFA serves.
- Universal Flash Storage Association / UFS ecosystem: Promotes UFS embedded and removable flash standards; overlaps with CFA on high-speed flash storage in mobile, automotive, and industrial applications.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
CompactFlash Assocation social profiles
Digital presenceCompactFlash Assocation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CompactFlash Assocation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
CompactFlash Assocation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CompactFlash Assocation 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 CompactFlash Assocation
What does CompactFlash Assocation do?
The CompactFlash Association defines and maintains industry standards for professional removable flash memory cards, including CFexpress (PCIe Gen 3 + NVMe), CompactFlash (PCMCIA/ATA), CFAST (SATA), and XQD (PCIe). It provides compliance testing processes and tools for each specification and operates the Video Performance Guarantee (VPG) certification program that guarantees minimum sustained write performance for video capture on memory cards. Specifications and trademarks are made available to member companies via a member portal, with legacy specifications also sold to non-members.
Is CompactFlash Assocation a public or private company?
CompactFlash Assocation is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was CompactFlash Assocation founded?
CompactFlash Assocation was founded in 1995. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is CompactFlash Assocation based?
CompactFlash Assocation is headquartered in Cupertino, United States, in the North America region.
How does CompactFlash Assocation make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Membership Dues are the primary driver. The others are legacy Specification Sales and trademark Licensing.
Who are CompactFlash Assocation's main competitors?
Others on record are SanDisk / Western Digital, Wi-Fi Alliance and Bluetooth SIG. Direct peers are JEDEC Solid State Technology Association, SD Association, NVM Express (NVMe), USB Implementers Forum and PCI-SIG. Emerging players are UHS / SD3.0 (Ultra High Speed) working groups and Universal Flash Storage Association / UFS ecosystem.
Does CompactFlash Assocation have an API?
No public API is recorded for CompactFlash Assocation.
What industry is CompactFlash Assocation in?
CompactFlash Assocation's product category is Memory Card Standards. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDACAIAD, Memory Cards (SD/microSD/CFexpress), with a secondary code of CRACAOAI, Gaming Storage & Memory (SSDs, Memory Cards). Its NAICS code is 334112 and its SIC code is 3572.