Just before the Podim conference, we had the opportunity to speak with Andreas Muehlberger, Strategic Partner Manager at Infineon Technologies and an experienced development manager (such as OSRAM, NXP Semiconductors and Philips Semiconductors) with expertise in embedded software design and chip design. Infineon is a global semiconductor company that works with and supports the world’s best deep tech startups.
If you are a startup looking for collaboration opportunities, take a look at this interview as Infineon is open to collaborating with startups and is preparing a Startup Design Challenge, which can be a great starting point for a long-term collaboration opportunity.
Cooperation with startups
1. Infineon is a global semiconductor company and is open for cooperation with startups. What kind of startups are you looking for?
Infineon cooperates with the best deep tech startups worldwide and supports them to develop new applications by using innovative Infineon hardware components. We support with microcontrollers, power electronic components, a big portfolio of sensor products, security solutions and much more. Have a look at www.infineon.com to get an overview on our portfolio. We are also interested in go-To-Market partnerships, e.g. where we are teaming up with software startups to approach the market together. Application areas include automotive applications, sensor fusion based on radar, microphones, gas and pressure sensors, microcontroller-based applications targeting EdgeAI solutions, the creativity of the startup is the limit.
2. What support can startups expect within your Startup Co-Innovation program?
First of all, within the co-Innovation program we are building the network between the startup company and Infineon’s technical experts and business organization. We are acting as technology and business partner for startups, this means, we help to use our technology in the best possible way, we supply free samples, and we organize technical support by our experts. We enable the access to our business network, invite startups to join us at events and make joint social media campaigns. We have a strong network within the ecosystem of incubators and venture capital companies and can help with professional hardware development partners and access to the component distribution network, which is important to enable the growth of the startup.
Potential for startups
3. We are witnessing a huge technological revolution and flood of AI solutions. Where do you see the biggest potential for startups?
AI is the possibility to enable a new generation of applications. Especially being able to use EdgeAI will allow a step up in functionality and performance of embedded IoT devices. So, we are offering for our startup challenge our brand-new AI kit (www.infineon.com/aikit) for free. Infineon’s PSoC™ 6 Artificial Intelligence Evaluation Kit is your perfect partner for easy prototyping and collecting real-life data to build compelling ML products fast. Being only the size of a cracker, the hardware platform focused on Edge AI enables customers to evaluate Infineon’s Machine Learning platform IMAGIMOB Studio, as well as ready to deploy ML models, and other software products. The hardware board includes already a set of sensors which enables a portfolio of applications in the area of ambient and health sensing. So, it is a perfect fit for this year’s startup challenge.
Infineon Design Challenge for startups
4. You are also presenting at Podim this year’s Infineon Design Challenge. Who can participate in your Design Challenge and what benefits awaits the winners?
This year’s challenge is the start of a long-term cooperation possibility. Startups can apply for the challenge until the end of June, and will be invited to pitch their idea online on July, 5th. We will select up to 10 startups to participate in the challenge, which will run from beginning of July until end of September. Infineon will supply free hardware and take care about the technical support. Additionally, we have teamed up with the Austrian Incubator Build! Gründerzentrum and our Partner BridgIO Tech Accelerator in Vilnius to also ensure business coaching and pitch trainings in parallel. On October 2nd the participating startups will be able to present their results at the demo day in Villach in front of invited Venture Capital Companies and Infineon management and experts. The winner of the challenge is invited to Munich to pitch in front of the Infineon Board during the Infineon Startup Night end of October. And this is just the start. We will invite selected startups after the design challenge to join a one-year cooperation program, where we can further deepen the cooperation and support the development of new applications.
We invite all startups, which are interested to develop new applications or extend existing applications with EdgeAI solutions and Sensor Fusion, for example in the area of ambient and health sensing.
5. How can startups apply for the Design Challenge?
We have prepared a registration page with a link, which allows to register for the challenge, which is open until June 28th, 2024. And we will present the content and details at the PODIM conference in the Demo Studio on May 15th, 12:00 – 13:00. So, everyone is invited to pass by and listen to the details.
Infineon at Podim
6. Do you have any messages for the Podim attendees?
Podim is a great opportunity to get in touch with a lot of interesting startups and we are ready to meet them in Maribor!
Are you interested to learn how Infineon supports Edge AI solutions with powerful microcontrollers and great software support? In the program block “AI and Disruptive Technologies” Sarah Hemmer will give the insights!
If you are keen to hear the story, how the Startup Imagimob joined Infineon Technologies, then meet Anders Hardebring during the “Venture Building and Cooperate Innovation” session.
And of course, as mentioned above, if you are a deep tech startup and want to level up your application based on a free Infineon AI Kit with a set of sensors, a strong microcontroller and a complete SW Studio to generate Edge AI models? Get business coaching? And pitch the results in front of Infineon Management and invited VC’s?
Then you’re the perfect candidate for our Startup Challenge, we execute together with our partners build! Gründerzentrum Kärnten and Bridgio Tech Accelerator. Get all the details at the “Podim Demo Studio” on May 15th, 12:00 – 13:00.
Or just pass by at our booth at Maribox Ground floor and check out some cool demos together with our team.
