Category: Press Release

 

Thalia Design Automation today announced that is has been selected by Catena, a leader in radio frequency (RF) communication intellectual property (IP) for connectivity, to support a range of projects that will enhance Catena’s analog IP reuse strategy, as the company seeks to diversify its portfolio of products to better serve system-on-chip (SoC) designers targeting mobile, Internet-of-things (IoT) and RF connectivity markets.

Catena has a 30-year track record of partnering with global IC makers to design analog electronic systems, with particular strengths in RF and signal processing implementations. Its silicon-proven Connectivity RF portfolio includes optimized, very low power IP blocks such as Bluetooth Smart radio, Bluetooth Smart Ready radio, most Wi-Fi variants (including MIMO), and combined Bluetooth / WiFi offerings.

By calling on Thalia’s expertise and technology, Catena will dramatically streamline its analog design flow and create an analog IP reuse methodology that enables it to deliver products tailored exactly to its customers’ requirements, quickly and at reduced cost. The ability to performance-optimize, create product variants and target any process technology contrasts with the industry’s traditional model of hand-crafting every new design “from the ground up” – a time consuming process that diverts precious resources from innovation and the development of new products.

“We’re taking a new approach, which represents a fundamental shift in the way analog IP is created and delivered,” said Kave Kianush, Catena Vice President and Chief Technology Officer. “Our relationship with Thalia helps us to deliver exactly the right feature and performance combination for our customers, against ever more demanding time-to-market and cost requirements. Thalia’s combination of novel design automation technology and analog design expertise is unique in the market: we’ve already seen a positive impact on our ability to deliver against tight customer deadlines.”

Sowmyan Rajagopalan, Thalia Founder, CEO and CTO, commented: “Catena lead the field in providing RF IP solutions that can be easily integrated into customer applications, while delivering outstanding performance cost-effectively. We’re seeing a dramatic shift in the analog design landscape, where everyone is under great pressure to re-use IP and establish more structured methodology. Thalia is proud to be able to contribute to Catena’s continuing pre-eminence in this demanding field: we look forward to a successful continuing relationship.”

Thalia provides a range of solutions for RF, analog and mixed-signal technology transfer and design optimization, derivative generation and IP creation, based on a unique combination of design automation technology, methodology and design know-how. Its customers include integrated circuit (IC) manufacturers and IP houses looking to quickly and cost-effectively diversify their product range, and leverage the most appropriate semiconductor manufacturing technologies.

Rodger Sykes, Thalia Executive Chairman, said: “Working with Catena is just one example of the substantial customer traction Thalia is already achieving. We are offering a truly disruptive technology, in a sector of the global electronics industry that is gaining increasing importance. Alongside Catena, we’re creating change that is truly revolutionary.”

Catena combines advanced RF design with access to advanced technology nodes: as part of this the company works closely with multiple foundries, including TSMC and Global Foundries (GF). It recently announced completion of porting of the Connectivity RF portfolio to the GF 28nm-SLP process. Such capabilities offer customers new levels of product performance, reliability and scalability, which in turn allows them to focus on the value add in their designs and push the innovation envelope.

About Thalia Design Automation

Thalia is a venture funded technology business with facilities in Cwmbran UK, and Hyderabad India. The company provides analog / mixed signal design solutions for integrated circuit (IC) manufacturers and IP companies, via unique design automation technology and strong value-added services capabilities. The company’s investors include Mercia Fund Managers and Finance Wales: it has also received grant funding from Innovate UK and The Welsh Government.

About Catena

Since its establishment in 1986, Catena is recognized as the partner of choice for global IC makers in designing wireless connectivity and sensor electronics system solutions created by world-class RF, signal processing and system architecture experts. Catena is providing full custom IC developments as well as complete System IP for various applications, enabling its customer’s fast time to market. The developments are mainly one chip solutions including RF, Analog, Mixed signal, Digital signal processing, Embedded Cores, Embedded Software and tooling. For further information please visit http://www.catena.tech.

 

Existing investors re-commit as customer traction grows

Thalia Design Automation today announced the completion of a $865k (£640k) funding round that will allow it to drive market uptake of its innovative methodology solutions for analog IP (intellectual property) re-use, design migration and derivative creation. With renewed commitments from the company’s existing investors, Mercia Fund Managers and Finance Wales, this latest funding round is a recognition of significant customer traction achieved by Thalia within the last 18 months, and the strong future potential of its offerings in the analog design and IP space.

“This new investment is a strong endorsement of our market strategy,” said Rodger Sykes, Thalia Executive Chairman and Director. “Analog IP re-use is one of the biggest challenges facing the electronics industry today, and customers tell us that our approach, blending advanced design automation tools and methodology with experienced, expert design resources, really provides them with a competitive edge for reduced cost and time to market.”

Thalia will use this latest round of investment to continue building its customer engagement base and increase its expert team of analog IC developers. The company provides RF, analog and mixed-signal technology transfer, derivative and IP creation solutions, based on a unique combination of design automation technology, methodology and design know-how. Its customers include integrated circuit (IC) manufacturers and IP houses looking to quickly and cost-effectively diversify their product range, and leverage the most appropriate semiconductor manufacturing technologies.

“Our customers report schedule, cost and resource savings of up to 50% – not to mention the ability to re-focus internal teams on new development programs, where they can add most value,” added Sowmyan Rajagopalan, Thalia Founder, CEO and CTO. “Our message to IP providers is that analog design doesn’t have to be a black art – there are technologies and design resources out there that can help with re-use and product diversification, every bit as powerful as those available in the digital design space.”

