YC Summer 2026 (S26) company

Synapse Semiconductor

New semiconductors that merge compute and vision

About Synapse Semiconductor

We want to push machines to where humans cant go. Presidential early career award winning Duke Semiconductor ECE Faculty Tania Roy and Sanjeev Chauhan are building a frontier semiconductor research lab. Their focus is on solving physical AI challenges from the semiconductor device level and building products around the moat of impossible to copy innovation. Their first work is on a new vision sensor that can run neural network filters right in the camera pixels and only collect data that machines care about. As physical AI develops, machines needs to understand the world around them if they aim to interact with them.

Public traction evidence

Each signal links to the public source used for attribution.

  1. X

    We put a neural network inside the camera pixel.

    We put a neural network inside the camera pixel. Introducing RETINA: a vision sensor that runs AI where the light lands

  2. LinkedIn

    Synapse Semiconductor Revolutionizes AI with RETINA Image Sensors | Synapse Semiconductor posted on the topic | LinkedIn

    Synapse Semiconductor (YC S26) is a frontier semiconductor research lab building senses for physical AI. Led by Sanjeev Chauhan and Duke ECE Faculty Tania Roy. Synapse Semiconductor builds image sensors that process AI on the sensor itself. Each pixel captures light and runs...

  3. X

    Synapse Semiconductor CTO Tania Roy speaking at Duke’s women’s weekend about the future of semiconductors and the work Dr.

    Synapse Semiconductor CTO Tania Roy speaking at Duke’s women’s weekend about the future of semiconductors and the work Dr. Roy’s lab does.

  4. X

    Semiconductors for physical AI...

    Semiconductors for physical AI... coming soon.

  5. YouTube

    Synapse Semiconductor

    Synapse Semiconductor is the first company to integrate all components of the computer vision stack into one substrate. SynapseSemi.org

  6. X

    Synapse Semiconductor is bringing together leaders in physical AI at @Ai4Conferences to discuss how we can reimagine edge AI systems.

    Synapse Semiconductor is bringing together leaders in physical AI at @Ai4Conferences to discuss how we can reimagine edge AI systems. Tuesday Aug 4th, 8:30pm The Venetian - Delmonico Steakhouse. https://t.co/pTFedPUq1A