This repository is a curated list of semiconductor startups, serving as a resource for researchers, investors, and industry professionals tracking innovation in the sector. It provides a categorized overview of companies developing novel hardware technologies, from AI accelerators to quantum computing solutions, facilitating market analysis and trend identification.

How It Works

The project maintains a comprehensive CSV file (startups.csv) detailing companies, their technology focus, founding year, country, and a brief description. Entries are categorized based on a predefined technology taxonomy (e.g., AI, RISC-V, Photonics). The data is intended to be updated via a pull request workflow, involving creating a branch, adding entries, running an update script, and submitting the changes.

Quick Start & Requirements

• Adding a company:
  1. Create a branch.
  2. Add entry to ./startups.csv.
  3. Run $ python ./update.py.
  4. Submit a Pull Request.
• Submission Guidelines: Startups must be in a startup phase, be semiconductor-focused (not application software), and product-oriented (not services). Descriptions should be short, single-sentence, and avoid performance claims. All entries require a public confirmation link.

Highlighted Details

• Categorizes startups across 20+ technology areas including AI, RISC-V, Photonics, and EDA.
• Includes a separate "Alumni" section tracking companies that have been acquired, IPO'd, or shut down.
• Provides data on founding year, country, and exit status for a broad range of semiconductor ventures.
• Enforces strict formatting rules for descriptions (max 80 chars, no performance claims).

Maintenance & Community

The repository is maintained by aolofsson. The README indicates that plots were manually extracted in 02/2025 and are not auto-generated, suggesting a community-driven, but potentially manually curated, update process.

Licensing & Compatibility

The repository does not explicitly state a license. However, the nature of the content (a list of companies) generally implies permissive use for informational purposes.

Limitations & Caveats

The README mentions that plots are manually extracted, implying that the visualization data might not be automatically updated or verifiable through code. The "Alumni" section lists future exit years (e.g., 2025), which may be speculative or based on projections rather than confirmed events.