Tim Hazell, Investment Director at Mercia Fund Managers, said: “Thalia has the opportunity to establish a leading position in automating the design of analog and mixed signal integrated circuits. It’s an exciting growth area, and we are delighted to continue our support of Thalia and its further development.”

Dr Carl Griffiths, Fund Manager with Finance Wales, commented: “Innovative technology ventures like Thalia are among our prime targets for investment. Thalia’s increasing traction in the high value global technology space and robust business model have put them in a strong position – we’re delighted to be able to renew our commitment to the company.”

About Thalia

Thalia is a venture funded technology business with facilities in Cwmbran, Wales, UK, and Hyderabad, India. The company provides analog / mixed signal design solutions for integrated circuit (IC) manufacturers and IP companies, via unique design automation technology and strong value-added services capabilities. The company’s investors include Mercia Fund Managers and Finance Wales: it has also received grant funding from Innovate UK and The Welsh Government.

About Mercia Fund Managers

Mercia Fund Managers provide both equity and debt finance to small businesses based in the UK regions. The Group has more than 400 businesses in its portfolio, a strong record including 11 IPOs and manages in excess of £330.0milllion of third party funds, including Mercia EIS Funds.
• Mercia Fund Management Limited is authorised and regulated by the FCA under firm reference number 524856
• Enterprise Ventures Limited is authorised and regulated by the FCA under firm reference number 183363
• EV Business Loans Limited is authorised and regulated by the FCA under firm reference number 443560

 

Mercia Fund Management and Finance Wales lead significant investment in Electronic Design Automation start-up

Henley in Arden — April 29, 2014. Thalia Design Automation Limited (Thalia) today announced completion of its A round funding and imminent beta availability of its range of innovation Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tools. Thalia will provide chip designers with a new generation of tools for optimising analogue, mixed signal and power designs.

Electronic (Silicon) chips are either digital or analogue circuits (with combinations referred to as mixed signal). The design of analogue and mixed signal circuits is traditionally regarded as a black art, needing highly skilled and scarce engineering resource, relatively long design cycles and often multiple design iterations to get to a production product.

There is a major opportunity for more design automation in this sector. EDA tools needed to simplify and speed up design process have seen little advance in the last 30 years. Thalia is about to change this with the launch of a new generation of analogue EDA tools focused on helping designers to optimise and perfect their designs. Optimisations tasks which typically took several days to weeks to complete can now be performed in a matter of hours.

Automating optimisation of circuits involves considering million’s of combinations of numerous different component parameters to select the right combination with gives the best circuit performance. Thalia has developed sophisticated artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms which can rapidly seek the optimum solution. These tools will not only assist engineers’ produce better designs but also greatly increase their productivity and reduce chip design time-scales. A further benefit is that the toolsets can be used to rapidly retarget existing designs to alternative silicon foundries for cost reduction and sourcing flexibility.

Led by Dr Rodger Sykes, Chairman and Sowmyan Rajagopalan, CEO, Thalia has now completed this initial equity funding round with Mercia Fund Management and Finance Wales. In addition the company has secured grant support from the Technology Strategy Board (TSB) and the Welsh Government.

Sowmyan Rajagopalan, Founder and CEO of Thalia, comments: “Analogue design methodology has remained unchanged for a long time. I have seen the technical and time consuming efforts analogue designers have had to live with in order to design and optimise their circuits. Thalia’s tools will enable users to meet more challenging design requirements within shorter time frames. Custom chip design companies will benefit from reduced design times, shortened redesign cycles, better performing parts and more effective use of scarce skilled design resource.”

Everard Mascarenhas, Investment Manager at Mercia Fund Management added: “We are extremely pleased to have invested in a company that has developed solutions that not only address a technical challenge but also bring productivity gains for customers. Thalia has developed a truly disruptive technology in a multi-billion dollar worldwide market where the incumbents grow and expand their offer through acquisition.”

Ann Casey, Investment Executive at Finance Wales commented: “Thalia’s next-generation automation technology has the potential to simplify and speed up the process of designing the Silicon chips that are a key part of the electronic devices we use every day. Finance Wales’ and Mercia’s investment is part of a larger funding round that also includes Welsh Government and Technology Strategy Board grants. We’re delighted to join forces with them to enable this innovative company to set up in Cwmbran.”

About Thalia Design Automation Limited (Thalia-DA)

Thalia provides 2 suits of EDA design tools; AMALIA™, an intelligent analogue design optimisation & automation toolset and EMERA™, a unique power device optimiser, schematic and layout generator. As well as offering these tools on a time based software license, Thalia will also offer a design optimisation service directly and through partners.

www.thalia-da.com

About Mercia Fund Management

Mercia Fund Management (MFM) is has over £19 million under active management.

MFM provides investment growth capital for businesses ranging from early commercial traction through to those seeking expansion or working capital that are trading profitably. Furthermore, MFM can also provide cost-effective post-seed incubator accommodation at Forward House in Henley-in-Arden coupled with centralised support services in keeping with its model as a hands-on, supportive investor.

Mercia Growth Fund 3, which launched December 2013, is closing for new investment in April 2014 and is targeted to raise circa £5 million.

MFM is an FCA authorised and regulated fund manager under FSMA (FRN: 524856).

www.merciafund.co.uk

About Finance Wales

Finance Wales was established by the Welsh Government in 2001 and provides commercial funding to small and medium-sized businesses throughout Wales to enable them to realise their potential for innovation and growth. The company is part of the Finance Wales Group and in 2012-13 Finance Wales invested £31 million through 189 debt and equity investments in growing Welsh businesses.

Finance Wales Group is one of the UK’s largest SME investors which has invested over £309 million through more than 3,222 investments and manages funds approaching £400 million.

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