DingoBorat
Slim
Peter never had any intentions of BrainChip being a software Company.Hi Hoppy,
In that 9 years you've seen several changes of business model:
A. Software - Brainchip STUDIO;
B. Software plus hardware - Studio plus Brainchip Accelerator FPGA;
C. Digital SNN SoC - Akida 1 (with IP licence side order for big orders) (software relegated to giveaway tempter);
D. IP licence only;
E. IP licence with a little SoC on the side (Edge Box).
F. E plus Akida Gen 2 IP licence.
Software looks like a good model with zero manufacturing cost, but it is high maintenance and requires continual upgrading. Direct customer sales.
Chips offer a quick entry point, but have significant manufacturing costs. Sales to product manufacturers.
IP licensing is highest return but massive barrier to entry. Sales to chip makers or major retailers.
That's an average of 18 months per business model - difficult to get traction, but it was not because any of the products were duds. The whole area of tech has been in a state of flux, and, even though we have always been leading the field, to the uninformed observer it could give the appearance of chasing our own tail.
While the Edge Box will give customers an opportunity to experience Akida in the wild, with TeNNs we have extended our lead, hopefully sufficiently to allow enough time to finalize some major deals.
Hardware neuromorphics, was always the end game.
So I don't think you can say that was ever really a "business model" as it was merely a stepping stone, which was unfortunately misplaced at the time and burnt up much resources and Time.
It really does feel to me though, that everything is happening on this journey, as it should.