In this episode, we sit down with Kash Johal, a seasoned semiconductor leader and founder of Yorchip Inc , whose journey spans from graduating in the UK 🇬🇧 in 1979, to moving to the US 🇺🇸 and founding and exiting multiple ASIC startups—and now helping shape the chiplet era.
In this wide-ranging conversation, we explore 👇 🧠 Defining moments that shaped Kash’s decades-long career in semiconductors 🏗️ Lessons from building and exiting two ASIC companies 🧩 Chiplets, explained in simple terms—and why they are transforming semiconductor economics ⚡ The future of high-speed chip-to-chip communication 🌊 The next big waves young startups should focus on 🎓 Advice for engineers, freshers, and deep-tech founders We also discuss leadership evolution, long sales cycles in hardware startups, and how the way chips are designed, built, and commercialized has fundamentally changed. 🎧 If you’re passionate about ASICs, chiplets, deep tech, and the future of silicon, this episode is a must-listen.In this podcast series, discussion on VLSI and its related fields is presented, focusing on recent developments and advancements in the industry. Topics such as the latest trends and innovations in semiconductor technology are explored, offering insights into the evolving landscape. Career guidance is shared, providing practical advice for navigating the field, along with success stories that highlight the journeys of professionals who have made their mark in VLSI. Whether for students, professionals, or those interested in the subject, valuable knowledge is offered to help stay informed and succeed in this dynamic area.
Guest: Kash Johal
Kash Johal is a veteran semiconductor entrepreneur and business leader with over four decades of experience in ASIC, FPGA, and high-speed connectivity technologies. He is the Founder and CEO of YorChip Inc., a chiplet-focused startup driving innovation around open chiplet architectures, flexibility, low power, and Known Good Die. He previously served as Vice President of Worldwide Sales at eTopus, a VC-funded leader in ultra-low-latency 112G SerDes IP, and as Vice President of Sales at AnalogX, a high-performance SerDes IP company acquired by Rambus in 2021. Over his career, Kash has worked extensively with IP vendors, EDA tool providers, and service companies supporting ASIC design teams, and has founded and successfully exited two ASIC companies. A UK graduate (1979) who immigrated to the United States in 1982, he brings deep market insight and technical expertise spanning ASICs, FPGAs, Ethernet, and advanced semiconductor IP.
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