TEARDOWN 2023 - Design and Fund Your Custom ASIC in Three Months - with Mohamed Kassem

Step-by-Step Tutorial: Design and Fund Your Custom ASIC

Introduction:

In this tutorial, we will guide you through the process of designing and funding your custom ASIC (Application-Specific Integrated Circuit) based on the insights shared by Mohamed Kassem, the co-founder and CTO of a company called Crowd Supply.

Step 1: Background and Introduction

• Mohamed Kassem introduces himself as an expert in analog mixed-signal circuit design with experience at Texas Instruments.
• He emphasizes the importance of custom ASICs in the world of high-capital smartphones and IoT devices.

Step 2: Understanding the Need for Custom ASICs

• Custom ASICs are essential for optimizing performance, power consumption, and cost in electronic devices.
• Mohamed discusses the historical evolution of chip design and the shift towards custom solutions.

Step 3: Challenges in Custom ASIC Development

• Traditional ASIC design is capital-intensive, limiting customization options for many products.
• Mohamed highlights the importance of open-source tools and collaboration in democratizing ASIC design.

Step 4: Collaboration with Google and SkyWater Technology

• Mohamed's company partnered with Google and SkyWater to enable open-source ASIC development.
• They focused on creating a standard interface and tools to simplify the design process for a broader community.

Step 5: Chip Ignite and Funding Options

• Chip Ignite program offers commercial opportunities for designing and manufacturing ASICs.
• Mohamed discusses the cost-effective nature of the program and the potential for community-driven innovation.

Step 6: Community Engagement and Education

• Mohamed emphasizes the role of community involvement in ASIC design.
• Examples of educational initiatives and projects with high schools and community colleges are highlighted.

Step 7: Crowdfunding and Market Support

• The potential for crowdfunding and market support in ASIC development is discussed.
• Mohamed encourages individuals to explore crowdfunding options for their custom ASIC projects.

Step 8: Getting Started with ASIC Design

• Interested individuals can access tools and resources on the Crowd Supply GitHub page.
• Mohamed encourages aspiring designers to clone repositories and start their ASIC design journey with community support.

Conclusion:

• Mohamed concludes by encouraging viewers to take action and start their custom ASIC design projects.
• The tutorial provides insights into the process of designing and funding custom ASICs in collaboration with open-source tools and community support.

By following these steps and leveraging the insights shared by Mohamed Kassem, you can embark on your journey to design and fund your custom ASIC successfully.