Ferric

Ferric, Inc. is a New York-based semiconductor company that develops high-performance power management solutions, specializing in integrated voltage regulators (IVRs). Founded in 2012, the company is the commercialization of CEO and founder Dr. Noah Sturcken's Ph.D. research at Columbia University. While at Columbia, Dr. Sturcken worked with Professor Ken Shepard, another of Ferric's founders who now serves as Technical Advisor and Chairman, to develop the integrated inductor technology that forms the basis of Ferric's products. Dr. Sturcken's background also includes work at the AMD Research and Development Lab, where he gained exposure to the key technical concepts of IVRs.

Ferric's core technology centers on its proprietary thin-film magnetic materials, which allow for the creation of chip-scale IVRs and DC-DC converters that are significantly smaller, more efficient, and faster than conventional power solutions. The company's CMOS-integrated ferromagnetic power inductors eliminate the need for bulky discrete components, resulting in a power converter that is over 10 times smaller. This miniaturization enables the regulators to be placed directly within a processor's package, or even embedded in the substrate, a key feature for improving energy efficiency and performance in advanced electronics. Ferric's business model includes both the sale of power converter chips and the licensing of its circuit IP, which has led to partnerships with major semiconductor manufacturers like TSMC. The company's technology is designed to address the escalating power demands of high-performance sectors, including AI, data centers, high-performance computing (HPC), and mobile electronics.

The company's flagship product is the Fe1766, an IVR that delivers 160A in a compact 35.5 mm² package, setting new benchmarks for current density and power efficiency. This product is designed to support the massive power consumption of modern AI processors, which can demand over 5 kW per chip. Ferric has raised a total of $41.1 million over nine funding rounds, which includes grants from organizations like the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department ofEnergy, and DARPA. Its technology has been incorporated into commercial applications, including Apple products, since 2021.

Keywords: Integrated Voltage Regulators, IVR, power management ICs, DC-DC converters, thin-film magnetic inductors, on-chip power conversion, semiconductor, power density, power efficiency, AI processors, data centers, high-performance computing, CMOS integration, system-in-package, Noah Sturcken, Kenneth Shepard