UC Berkeley SkyDeck has partnered TSMC, Cadence and SiFive to launch an accelerator track aimed at semiconductor technology developers called Chip Track.

UC Berkeley SkyDeck, the accelerator of University of California (UC) Berkeley, yesterday announced a new program that will focus on semiconductor technology startups.
Dubbed Chip Track, the 12-month program will be aimed at companies developing chips for applications such as machine learning, computer vision, low-power embedded internet-of-things devices and high-performance data centres.
Each participant will receive $100,000 in funding from the Berkeley SkyDeck Fund and will be able to access the expertise of scientific and industry advisers.
The accelerator has partnered SiFive, a fabless provider of customised semiconductors based on research at UC Berkeley, as well as integrated circuit design tool producer Cadence and semiconductor foundry TSMC to develop the track.
SkyDeck is accepting applications through October 31, with the cohort to be selected in time for a spring 2019 start.
Chon Tang, managing director of the Berkeley SkyDeck Fund, said: “This new program will help bring the silicon back to Silicon Valley.
“By collaborating with key industry leaders like Cadence, TSMC and SiFive, and with the long history of Berkeley’s research labs and alumni responsible for many of the semiconductor companies which defined this space, Berkeley SkyDeck is going to enable a new generation of semiconductor startup founders.”
– Feature image courtesy of UC Berkeley SkyDeck