Xilinx announces acquisition of China AI chip startup DeePhi Tech

Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Xilinx, the global leader in adaptive and intelligent computing headquartered in California, announced on July 18 that it has acquired DeePhi Technology Co., Ltd (DeePhi Tech), a Beijing-based startup with industry-leading capabilities in machine learning. The detail of acquisition has not been exposed yet.

Founded in 2016, DeePhi Tech is a Chinese AI chip startup which specializes in deep compression, pruning and system-level optimization for neural networks. Last year, the startup completed a Series A round financing with over $ 10 million raised and a $40 million worth of Series A-plus financing. In October, 2017, DeePhi Tech unveiled its self-developed AI chips dubbed “Tingtao” and “Guanhai” (in Chinese), which are expected to hit the market in 2018.

DeePhi Tech has been developing its machine learning solutions on Xilinx's technology platforms, and two companies have worked closely together since DeePhi Tech's establishment in 2016. The startup's neural network pruning technology has been optimized to run on Xilinx's FPGAs (field programmable gata array), achieving breakthrough performance with best-in-class energy efficiency. Since May, 2017, Xilinx has been a major investor of DeePhi Tech, along with other renowned global investors. 

“We are excited to deepen the partnership with Xilinx and work even more closely to provide leading machine learning solutions for customers in China and across the world,” said Yao Song, CEO of DeePhi Tech.

“We are thrilled to welcome DeePhi Tech to the Xilinx family and look forward to strengthening Xilinx's globally-leading engineering capabilities and building up an adaptable and intelligent world,” said Salil Raje, executive vice president of Software and IP Products Group at Xilinx.

The DeePhi Tech team will continue to operate at its offices in Beijing after the acquisition is closed, as part of Xilinx's branch in the Greater China Region with more than 200 employees.