Tensilica Selected for Prestigious Red Herring Top 100 Innovators Awards

Tensilica’s Configurable Processor Embodies Innovation

SANTA CLARA, Calif. – December 7, 2004 – Tensilica, Inc. announced today that it has been selected as a Top 100 Innovator by the Red Herring. This distinction is awarded to companies that embody innovation and this year, Red Herring’s editorial staff evaluated over 1200 submissions from 900 companies. The editors used a careful analysis of financial data as well as subjective criteria, including quality of management, execution of strategy, and dedication to research and development. 

“Selection as a Top 100 Innovator by the Red Herring validates our belief that configurable processors are enabling a new era in semiconductor design,” said Dr. Chris Rowen, president and CEO of Tensilica. “By delivering a highly automated design environment, Tensilica has allowed configurable processors to be used as an alternative to custom logic and, in doing so, dramatically reduced the time, cost and risk associated with SOC design.” 

Traditionally, designers have developed chips by taking a standard off-the-shelf processor core, and surrounding that core with custom-designed blocks of logic on a single chip in order to hit their performance goals and bring differentiated features to market. This custom logic requires lengthy verification cycles

Tensilica has developed an alternative design approach that allows configurable processors to be used in place of custom-designed logic blocks. The company’s approach allows designers to quickly and automatically tune the processor for the target application. Thorough programmability leads to greater economies of scale for semiconductor suppliers and more rapid innovation in their end products. 

“Selection for the Innovation 100 puts a company in an elite group. The editors worked hard to identify the companies who will benefit from the important technology trends in the coming year,’’ said Joel Dreyfuss, Editor-in-Chief of Red Herring.

About Red Herring

Red Herring covers technology innovation, venture financing, and the deals that make a difference. Its award-winning journalists go deeper, providing a comprehensive, critical analysis of what’s new and why it matters. Red Herring covers the business trends with insight that counts, serving today’s entrepreneurs and the technology of tomorrow. Head to www.REDHERRING.com for articles, newsletters, and research reports that matter. Red Herring Conferences are open only to CEOs and select senior executives.  To subscribe to the Red Herring Magazine call 866.311.9582 or email redherring@neodata.com.

About Tensilica

Tensilica was founded in July 1997 to address the growing need for optimized, application-specific microprocessors for high-volume embedded applications. With the Xtensa and Xtensa LX configurable and extensible microprocessor cores, Tensilica is the only company that has automated and patented the time-consuming process of generating a customized microprocessor core along with a complete software-development tool environment, producing new configurations in a matter of hours. These customized processors rival hand-coded RTL in performance and add a needed level of programmability. For more information, visit www.tensilica.com.

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Editors’ Notes:

• Tensilica and Xtensa are registered trademarks belonging to Tensilica Inc.
• Tensilica’s announced licensees include Agilent, ALPS, AMCC (JNI Corporation), Astute Networks, Avision, Bay Microsystems, Berkeley Wireless Research Center, Broadcom, Cisco Systems, Conexant Systems, Cypress, Crimson Microsystems, ETRI, FUJIFILM Microdevices, Fujitsu Ltd., Hudson Soft, Hughes Network Systems, Ikanos Communications, LG Electronics, Marvell, MediaWorks, NEC Laboratories America, NEC Corporation, Nippon Telephone and Telegraph (NTT), Olympus Optical Co. Ltd., S2io, Solid State Systems, Sony, STMicroelectronics, Stretch Inc., TranSwitch Corporation, and Victor Company of Japan (JVC)