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The Startup Podcast

Can this AI Chip Startup Beat NVIDIA? (Spotlight)

Nov 25, 2024
44:55

Is it possible for a startup to compete with NVIDIA, the $1 trillion behemoth dominating AI hardware? Thomas Sohmers and his team at Positron are betting they can and they're moving at lightning speed to prove it.


In this episode, Chris Saad sits down with Thomas Sohmers, founder and CEO of Positron, to explore how this ambitious startup is aiming to disrupt the AI chip market currently dominated by NVIDIA.


In this episode, you will:

  • Discover how Positron achieved working hardware in just 18 months, defying typical timelines for chip startups
  • Learn about Positron's strategy for compatibility with existing AI frameworks like HuggingFace
  • Understand the performance and efficiency advantages Positron claims over NVIDIA's offerings
  • Explore how the team's deep industry experience from companies like Grok and F5 Networks gives them an edge
  • Gain insights into Positron's innovative use of FPGAs for rapid iteration before moving to custom chips
  • Hear about the company's funding journey and current Series A raise
  • Uncover valuable lessons for founders on competing against industry giants


Learn more about the startup

Skyfire Website: https://www.positron.ai/ 

Follow Thomas Sohmers on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trsohmers/ 


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Key links


Learn more about Chris and Yaniv

Work 1:1 with Chris: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://chrissaad.com/advisory/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow Chris on Linkedin: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠


Credits

Editor: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Justin McArthur⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Content Strategist: Carolina Franco https://www.linkedin.com/in/francocarolina/

Intro Voice: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jeremiah Owyang⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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