About Kovio

Kovio Inc., a privately held Silicon Valley company, is developing a new category of semiconductor products using printed silicon electronics and thin film technology. This new manufacturing technology combines the low cost of graphics printing with the power and functionality of silicon-based semiconductors. The company was founded in the MIT Media Laboratory by a team of scientists that recognized the significant impact that combining silicon and print technologies could have on the world.

 

Printed silicon electronics enables manufacturing of high-performance semiconductor devices over large areas and flexible substrates, at a fraction of the cost of conventional silicon technology. Kovio’s printed electronic products and solutions have a unique and compelling value proposition in multiple industries, including retail, pharmaceuticals, consumer electronics, transportation, manufacturing and energy.

 

As an alternative to today’s expensive RFID solutions, Kovio leverages its printed electronics technology to make item-level RFID solutions affordable and to enhance the value proposition of standard RFID products through added intelligence, e.g. displays, sensors and others. Furthermore, Kovio will transform conventional passive displays in the advertising, entertainment and education markets into dynamic and interactive signage with wireless interfaces. The company also will make advances into the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries with printed biosensors, intelligent labeling and other innovations.

 

At the core of Kovio’s technology is the integration of printed silicon electronics and thin film technology. Based on breakthroughs in nanomaterials and printing technology, Kovio has developed printable silicon-based inks and process innovations. Kovio’s technology enables the fabrication of stable, high-performance, low-power integrated circuits that can operate at frequencies of MHz and above.

 

Kovio is backed by leading venture capitalists and strategic investors, including Kleiner Perkins Caufield and Byers, Duff Ackerman and Goodrich, NCD Investors, Harris and Harris, Flagship Venture Partners, Mitsui Venture, Panasonic Ventures, Pangaea Ventures and Yasuda Enterprise. Kovio’s chairman and CEO is Amir Mashkoori, a nearly 30-year veteran of the semiconductor industry who previously worked for Spansion and AMD. Steve David (retired CIO of Proctor & Gamble), Ajit Nazre (KPCB) and Joe Jacobson (MIT) make up Kovio’s board of directors.