Silicon Catalyst Announces Winners of the 2024 Arm Startups Contest

First Place Winner is Agate Sensors
and Runner-Up is Smartkosh Technologies

Silicon Valley, California - June 10, 2024 - Silicon Catalyst, the world's only incubator focused exclusively on accelerating semiconductor solutions, is pleased to announce the winners of the 2024 Arm Flexible Access for Startups Contest. The first place winner selected from among the large number of applicants is Agate Sensors from Finland, and the runner-up company is Smartkosh Technologies from India. Agate Sensors is developing hyper-spectral sensors for the Wearables and Mobile Devices markets and Smartkosh is developing Battery Management Solutions.

Pete Rodriguez, CEO of Silicon Catalyst, stated, “Leveraging our strong collaboration with Arm as both a Silicon Catalyst Strategic Partner and an In-Kind Partner, we launched a global contest last year for early-stage entrepreneurial teams. The aim was to offer valuable commercial and technical support from Arm. Continuing now in our joint contest’s second year, the applicant companies showcased a remarkable variety of technologies and application targets, along with geographic diversity. The enthusiastic response to this contest highlighted the extensive range of products within Arm's portfolio, underscoring the significant value of the Arm Flexible Access for Startups program. The applicants presented some of the most exciting emerging applications utilizing Arm® technologies, including quantum computing, consumer products, massively parallel AI, cryptography, and wireless communications. I congratulate the teams at Agate Sensors and Smartkosh Technologies.”

This year’s contest offered an opportunity for silicon startups to win valuable commercial, technical and marketing support from Arm and Silicon Catalyst. The overall winner, Agate Sensors, will receive Arm technology credit worth up to $250,000 and the runner-up company, Smartkosh, will receive Arm technology credit worth up to $150,000 towards commercial tape out licensing fees. Both companies will also receive:

  • Cost-free Arm Design Review with Arm’s experienced support team

  • Investor pitch review and preparation support by Silicon Catalyst, and an opportunity to present to the Silicon Catalyst Angels group and their investment syndication network

The contest was open to eligible early-stage startups that are part of, or considering to be part of, Arm Flexible Access for Startups, which provides no cost easy access to an extensive design portfolio, free tools, training and support, and $0 license fee to produce prototypes.

Top Winner: Agate Sensors, Finland

Mikael Westerlund, CEO www.agatesensors.com

AGATE Sensors, defining a new light-sensing capture category, a pixel-based, smart, software-controlled, and defined, providing nanometer accuracy, and laboratory-grade capabilities to the tip of your fingertips. 

Agate Sensors accepting their award at Silicon Catalyst's biannual Portfolio Company Update hosted at TI.

Runner-Up Winner: Smartkosh, India

Dr. Rashi Dutt, Founder and CEO www.smartkosh.com

 SmartKosh Technologies is dedicated to innovating safe, reliable, and cost-effective battery management solutions and system architectures, empowering efficient management and optimization of battery energy resources. The company works to foster a shift towards clean and affordable energy by means of improved reliability and quality of service.