In 2022, Rivos was in the spotlight after Apple filed a trade secrets lawsuit against them, alleging that Rivos had hired Apple engineers and used confidential information to create rival chips. Rivos refuted the claims and countersued Apple for unfair competition. Apple eventually settled the lawsuit in February, along with resolving separate litigations with the engineers hired by Rivos.
With the legal battles behind them, Rivos is now focusing on bringing their chipset technology to market. CEO Puneet Kumar expressed enthusiasm about targeting customers in the data-driven solutions space, emphasizing their commitment to building power-efficient, high-performance chips.
The company recently secured over $250 million in funding through an extended Series A round led by Matrix Capital Management, with support from major players in the chip industry like Intel and MediaTek. This marks a significant turnaround for Rivos, which faced challenges in fundraising and recruitment amid the Apple lawsuit last year.
A New Era of Chips
Rivos’ long-term goal is to develop chips designed for servers handling intensive data analytics and AI workloads. Their first chipset, based on the open standard RISC-V architecture, features a data parallel accelerator to enhance AI and big data computations. Utilizing TSMC’s advanced 3nm fabrication process, Rivos is pushing the boundaries of chip technology.
In addition to chip development, Rivos is working on self-contained data center hardware compliant with the Open Compute Project modular standard. They are also creating a comprehensive software stack for programming the chip, offering customers a seamless transition to their efficient hardware.
As Rivos prepares to enter the market, they plan to monetize by offering hardware and software solutions to large data center operators. Early investors see potential in Rivos’ innovative approach, highlighting their unique capabilities in a competitive chip market.
Challenges and Competition
Joining a crowded field of chip manufacturers, Rivos faces stiff competition from tech giants and startups alike. Companies like Google, Amazon, and Microsoft are investing heavily in developing custom chips for AI and analytics, challenging newcomers like Rivos. Nvidia, with its dominant market share, poses a formidable obstacle for emerging players in the chip industry.
Despite the intense competition and market dynamics, Rivos remains optimistic about their prospects. With a strong financial backing and a dedicated team, they are poised to expand their manufacturing capabilities and focus on software engineering to meet the evolving demands of the industry.
