Augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), robotics, and autonomous systems increasingly rely on instantaneous environmental mapping to enable seamless interactions with the physical world. Achieving these capabilities—such as precise eye and hand tracking, and simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM)—demands that microcontrollers rapidly process immense volumes of data. Conventional microcontrollers, even those equipped with neural processing units (NPUs), typically fall short due to memory constraints and limited processing speeds, severely impacting overall application performance.
Addressing these challenges, Mosaic SoC's innovative microcontroller architecture fundamentally redefines how accelerators access memory. Traditional chip designs require processors and accelerators to share data pathways to memory, severely restricting performance due to sequential data access and limited bandwidth. Mosaic SoC disrupts this outdated model by introducing a pioneering memory architecture that allows multiple accelerators to simultaneously read from and write to memory at high throughput without interference. This design significantly enhances data processing speed, improves energy efficiency, and boosts overall system performance for AI-centric applications in AR, robotics, and beyond.
Mosaic SoC is strategically targeting the rapidly expanding AR/VR chip market, valued currently at USD 6 billion and projected to grow to USD 10 billion by 2029 and surpass USD 52 billion by 2037. The startup has already initiated partnerships with leading Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to develop groundbreaking AR solutions, starting with initial proof-of-concept implementations. Furthermore, Mosaic SoC sees significant opportunities for its innovative technology in adjacent markets, including robotics, autonomous vehicles, and space imaging.
The Mosaic team combines years of expertise in chip design, with CEO Alfio Di Mauro and CTO Moritz Scherer, both holding PhDs from ETH Zürich. They have collaborated with industry leaders like Meta, NXP, and GlobalFoundries, designing advanced SoCs for machine learning and AI. Advised by ETH Professor Luca Benini, the team brings a strong background in both academic and industrial research, backed by numerous scientific publications and successful projects in cutting-edge digital system development.
The CHF 150,000 provided by Venture Kick will help to strengthen support for existing customers and expand engagement with new clients. “Our journey with Venture Kick has been essential,” highlighted Alfio Di Mauro, Co-Founder and CEO of Mosaic SoC. “The strong business focus of the program helped our transition from pure academic research and technology development into creating market-driven solutions that customers genuinely value and are eager to purchase.”
(Press release/RAN)
Image: Mosaic Soc Co-Founders Alfio Di Mauro (CEO) and Moritz Scherer (CTO)