Axiom Microdevices Seeks to Reduce Costs and Increase Efficiency for Cell Phone Makers
4/12/07 – A company that has recently appeared on StartUp Beat’s radar is Irvine-based Axiom Microdevices, a business built upon technology developed at CalTech that provides fully integrated power amplifiers for the cell phone market. Founded in 2002, Axiom uses commodity complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) processes to create cost reduction and integration for cell phone manufacturers.
According to CEO Brett Butler, “We saw the market potential of becoming the first company to use CMOS processes to produce fully integrated power amplifiers for the cellular telephone market – something the industry said could not be done. Our vision is to build on this unique core competency and become a premier supplier of RF solutions to the cellular handset market.”
Axiom seeks to use its CMOS processes to produce fully integrated power amplifiers for phone manufacturers. Butler says this is significant due to the fact that CMOS technology has been the primary driver in the cost reduction of handsets over time.
Axiom and Butler were recently named finalists in the AeA trade association’s High Tech Innovation Awards—the company in the ‘Semiconductors’ category, and Butler for the ‘Outstanding Private Company CEO’ award.
Axiom’s focus is a specific area of cell phone functionality, but Butler is not shy about what he sees as a massive market opportunity for the company.
“More than one billion cellular handsets shipped in 2006. That is Axiom Microdevices’ opportunity,” said Butler. “While other functions inside the cellular handset have benefited from mainstream CMOS, fundamental innovations in the RF section of the handset have not kept pace. Axiom Microdevices is changing this.”
The company has strong ongoing ties with CalTech, an investor in the company, through co-founder Ali Hajimiri, a faculty member of the Caltech Department of Engineering. He continues to chair Axiom’s Technical Advisory Board and spends time at Axiom with employees each week, according to Butler.
Other investors include Anthem Venture Partners, Tallwood Venture Capital, U.S. Venture Partners and VentureTech Alliance. Earlier this year, the company completed a $25 million round of funding.
Axiom Microdevices – www.axiom-micro.com
