AVnu Alliance

What AVnu Alliance does

Avnu Alliance is a private, membership-based standards and certification consortium founded in 2009 and headquartered in Beaverton, Oregon. The organization develops and maintains conformance test plans, certification programs, and technical specifications for Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) — a set of IEEE 802.1 standards (including 802.1AS timing synchronization and 802.1Qbv traffic scheduling) that deliver deterministic, real-time packet delivery over standard Ethernet. Avnu also owns and operates the Milan protocol, a deterministic media-networking specification for the professional AV market built on AVB/TSN.

The company's product portfolio comprises TSN Certification Programs (Component, Network Device, Milan Device, and Automotive), the Milan specification, conformance test plans (sold individually or accessed free via membership), the public Certified Product Registry, plugfest interoperability events, and the newly launched EXCEP Expert Certification Program for professional training. It serves four primary verticals: ProAV/Milan (largest, with marquee installations at Hollywood Bowl, Friends Arena, Croke Park, and YouTube Theater), Automotive (in-vehicle Ethernet AVB/TSN), Industrial (TIACC collaboration on IEC/IEEE 60802), and Aerospace & Defense (IEEE 802.1DP / SAE AS6675 conformance). Membership spans silicon vendors, network equipment providers, and end-device manufacturers globally across North America, Europe, and Asia.

Avnu generates revenue primarily through tiered annual membership fees — Promoter ($12,000), Adopter ($6,500), Academic ($2,000), and Milan Associate ($1,000) — supplemented by one-time test-plan license fees (e.g., $500 per plan for non-members) and EXCEP training-partner fees ($3,000 annually). The organization is governed by a board drawn from member companies including Intel, Microchip, L-Acoustics, Meyer Sound, d&b audiotechnik, and Analog Devices, and operates without disclosed private equity, venture, or institutional investment ownership. The Executive Director (Rachel Sienkowski) is employed through VTM Group, indicating an outsourced-operations administrative structure.

Name

AVnu Alliance

Legal name

Avnu Alliance, Inc.

Website

https://avnu.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Avnu Alliance is a private, membership-based standards and certification consortium developing conformance test plans and certification programs for Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) and the Milan AVB protocol, serving silicon vendors, network equipment providers, and end-device manufacturers across ProAV, automotive, industrial, and aerospace markets globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Beaverton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Avnu Alliance generates revenue through annual membership fees at four tiers: Promoter ($12,000/year), Adopter ($6,500/year), Academic/Research Institute ($2,000/year), and Milan Associate ($1,000/year). Higher tiers receive more privileges including voting rights and early access to specifications.
2. Test Plan Sales: Avnu sells test plan documents to non-members for informational and evaluation purposes. Test plans are available for purchase (e.g., $500 for 802.1Qbv Traffic Scheduling test plan). Members access test plans at no cost through the member portal.
3. EXCEP Certification Program Fees: The Expert Certification Program (EXCEP) charges training partners $3,000 annually (free for Promoter members). Training partners deliver curriculum and administer exams through the Synap platform for Milan AVB TSN professionals.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Avnu Alliance is a standards and certification consortium that develops conformance test plans, test tools, and certification programs for IEEE 802.1 Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) technologies. It sells access to these through tiered memberships (Promoter, Adopter, Academic, Milan Associate), standalone test-plan purchases, and the EXCEP professional training and certification program, serving silicon vendors, infrastructure providers, and end-device manufacturers across ProAV/Milan, Automotive, Industrial, and Aerospace markets.

Product overview

Avnu Alliance is a standards organization that provides a comprehensive portfolio of certification programs, test specifications, and technical specifications for Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) technologies. The portfolio includes the core TSN Certification Program covering Component, Network Device, Milan Device, and Automotive certifications; Avnu Test Plans (802.1AS, 802.1Qbv) for conformance testing; the Milan Specification for Pro AV deterministic networking; the EXCEP Expert Certification Program for professional training; and the Certified Product Registry documenting all verified products. These offerings work together to enable interoperable, deterministic networking across aerospace, automotive, industrial, and professional AV markets, with plugfest events supporting pre-certification testing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Milan: A sub-brand of Avnu Alliance for Pro AV networking, providing deterministic media networking specifications and Milan certification for professional audio/video devices and systems.

