The deal also broadened Syntiant’s hardware footprint by adding Knowles’ MEMS microphone capabilities for smartphones, earbuds and connected devices.

Its technology enables on-device ML deployments in earbuds, wearables, industrial systems and automobiles, with a focus on energy efficiency and low latency.

Syntiant Corp., a California-based AI semiconductor maker backed by Intel Capital, has filed for a U.S. IPO to pursue a Nasdaq listing amid strong investor interest in AI and computing technologies.

Lead underwriters for the IPO are Citigroup, Bank of America Securities, and UBS Investment Bank.

Regulatory filings show Knowles Corp., Microsoft Global Finance, and Intel Capital are among the backers of Syntiant.

In December 2024, Syntiant expanded its microphone capabilities by acquiring Knowles Corp.’s consumer MEMS microphone business, extending its reach into smartphones, earbuds and other devices.

The acquisition of Knowles’ consumer MEMS microphone business for $150 million strengthened Syntiant’s audio hardware portfolio in 2024.

Market context shows divergent semiconductor performance, with some peers posting gains while others stumble, underscoring mixed investor sentiment around chip stocks.

For the three months ended March 31, 2026, Syntiant reported a net loss of $20.9 million on revenue of $64.5 million, widening from a $14.1 million loss on $66.6 million of revenue a year earlier.

Syntiant specializes in low-power AI processors that run machine learning on edge devices, reducing reliance on cloud computing across consumer electronics, industrial equipment, automotive systems, wearables and wireless audio devices.

Syntiant was founded in 2017 by four co-founders, including CEO Kurt Busch, and aims to capitalize on AI hardware and software convergence to attract investors.