Chips&Media
Chips&Media provides hardware video codec IP, image-processing NPU IP, and frame buffer compression IP to semiconductor companies globally. Its technology powers 3B+ units across mobile, automotive, surveillance, and edge AI applications through B2B licensing to 150+ customers.
- Company typePublic
- Founded2003
- HeadquartersSeoul, South Korea
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Chips&Media does
Chips&Media, Inc. is a Seoul, South Korea-headquartered semiconductor IP company founded in 2003 and listed on KOSDAQ (ticker: 094360) since 2015. The company specializes in hardware video codec IP, image-processing NPU IP, and frame buffer compression IP, with its technology deployed in more than 3 billion units across mobile, automotive, surveillance, and edge AI applications. Its portfolio supports all major video standards including AV2, AV1, HEVC, AVC, VP9, APV, VVC, and JPEG, with the WAVE6 Gen2+ Series serving as the flagship multi-standard codec family and WAVE-P providing the world's first standalone APV hardware codec.
The product portfolio is organized across three categories: video codec IP (WAVE6 Gen2+, WAVE6, WAVE5, and legacy JPEG/CODA/BODA series), NPU IP (WAVE-N and WAVE-N v2 for AI-based imaging at 2 TOPS with 4x-10x faster processing than competitors), and frame buffer compression (CFrame60 for 4K60fps to 8K reducing DRAM bandwidth). Chips&Media generates revenue through a B2B IP licensing model combining one-time licensing fees with ongoing per-unit royalty payments, serving over 150 semiconductor companies globally. Notable engagements include North American Big Tech (AV2 and APV codec licensing), Ambarella (edge AI vision), Samsung and Qualcomm (APV ecosystem), BMW, GoPro, and a Chinese AI joint venture partner for autonomous driving IP.
The company operates an enterprise field sales go-to-market targeting semiconductor companies and OEMs, with ecosystem positioning across the AOMedia alliance, the Samsung/Google/Qualcomm-led APV ecosystem, and TSMC (3nm library access). Chips&Media expanded its R&D footprint with a Daegu R&D center opened in early 2024, increased R&D spending to 11.5 billion KRW (~40% of revenue), and broadened from video codec IP into AI imaging via the Visionary.ai collaboration (AI-based Full ISP, CES 2026). 2025 operating revenue reached 28.4 billion KRW with 7 billion KRW operating profit, and the company raised 100 billion KRW via exchangeable bonds in December 2025 to support growth and CEO-stated M&A intent.
Chips&Media firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Chips&Media
- Legal name
- Chips&Media, Inc.
- Website
- https://chipsnmedia.com
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 2003
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Chips&Media provides hardware video codec IP, image-processing NPU IP, and frame buffer compression IP to semiconductor companies globally. Its technology powers 3B+ units across mobile, automotive, surveillance, and edge AI applications through B2B licensing to 150+ customers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Chips&Media industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Semiconductor IP
- NAICS
- Semiconductor and Related Device Manufacturing (334413), Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing (3344)
- SIC
- Semiconductors & Related Devices (3674), Electronic Components, Nec (3679)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Hardware/Chip Design IP Cores (Processor, Interface, Analog, Security) (HDAHAFAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Audio, Imaging & Multimedia SoCs (ISP/Codec/Display) (HDAHABAH), Silicon IP Subsystems & Chiplet IP (Die-to-Die, UCIe, NoC, I/O chiplets) (HDAHAFAH), IP Enablement, Characterization & Porting Services (HDAHAFAI), System-on-Chip (SoC) Platforms (Mobile/Consumer/Embedded) (HDAHAJAC), Digital Signal Processors (DSPs) (HDAHAJAD), Mobile Chipsets & Modems (Smartphone SoCs, Baseband) (CRACALAC)
Keywords
Where Chips&Media is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Seoul
- HQ country
- South Korea
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices2 records
Markets served
Chips&Media business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- IP Licensing Fees: One-time licensing fees for semiconductor companies to integrate Chips&Media's video codec IP, NPU IP, and frame buffer compression IP into their SoCs. Major licensing deals include agreements with North American Big Tech and Ambarella.
- Royalty Revenue: Ongoing royalty payments based on shipped units incorporating Chips&Media IP. Royalty revenue reached approximately 30 billion KRW annually with 31% growth in Q1 2026. Foreign royalties alone account for approximately 10 billion KRW per year.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Chips&Media product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Chips&Media designs and licenses hardware IP cores for video codec (supporting standards such as H.264, HEVC, VP9, AV1, VVC, and AVS), neural processing units (NPU), and frame buffer compression to semiconductor companies for integration into system-on-chips (SoCs). Its IP portfolio targets mobile, automotive, surveillance, broadcast, and consumer electronics applications, and its technology is reported as silicon-proven in more than 3 billion shipped units across 150+ customer SoCs.
