Steven Saffer

Steven is a seasoned technology leader with a 30-year track record of success in the semiconductor industry. His career spans the entire value chain, from design and development to sales and marketing. Steven played a key role in establishing a fabless semiconductor firm that grew to become an international market leader, displacing the industry incumbent and generating close to $1B in retail value. He also led the firms IP licensing business, structuring and negotiating complex deals with leading technology companies in the professional audio industry.

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As an Executive in Residence, Steven brings valuable insights to ventures seeking to navigate the complexities of the semiconductor industry and achieve rapid growth. He is passionate about mentoring and supporting startups, and is eager to share his knowledge and expertise to help them succeed.

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Steven holds an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management and Schulich School of Business, and a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering from The University of Western Ontario.  

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Areas of expertise

• Semiconductor: ASIC design, SoC development, IP licensing, fabless operations

• Technology Sourcing: Hardware and software resource acquisition for ASIC, FPGA and embedded systems development

• Go-to-Market: Distribution, sales, channel management, marketing, digital marketing

• Business Strategy: Product development, operations management, contract negotiation, IP management, strategic partnerships