Espressif Systems
{{Short description|Chinese Semiconductor Company}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Espressif Systems (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
| trading_name = Espressif
| native_name = 乐鑫信息科技(上海)股份有限公司
| logo = Espressif Logo.svg
| former_name =
| type = Public
| traded_as = {{SSE|688018}}
| foundation = {{start date and age|2008|04|28}}
| founder = Teo Swee Ann
| key_people = Teo Swee Ann (Chairman & CEO)
| revenue = {{Increase}} {{CNY|link=yes|1.43 billion}} (2023)
| net_income = {{Increase}} {{CNY|link=yes|136.20 million}} (2023)
| assets = {{Increase}} {{CNY|link=yes|2.20 billion}} (2023)
| equity = {{Increase}} {{CNY|link=yes|1.91 billion}} (2023)
| owner =
| num_employees = 625 (2023)
| industry = Semiconductors
| homepage = {{URL|www.espressif.com}}
}}
Espressif Systems (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. (Espressif; {{Zh|c=|p=Lèxīn Kējì|s=乐鑫科技}}) is a publicly listed Chinese semiconductor company headquartered in Shanghai. It focuses on developing and selling wireless microcontroller unit communication chips and modules that are used in internet of things (IoT).
History
In 2008, Espressif was founded in China by Singaporean national, Teo Swee Ann. Teo who graduated from National University of Singapore with degrees in electrical engineering had worked for Montage Technology as an engineering director.{{Cite web |last=Tay |first=Peck Gek |date=25 July 2023 |title=Singapore's '007' who took the world by storm with his chips |url=https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/events-awards/singapore-business-awards/singapore-business-awards-2023/singapores-007-who-took |access-date=7 February 2025 |website=Business Times |language=en |archive-date=30 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230730060421/https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/events-awards/singapore-business-awards/singapore-business-awards-2023/singapores-007-who-took |url-status=live }}
Espressif initially started as one-man consulting firm which later expanded. However due to small quantity of chips commissioned by Espressif, foundries tended to reject it. However TSMC who had heard of Teo's work at Montage Technology gave Espressif a chance and became its supplier.
On 22 July 2019, Espressif had its initial public offering and became a listed company on the Shanghai Stock Exchange STAR Market. The offering raised 1.2 billion yuan.{{Cite web |last=Platonov |first=Ivan |date=17 July 2019 |title=The 'Star' Goes Wireless: Espressif Systems Prices IPO at CNY 62.60 per Share |url=https://equalocean.com/news/2019071711381 |access-date=7 February 2025 |website=EqualOcean |language=en |archive-date=25 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201025195909/https://equalocean.com/news/2019071711381 |url-status=live }}
In March 2022, it was reported that Espressif was moving exclusively to the RISC-V open source instruction set architecture.{{Cite web |last=Flaherty |first=Nick |date=2 May 2022 |title=Espressif moves exclusively to RISC-V |url=https://www.eenewseurope.com/en/espressif-moves-exclusively-to-risc-v/ |access-date=7 February 2025 |website=eeNews Europe |language=en-US |archive-date=19 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231219133851/https://www.eenewseurope.com/en/espressif-moves-exclusively-to-risc-v/ |url-status=live }}
As of September 2023, Espressif has shipped over 1 billion IoT chips and is the fifth largest company in the Wi-Fi microcontrollers business.{{Cite web |last= |date=2 August 2024 |title=全球第五，乐鑫科技凭什么 |url=https://news.qq.com/rain/a/20240802A01M5K00 |access-date=7 February 2025 |website=QQ |language=zh-CN |archive-date=7 February 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250207041357/https://news.qq.com/rain/a/20240802A01M5K00 |url-status=live }}
Business operations
Since establishment, Espressif has remained profitable. Rather than buying existing solutions which is a common practice in the chip industry, Espressif performs its own engineering and has a very cost effective method of designing chips. Managers and directors are expected to do coding in addition to their managerial duties.
Espressif adopts a sales model that is mainly direct sales and supplemented by distribution.
Products
Espressif has established itself in providing Wi-Fi and Bluetooth-integrated devices and solutions. Initially focusing on Wi-Fi microcontrollers, the company has expanded into the fields artificial intelligence of things and system on a chip.
Two of Espressif most well known semiconductor products are the ESP8266 and its successor ESP32. They are used in products such as coffee machines and light bulbs, as well as providers of smart city and automation solutions. They are also used by DIY tech hobbyists
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Electronics industry in China}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:2008 establishments in China
Category:2019 initial public offerings
Category:Companies based in Shanghai
Category:Companies listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange
Category:Electronics companies established in 2008
Category:Fabless semiconductor companies