Product overview
Chips&Media is a premium multimedia IP provider offering a comprehensive portfolio of hardware IP products organized into three main categories: Video Codec IP (WAVE6 Gen2+, WAVE6, WAVE5, and legacy JPEG/CODA/BODA series), NPU IP (WAVE-N and WAVE-N v2 for AI-based imaging), and Frame Buffer Compression (CFrame60). The flagship WAVE6 Gen2+ series supports next-generation video standards including AV2, AV1, VVC, HEVC, AVC, and VP9, while WAVE-P delivers the world's first standalone APV codec for professional video applications. The WAVE-N NPU family provides specialized AI processing for imaging tasks including object detection, super-resolution, and noise reduction. The company serves markets spanning mobile devices, automotive (ADAS), surveillance, IoT, robotics, and autonomous driving, powering over 3 billion units adopted by more than 150 semiconductor companies worldwide.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- WAVE Series: Flagship multi-codec video IP lineup including WAVE6, WAVE5, and WAVE-P for professional video
- WAVE-N
- WAVE-N v2
- CFrame60
- CFrame Series
Products and services
- WAVE6 Gen2+ Series (flagship video codec IP) Flagship next-generation hardware video codec IP from Chips&Media supporting advanced video compression standards (including HEVC, VVC, and AV1), designed for integration into high-end mobile, automotive, and broadcast SoCs.
- WAVE6 Series (video codec IP) High-performance hardware video codec IP supporting major standards including H.264, HEVC, VP9, and AV1, intended for integration into premium consumer and mobile SoCs.
- WAVE5 Series (video codec IP) Mainstream hardware video codec IP optimized for power and area efficiency, targeted at mobile and consumer SoC designs requiring mainstream video compression capability.
- WAVE-P (APV Codec IP) Standalone APV (Advanced Photo/Video) hardware codec IP core for advanced photo and video processing in SoC designs.
- WAVE-N (CMNP) Neural Processing Unit IP Neural Processing Unit (NPU / CMNP) IP core from Chips&Media for on-device AI inference acceleration, targeting mobile, IoT, and edge computing SoCs.
- CFrame60 Frame Buffer Compression IP CFrame60 frame buffer compression IP core for reducing DRAM bandwidth requirements and lowering power consumption in SoCs with high-resolution displays.
- AI-based Full Image Signal Processor (ISP) AI-driven full image signal processor (ISP) IP for advanced image quality, noise reduction, and computational photography in camera and vision SoCs.
- Legacy JPEG/CODA/BODA Codec IPs Legacy hardware video and still-image codec IP cores (JPEG, CODA, BODA and related) maintained by Chips&Media to support existing customer SoC programs requiring older compression standards.
Quantifiable outcome
- 3,000,000,000+ units powered in the market
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Chips&Media
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Chips&Media technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability6 records
Feature6 records
Chips&Media partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered major, key and core.
- AmbarellamajorStrategic license for latest-generation video codec IP targeting edge and physical AI vision silicon. Following rigorous technical evaluation, the partnership addresses autonomous driving, IoT, industrial automation, and robotics ecosystems. Chips&Media's IP enables 8K processing with optimized power, performance, bandwidth, and area (PPBA) for next-generation vision solutions.
- Visionary.aikeyCollaboration to develop the world's first AI-based full Image Signal Processor. Visionary.ai provides AI software for image processing while Chips&Media contributes hardware IP and NPU expertise. The technology delivers superior video quality with 75% increase in object detection and 91% reduction in false positives in low-light environments.
- Samsung ElectronicscoreCollaborative development of APV (Advanced Professional Video) codec ecosystem. Samsung leads APV codec initiation with support from Google and Qualcomm, while Chips&Media provides the world's first standalone APV hardware IP (WAVE-P).
- GooglecoreKey Android ecosystem partner driving APV codec adoption alongside Samsung and Qualcomm. Google supports APV standard through Android OS and ASWF open-source ecosystem.
- QualcommcoreKey SoC platform provider in Android industry that unveiled APV codec support as part of new Snapdragon for launches in 2026 and beyond. Partnership accelerates APV adoption in edge devices.
