Alereon

About Alereon

Alereon operates as a fabless semiconductor company specializing in Ultrawideband (UWB) wireless technology. Founded in 2003, the Austin, Texas-based firm was spun off from Time Domain Corporation, an early UWB pioneer, inheriting a team of engineers, executives, and patents. The initial leadership included CEO Eric Broockman, with Jim Baker as COO and Jeff Ross as Executive Vice President, both formerly of Time Domain. Dr. David Shoemaker, who joined in 2006 and has a background from MIT and Texas Instruments, took over as CEO in 2014.

The company's business model is centered on designing and developing UWB chipsets that enable high-speed, short-range wireless connections, effectively removing the need for physical cables between devices. Alereon generates revenue by supplying these chipsets, along with modules, reference designs, and software development kits, to clients in the consumer electronics, medical, and military sectors. Its technology is engineered to provide a low-power, high-bandwidth alternative to crowded protocols like Wi-Fi, which is beneficial for applications requiring guaranteed bandwidth and low signal interference. Over its history, Alereon has secured significant funding, accumulating over $95 million through various financing rounds, with its first round in 2004 and notable investments from entities like Austin Ventures, Pharos Capital, Samsung Venture Investment, and Enhanced Capital.

Alereon’s product portfolio is built around its two-chip UWB solution, consisting of a MAC/Baseband chip (like the AL5350B) and an RF transceiver (like the AL5100). This combination supports multiple protocols, including Certified Wireless USB, and is utilized for applications such as wireless PC-to-HDTV video streaming, wireless docking stations, and cable replacements for HDMI, USB, and Ethernet. A key milestone was the demonstration of the first fully functional 480 Mbps wireless solution in early 2005, with production silicon shipping by 2006. The company also holds a substantial patent portfolio with over 140 patents and applications. In the defense sector, Alereon is a notable supplier for the U.S. government's Intra-Soldier Wireless (ISW) program, providing battle-tested UWB modules that offer secure and resilient communications.