Tarun Verma joined Silicon Catalyst in 2015 as its first employee after spending about 24 years at Altera leading packaging work, and that background shows up in how he talks about semiconductor investing, especially his focus on packaging and chiplets as a way to make chip design more affordable for startups. He also looks for companies that fit into the existing manufacturing ecosystem, works to cut the cost of early prototyping so founders can move faster, and points to practical tools—like test equipment, FPGA prototyping, and facilities—as key pieces for helping semiconductor startups grow from early research into real products, both in the U.S. and internationally.
About their Fund
Silicon Catalyst is the only accelerator focused exclusively on the global semiconductor industry, giving startups working on chips, chiplets, materials, silicon photonics, MEMS, sensors, life science, and quantum access to a semiconductor-specific stack of foundry access, EDA tools, IP, packaging, and testing worth millions of dollars, plus a 24-month incubation program, strategic partners like TI, Arm, and NXP who help select and work with startups, and its own investment arms, Silicon Catalyst Angels and Silicon Catalyst Ventures. It operates this model through localized programs in the UK, EU, Israel, Japan, Australia, and Malaysia, connecting local startups to Silicon Valley networks and mentors, and has built an ecosystem that has engaged with over 1,500 semiconductor startups, admitted more than 150, and facilitated over $150 million in in-kind support, $600 million in venture investment, and $100 million in grants.















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