- TSMCkeyTSMC 3nm library access received, enabling Chips&Media to support advanced process nodes for its IP offerings. Participation in TSMC OIP Ecosystem Forum demonstrates close ecosystem relationship.
- Chinese AI Company (Joint Venture)keyJoint venture established with Chinese AI company for local data center market penetration and autonomous driving IP supply. JV enables Chips&Media to access Chinese market and provide IP to Chinese autonomous driving companies.
- AOMedia (Alliance for Open Media)coreKey contributor and member of AOMedia organization. Chips&Media has maintained close collaboration for several years, successfully commercializing AV1 encoder and decoder IPs. Now proactively developing AV2 decoder to contribute to open, high-efficiency video ecosystem expansion.
- Matt Frost (AOMedia Steering Committee Chairman)coreAOMedia Steering Committee Chairman who publicly recognized Chips&Media as a vital partner for video standards, providing rapid hardware IP support for VP9, AV1, and now AV2.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights7 records
Chips&Media competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- CEVA, Inc. Licensor of DSP and AI processor IP used in video, audio, and imaging applications; competes with Chips&Media's WAVE-N NPU and codec IP for multimedia SoC design wins.
- Synopsys: Broad EDA and IP giant offering ARC video processor IP and DesignWare multimedia IP; overlapping product lines but as part of a much larger portfolio across EDA, IP, and software integrity.
- Imagination Technologies: UK-based IP vendor offering PowerVR video encoder/decoder IP and GPU/NPU IP for multimedia SoCs; comparable target customers and IP licensing model.
- Cadence: EDA leader with Tensilica DSP IP and growing multimedia/video IP portfolio; competes with Chips&Media in DSP-based video and audio processing for SoCs.
Others
- Ambarella: Edge AI vision SoC company and Chips&Media customer; not a direct competitor but a key partner that integrates video codec IP into its chipsets for autonomous driving, IoT, and robotics.
Direct peers
- MainConcept: Video codec IP and software provider offering HEVC, AV1, VVC encoders/decoders for broadcast, professional, and consumer applications; competes with Chips&Media in codec IP licensing.
- Allegro DVT: Direct competitor in hardware video codec IP, offering encoder/decoder IPs for HEVC, AV1, VVC and other standards; comparable licensing model to Chips&Media.
- Ittiam Systems: India-based video codec IP and solutions company with patent portfolio in HEVC, AV1, VVC; directly comparable as a video IP specialist licensing to semiconductor customers.
- VeriSilicon: China-based semiconductor IP platform offering video codec, NPU, and image processing IP cores; comparable ASIC/SoC IP licensing business with multimedia focus.
Emerging players
- V-Nova: UK-based video compression technology company focused on next-gen codecs (e.g., MPEG-5 part 2 LCEVC); adjacent to Chips&Media in next-generation video IP but with different distribution model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Chips&Media social profiles
Digital presenceChips&Media compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Chips&Media financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Chips&Media leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Chips&Media subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Chips&Media funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Chips&Media 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 Chips&Media
What does Chips&Media do?
Chips&Media designs and licenses hardware IP cores for video codec (supporting standards such as H.264, HEVC, VP9, AV1, VVC, and AVS), neural processing units (NPU), and frame buffer compression to semiconductor companies for integration into system-on-chips (SoCs). Its IP portfolio targets mobile, automotive, surveillance, broadcast, and consumer electronics applications, and its technology is reported as silicon-proven in more than 3 billion shipped units across 150+ customer SoCs.
Is Chips&Media a public or private company?
Chips&Media is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was Chips&Media founded?
Chips&Media was founded in 2003. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Chips&Media based?
Chips&Media is headquartered in Seoul, South Korea, in the Asia region.
How does Chips&Media make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. IP Licensing Fees are the primary driver. The others are royalty Revenue.
Who are Chips&Media's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are CEVA, Inc., Synopsys, Imagination Technologies and Cadence. Ambarella is listed as an others. Direct peers are MainConcept, Allegro DVT, Ittiam Systems and VeriSilicon. V-Nova is listed as an emerging player.
Does Chips&Media have an API?
No public API is recorded for Chips&Media.
What industry is Chips&Media in?
Chips&Media's product category is Semiconductor IP. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAHAFAF, Hardware/Chip Design IP Cores (Processor, Interface, Analog, Security), with a secondary code of HDAHABAH, Audio, Imaging & Multimedia SoCs (ISP/Codec/Display). Its NAICS code is 334413 and its SIC code is 3674.