Intel Hands Atom Chip Tech to Startup Tied to Its CEO
Intel is giving a tiny, stealthy startup called Rosaic rare access to its Atom processor technology, a move it almost never makes. The awkward part: Rosaic is run by Amarjit Gill, a longtime co-investor of Intel chief executive Lip-Bu Tan, and staffed by veterans of the startup that once outbid Intel.
July 30, 2026 – 6:56 pm
Image by: Intel
According to a source and documents reviewed by Reuters, the chipmaker is providing RosaicLabs with access to its Atom processor technology—a significant step for Intel, as it rarely licenses pieces of its x86 architecture.
Rosaic is led by Amarjit Gill, a veteran chip executive and venture investor. He and Intel boss Lip-Bu Tan are longtime co-investors. The pair helped build the founding team at Rivos, a chip startup that Meta bought last year, outbidding Intel, while Tan was its chairman. Both also backed Nuvia, later sold to Qualcomm.
What Intel is Actually Handing Over
The transfer involves providing Rosaic with the register-transfer level (RTL) code for Atom. This low-level blueprint describes how the chip works and gives a customer deep exposure to Intel’s intellectual property, allowing them to build custom designs. Atom itself is built for low power and low heat, which suits mobile and edge devices.
Rosaic is a relatively unknown entity. It filed its first Delaware incorporation papers in May and has no website or LinkedIn page, a common practice for chip startups working in secrecy. Its founding team includes veterans of Rivos, and an amended July filing shows it can raise a $10 million seed round.
Why It Looks Awkward
The optics are the primary concern. Intel is undergoing a significant turnaround under Tan, who has implemented aggressive cost-cutting measures and tried to open up its foundry to outside customers. Licensing its IP is part of this strategy.
But giving rare access to a company run by the chief executive’s former investment partner, staffed by alumni of the startup that once outbid Intel, raises obvious questions. Reuters has previously reported on deals that boosted Tan’s personal fortune. Intel declined to comment, and Gill did not respond.
There is also strategic logic behind this move. Intel rarely shares its x86 architecture, and opening Atom to a nimble startup could seed markets it cannot chase alone. Rivals are already racing to build custom silicon for the AI era. Whether this outweighs the governance questions is what Intel’s board and investors will need to consider.
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Ana Maria Constantin
With expertise in digital marketing, product management, and branding & identity, Ana Maria Constantin develops strategies that resonate.