Products and services

• Milan Device Certification Program Certification program specifically for Milan end devices in the Pro AV market, ensuring interoperability and adherence to Milan specification standards for deterministic audio/video networking. Intended for ProAV equipment manufacturers seeking Milan-certified products.
• Network Devices Certification Program Certification program for network infrastructure devices such as Ethernet switches used in TSN networks, covering ProAV, Automotive, and Industrial applications. Intended for switch vendors and infrastructure manufacturers.
• TSN Component Certification Program World's first TSN component-level certification program that validates interoperability of TSN silicon and sub-system components within converged networks, launched in June 2024. Intended for silicon vendors and component manufacturers.
• Ethernet Switch Certification Certification program introduced in July 2024 to enhance and streamline certification processes for TSN-capable Ethernet switches across ProAV, Automotive, and Industrial deployments. Intended for switch and infrastructure OEMs.
• Automotive Certification Program Certification program for in-vehicle Ethernet AVB/TSN devices ensuring conformance to automotive-specific requirements and multivendor interoperability. Intended for automotive Tier-1 suppliers and OEMs.
• EXCEP (Expert Certification Program) Premier training and individual certification initiative launched in June 2026 to build deep expertise in TSN technologies, with initial focus on the Pro AV market. Delivered through EXCEP certified training partners using standardized curriculum and online exams via the Synap platform.
• Milan Specification Open technical specification for deterministic Pro AV media networking built on AVB/TSN standards, providing precise timing, prioritization, reservation, and traffic shaping. Accessible to members via the member portal.
• Avnu Test Plans (IEEE 802.1AS and 802.1Qbv) Standalone conformance test plan documents for IEEE 802.1AS Time Synchronization and IEEE 802.1Qbv Traffic Scheduling and Shaping, sold individually for $500 to non-members (free to members) for internal informational and evaluation purposes. Used by manufacturers preparing products for Avnu certification.
• Certified Product Registry Public registry of all Avnu-certified products across Component, Network Device, Milan, and Automotive certification programs, allowing buyers and integrators to verify certified devices. Searchable at avnu.org.
• Plugfest Interoperability Events Pre-certification interoperability testing events hosted by Avnu at industry conferences (e.g., InfoComm, ISE) where member companies test TSN implementations and demonstrate multivendor interoperability before formal certification. Accessible to members.

Quantifiable outcome

• Sub-microsecond time synchronization achievable with IEEE 802.1AS
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers7 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

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• CC-Link Partner AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAvnu Alliance collaborates with CC-Link Partner Association as part of TIACC (TSN Industrial Association Conformance Collaboration) to develop a single conformance test plan for the IEC/IEEE 60802 TSN profile for industrial automation. This enables common approaches to TSN interoperability across industrial protocols.
• ODVAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAvnu Alliance collaborates with ODVA through TIACC to develop common conformance testing for TSN in industrial automation, ensuring interoperability between DeviceNet and EtherNet/IP protocols with TSN networks.
• OPC FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership through TIACC to enable common conformance testing for TSN that supports OPC UA communication over time-sensitive networks in industrial settings.
• PROFIBUS & PROFINET InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration through TIACC to develop unified test plans for TSN conformance that enables PROFIBUS and PROFINET protocols to operate over converged industrial networks.
• Keysight TechnologiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKeysight is a founding sponsor of the Aerospace and Defense TSN Summit and participates in the Aerospace Task Group to develop certification programs for IEEE 802.1DP TSN profile for aerospace applications.
• GE AerospacecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGE Aerospace co-sponsors the Aerospace and Defense TSN Summit and contributes to the IEEE 802.1DP certification framework development for aerospace platforms.
• MicrochipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMicrochip is a sponsor of the Aerospace and Defense TSN Summit and contributes to TSN certification and implementation efforts across Avnu working groups.
• IEEEcoreTechnology or IntegrationAvnu Alliance is built on IEEE 802.1 TSN standards including 802.1AS (timing), 802.1Qbv (scheduling), and 802.1DP (aerospace profile). Avnu develops conformance testing for IEEE standards.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• ODVA: ODVA develops and certifies CIP-based industrial protocols (DeviceNet, EtherNet/IP) and is a TIACC partner co-developing TSN test plans with Avnu, sharing the same industrial-automation member base and conformance-driven business model.
• MIPI Alliance: MIPI Alliance is a membership consortium that develops and certifies specifications for mobile and mobile-influenced interfaces. It mirrors Avnu's chip-to-device value chain and conformance testing approach, though focused on chip-to-peripheral interfaces rather than networking.
• Wi-Fi Alliance: The Wi-Fi Alliance is the closest structural analogue: a membership-based industry consortium that certifies wireless networking products against IEEE standards. Both organizations monetize multi-tier membership, certification programs, and plugfest-style testing events.
• USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF): USB-IF operates a near-identical model: tiered promoter and adopter membership, certification of compliant products, and certification logo programs for wired connectivity - directly comparable to Avnu's TSN Component and Network Device certifications.
• Ethernet Alliance: The Ethernet Alliance promotes and certifies Ethernet-based technologies, including TSN-related interoperability events, and shares Avnu's audience of silicon vendors, switch makers, and system integrators building deterministic Ethernet products.
• Bluetooth SIG: Bluetooth SIG is a membership-driven standards body that certifies interoperable short-range wireless products through tiered membership and a qualification program - the same business model Avnu uses for TSN and Milan certifications.
• HDMI Licensing Administrator: HDMI LA manages adopter membership and certification testing for HDMI-compliant AV products, mirroring Avnu's Milan certification for ProAV devices and serving a similar mix of OEMs, system integrators, and end customers.
• CC-Link Partner Association: CC-Link Partner Association is a TIACC partner that develops and certifies industrial networking protocols, with a comparable consortium structure and a direct co-development relationship with Avnu on TSN conformance for industrial automation.

Others

• IEEE Standards Association: IEEE-SA is the upstream standards body whose 802.1 TSN specifications underpin all of Avnu's certification work; it is the enabling standards authority rather than a direct competitor, but a key relationship that defines Avnu's relevance.

Broad incumbents

• JEDEC: JEDEC is a much larger semiconductor standards organization whose tiered membership and standards-development model parallels Avnu's, but with a much broader scope across memory, packaging, and semiconductor interfaces rather than networking.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/Avnu_Alliance
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCJNnwicW3nqebKCTR41mO3Q
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/avnu-alliance

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 AVnu Alliance