Grandis

About Grandis

Grandis, Inc. operated as a specialized semiconductor firm, focusing on the development and commercialization of spin-transfer torque random access memory (STT-RAM), a form of non-volatile memory. The company was established in 2002 by Dr. Paul Nguyen and Bill Almon and was headquartered in Milpitas, California. Farhad Tabrizi, an executive with prior experience at Lexar Media and Hynix, later joined as President and CEO to steer the company toward commercializing its technology.

The company's core technology, STT-RAM, was engineered to offer a combination of performance characteristics from different memory types: the speed of SRAM, the density and cost structure of DRAM, and the non-volatility of flash memory. This technology leverages a principle called spin-transfer torque, where a spin-polarized electrical current modifies the magnetic orientation of a layer within a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ), thereby storing a data bit. This method was designed to be more scalable and consume less power than first-generation, field-switched Magnetoresistive RAM (MRAM).

Grandis's business model centered on intellectual property licensing. It provided its portfolio of patents and support services to fabless semiconductor companies, integrated device manufacturers, and wafer foundries that intended to integrate STT-RAM into their own products, such as microcontrollers and systems-on-chip. The target applications for its technology were broad, spanning mobile devices, telecommunications, computer networking, and storage. The company secured strategic partnerships with firms like Renesas and Hynix to jointly develop STT-RAM products. Throughout its operation, Grandis was backed by venture capital firms, including Sevin Rosen Funds, Matrix Partners, and Applied Ventures, raising $15 million in funding.

In August 2011, Grandis was acquired by Samsung Electronics. The acquisition encompassed Grandis's technology, assets, and personnel, which were integrated into Samsung's R&D operations to advance the development of next-generation memory technologies. The deal was described by Grandis's CEO as a successful exit for its investors.