Semiconductors sit at the center of many of today’s biggest technology shifts, powering everything from AI systems and data centers to smartphones, vehicles and connected devices. Silicon Valley remains closely tied to that ecosystem, with companies across the region developing processors, sensors, memory, timing technology and the equipment used to manufacture advanced chips.
The companies below span several parts of the semiconductor industry, from Intel’s processors and Applied Materials’ chipmaking technology to Arm’s compute platform for AI, data centers and edge devices. Together, they show how Silicon Valley continues to shape the hardware behind modern computing.
Semiconductor Companies in Silicon Valley
- Arm
- Applied Materials
- GCT Semiconductor
- Intel
- Rambus
- SiFive
- SiTime
Top Semiconductor Companies in Silicon Valley
Founded: 1990
Location: Cambridgeshire, England
What they do: Arm is a semiconductor company offering products with use cases for data centers, autonomous machines, smartphones and PCs, wearables and more. The company serves the physical AI, cloud AI and edge AI markets with an efficient, high-performance compute platform.
Founded: 2015
Location: San Mateo
What they do: SiFive offers a radically different approach when it comes to designing CPUs and IPs for use in any situation, offering customizable units that can be designed in as little as one hour. The company’s platform offers a simple, step-by-step approach to creating the best core and chip designs for all use cases, with additional IP and board products available from SiFive as well.
Founded: 1994
Location: San Jose
What they do: Alien Technology creates essential RFID devices that allow for proper tracking and control over inventory in the retail, transportation, life sciences and additional industries. UHF Passive EPCglobal Gen2 and ISO/IEC 18000-6c compliant RFID chips from Alien Technology allow for high performance in challenging environments, with robust readers, antennas, tags and labels available as well.
Founded: 1968
Location: Santa Clara
What they do: Intel develops and manufactures massive amounts of computer hardware products for use on a global scale, from chipsets and processor units to memory solutions, storage and power solutions. The company’s lines of processor units, including the Core, Xeon, Pentium and Celeron series, have become standard-issue in PCs from a variety of manufacturers while Intel continues to innovate in the fields of AI and computer vision.
Founded: 2005
Location: Santa Clara
What they do: SiTime designs and manufactures MEMS timing solutions — crucial components to the operation of our most commonly used devices. Oscillators and resonators from SiTime use silicon as opposed to quartz, leading to smaller component sizes, lower power consumption and better overall performance when applied to infrastructural, automotive, industrial, IoT, mobile, aerospace and consumer devices.
Founded: 1967
Location: Santa Clara
What they do: Applied Materials is an expert at modifying materials at atomic levels on an industrial scale, with solutions used to produce an enormous volume of the world’s chips and advanced displays. The company’s solutions have led to huge developments in solar, automation, display and additional semiconductor technologies, and Applied Materials also provides consulting services to support companies' manufacturing and supply chains.
Founded: 2004
Location: Santa Clara
What they do: Crocus Technology develops and supplies magnetic sensors and embedded memory solutions used in developing technology for industrial applications, consumer electronics and the Internet of Things. Magnetic sensor products from Crocus utilize the company’s patented Magnetic Logic Unit technology to exhibit enhanced sensitivity and programming capabilities with a smaller footprint, lower power consumption and thermal isolation.
Founded: 2000
Location: Fremont
What they do: Solaria is a leader in creating reliable solar panel technology designed with efficiency, reliability and quality in mind. The company utilizes automation when designing its technology and devotes large amounts of the panel’s front surface to generating power, leading to solar panels that are more efficient with a smaller footprint.
Founded: 1998
Location: San Jose
What they do: GCT Semiconductor’s system-on-chip solutions integrate radio frequency, baseband modem and digital signal processing functions to offer 4G solutions with small form factors and lower power consumption. Designed to further capabilities in router, CPE, mobile hotspot, smartphone and IoT technology, products from GCT Semiconductors can be found in smart cars and smart cities alike.
Founded: 1990
Location: Sunnyvale
What they do: Rambus is a manufacturer of IPs that deliver high speeds, enhanced security and best-in-class memory capabilities. With solutions for markets including data centers, IoT devices, machine learning, edge computing and more, Rambus powers devices with the necessary technology to compete in a world bolstered by increased 5G and AI capabilities.
