Intel Corp. (NASDAQ:INTC) has reportedly granted a stealth chip startup access to parts of its Atom processor technology, marking a rare move involving intellectual property the company has historically kept under tight control.
Intel Reportedly Shares Atom Technology With RosaicLabs
According to a Reuters report citing a source and documents it reviewed, Intel is providing RosaicLabs Inc. access to Atom technology, which serves as a building block for processors based on the company’s x86 architecture.
Rosaic, incorporated in Delaware in May, has maintained a low public profile, with no website or LinkedIn page identified by the publication. Such secrecy is common among early-stage semiconductor startups working on proprietary chip designs.
The report said Intel plans to provide Rosaic with register-transfer level, or RTL, code for the Atom processor technology.
RTL code is used by chip designers to describe how a processor functions and could enable Rosaic to develop a customized design using Intel’s underlying technology.
Intel has historically not broadly licensed portions of its x86 architecture or provided widespread access to Atom technology, making the arrangement unusual, the report said.
Atom processors are designed to consume relatively low amounts of power and produce less heat, making them suitable for mobile and edge-computing applications.
Intel did not immediately respond to Benzinga’s request for comments.
Rosaic CEO Has Longstanding Ties to Intel’s Lip-Bu Tan
Rosaic is led by Amarjit Gill, a veteran chip-industry executive and venture investor who has worked closely with Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan.
Gill helped Tan assemble the founding team at Rivos, a chip startup that Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) acquired last year after reportedly outbidding Intel.
Tan served as Rivos’ chairman at the time.
Tan and Gill also made early-stage investments in Nuvia, a chip startup that Qualcomm Inc. (NASDAQ:QCOM) later acquired.
Rosaic’s founding team includes several Rivos veterans, according to the publication. Amit Parikh, Rivos’ former finance chief, signed Rosaic’s incorporation documents.
RosaicLabs May Pursue $10 Million Seed Round
An amended Delaware filing dated July 24 outlined Rosaic’s equity structure, including its preferred and common shares. Reuters’ analysis indicated that the startup could seek a seed funding round of about $10 million.
The filing also allows company executives to make capital expenditures below $5 million without requiring approval from investors or the board.
The reported arrangement could signal a broader effort by Intel to explore new ways to commercialize its processor intellectual property as the chipmaker seeks to strengthen its position in an increasingly competitive semiconductor market.
Price Action: Intel closed Wednesday’s session at $81.88, down 5.12%, while the stock slipped another 0.86% to $81.18 in after-hours trading, according to Benzinga Pro.
According to Benzinga Edge Rankings, Intel places in the 99th percentile for Momentum, signaling a strong long-term price trend even as the shares face short- and medium-term pressure.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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