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AkroStar

Semiconductors · Zhuhai, China · Founded 2020

AkroStar Technology is a Chinese company founded in June 2020 that develops and provides semiconductor intellectual property (IP) to chipmakers. The firm, known as Xinyaohui in China, is headquartered in Shanghai with an additional office in Zhuhai. AkroStar aims to address the domestic demand for advanced semiconductor technologies and reduce reliance on foreign suppliers in this critical upstream sector of the electronics industry. The company was founded by Chairman and CEO Zeng Keqiang, who possesses over two decades of experience in the semiconductor sector, including at the Silicon Valley-based firm Synopsys. The leadership team also includes Co-CEO Seng-Pan U, CTO Lee Meng-Chang, and Global President Anwar Awad. AkroStar's business model is centered on licensing its IP core designs to fabless semiconductor companies and integrated device manufacturers. These clients integrate AkroStar's pre-designed and verified functional blocks into their complex System-on-Chip (SoC) designs, which accelerates their product development cycle. AkroStar provides a comprehensive suite of high-speed interface IP solutions that are designed for high stability, compatibility, and portability across different manufacturing processes. Their product portfolio includes IPs for protocols such as PCIe, Serdes, DDR, USB, MIPI, HDMI, and SATA. The company serves a wide array of high-growth markets, including data centers, high-performance computing, artificial intelligence, 5G communications, smart vehicles, and consumer electronics. The company has attracted significant investor interest, raising nearly CNY 1 billion (approx. USD 155.6 million) within its first year. A combined angel and pre-A round in February 2021 brought in over USD 62 million from investors like GL Ventures (Hillhouse Capital's early-stage unit), Sequoia China, and 5Y Capital. This was followed by a Series A round in May 2021 that raised over USD 77.8 million, led by Gaorong Capital and joined by Matrix Partners and others. More recent funding rounds in May 2025 further solidified its capital base, with participation from entities like China Internet Investment Fund and Shanghai International Group. Keywords: semiconductor IP, interface IP, chip design, system-on-chip, SoC, fabless semiconductor, integrated circuit, high-speed interface, PCIe, SerDes, DDR, USB, MIPI, data centers, high-performance computing, artificial intelligence, automotive electronics, 5G, consumer electronics, IP core, asset-light, foundry, IC design