India-headquartered semiconductor and system design services company MosChip Technologies recently announced the appointment of Srinivasa Rao Kakumanu as the new CEO and MD. In a conversation with DIGITIMES Asia, Kakumanu unveiled the company's strategic vision to broaden its horizons by venturing into new markets and diversifying its portfolio, thereby reinforcing its market position.
"In the area of embedded systems, our focus has primarily been on sectors such as automotive, telecommunications, and industrial automation," Kakumanu said. "However, we recognize the potential in expanding into other domains, including healthcare, robotics, and networking—areas where our presence is currently minimal.
"And while the majority of our clientele are situated in the US, and we have established partnerships with leading firms in India, our footprint in Europe and other Asian regions is comparatively limited. To address this, we are strategically enhancing our sales and marketing efforts to broaden our influence and establish a more robust presence in these untapped markets."
The road ahead
At present, MosChip boasts a workforce of over 1,300 employees in 5 locations across the globe. Kakumanu explained that the company is not only identifying and targeting untapped markets and regions but is also dedicated to attracting the right talent and upholding a high level of customer satisfaction.
"Our goal is to not only hire and retain the right talent but also to uphold the highest standards of customer satisfaction," Kakumanu added. "We are dedicated to maintaining quality, processes, flows, and methodologies to stay competitive and become the preferred choice for our customers in the semiconductor and embedded spaces."
Kakumanu believes that to become an industry leader, one must focus on two main aspects: scale and customer satisfaction. Scaling involves using data to expand your business, while customer satisfaction requires the continual delivery of quality work.
"To achieve this, it's imperative to invest in and retain good talent," Kakumanu said. "We've been successful in not just hiring good people, but also in finding the right individuals who align with our company culture. It's crucial to challenge them with meaningful work, provide growth opportunities, and ensure they are well taken care of to maintain their loyalty to the company."
Additionally, the company has built a foundation for nurturing talent internally and within the industry through MosChip Institute of Silicon Systems (M-ISS), a training institute he co-founded. They have trained over 2,000 engineers, emphasizing that creating and retaining talent is as important as the expertise, flows, methodologies, and processes used to deliver high-quality solutions promptly. In our industry, a minor error can result in significant financial losses for our customers, making it essential to have robust processes in place.
"Over the past two decades, we've established and refined our methodologies and flows, leading to successful tapeouts of hundreds of chips, many of which were first-pass successes," Kakumanu said. "We will continue to prioritize these areas, along with fostering collaborations and strategic partnerships with industry leaders and semiconductor manufacturers. This will ensure we have access to the latest technology, trends, and tools, keeping our solutions relevant and maintaining our commitment to quality."
Plans to drive innovation
Innovation plays a crucial role in delivering cost-effective solutions and is key to reducing the time to market for design closure.
"Our approach to innovation is predominantly customer-focused," Kakumanu said. "We undertake a significant number of projects for our clients, and the scope of our work is extensive. Upon the completion of each project, we engage in a reflective process, examining the challenges we faced and the areas that required substantial effort. This post-mortem analysis allows us to devise solutions that prepare us for future projects, ensuring a more predictable and efficient design closure process. We are committed to continuous innovation in our methodologies and flows, which is essential for maintaining our competitive edge."
The pace at which industry trends and technologies evolve is relentless, and staying current is imperative to our survival and growth. MosChip is actively engaged in developing multiple embedded edge applications driven by AI/ML, harnessing a range of AI neural network accelerators available.
"We also stand as a sponsor for the IESA AI Summit 2023, where we will showcase live demonstrations at our booth and deliver a keynote emphasizing our prowess in AI and ML," Kakumanu said. "I also believe, relevance in the market can only be achieved through strong collaborations and partnerships. For instance, MosChip has collaborated with a renowned Educational Institute in Hyderabad to assist in the development of a smart energy meter IC."
Conclusion
Under the guidance of their new CEO, MosChip is gearing up for an exciting journey ahead. They're branching out into fresh industries and exploring new markets with an eye for cutting-edge innovation and a heart for keeping customers happy.
The company's commitment to scaling its operations, enhancing its sales and marketing strategies, and investing in talent development is indicative of its ambition to solidify its position as a leader in the semiconductor and system design services industry.
With a clear vision for the future, MosChip is set to navigate the challenges of an evolving industry landscape, leveraging its established expertise and fostering new partnerships to meet the demands of a diverse and growing global clientele.
