How to start a fabless chip company targeting a modern process node?

Question

Let's say I have an idea for a digital chip that requires a modern semiconductor node (&le;10 nm).It seems that the only semiconductor manufacturers that offer such nodes are TSMC, SMIC, Intel, Samsung. Are there others?To assess viability of my idea, I may need to get the process specifications (design rules, defect models, ...), transistor models and standard cell specifications. Does the manufacturer publish these on their website or do you have to ask?What tools are needed to verify a chip design on a level lower than logic? Which proprietary ones?Is the GDSII format still used in these modern nodes?Would you like to recommend any books that cover specifically modern technology processes and designing for them?How to get funding after I get promising simulation results of my design?In which country do I incorporate? My preference is for English-speaking countries and little legal obstacles for doing my own work as a non-citizen. My home country is already ruled out.

nm-f · Accepted Answer

From working in a somewhat related discipline, the PDKs for the high end nodes (think tsmc N16 and lower) are quite hard to obtain and require your org to pass security audit. In addition to that the cadence licenses are priced very much for a big-org rather than a startup.Does your chip absolutely need a modern node? I'm assuming you've seen the open source skywater pdk, but here it is just in case. https://github.com/google/skywater-pdk

simne · Answer

You don't need to make real chip to estimate performance. You just need to make logic model and run it on software FPGA simulator and this will be enough for business plan.
So forget nm, just run your idea on simulator, or on big FPGA.
Second, in modern world, hardware is only fraction of all costs. The largest part is product package and distribution, plus marketing. Marketing of high tech could easy cost 10x hardware, even 20x is not limit.
If separate only production, largest part is software development/support pipeline (2x-5x).
Even if you will achieve zero hardware cost, and some way avoid distribution/marketing, there still will be huge expenses on software development/support.
Third, even when you will achieve ready product in quantities, you will need to wait few years, so people, will see your product give them advantages (that's why software is 5x hardware).
And you are wrong, if think, you could fool investors and jump over some of steps above.
As conclusion, focus on create sustainable design/production pipeline, don't focus on low hardware costs.
If you will achieve (and show) sustainable design/production pipeline for abstract digital chip, you will got money without chip idea.

gary_0 · Answer

I'm pretty sure if you can figure out how to arrange the many millions of dollars of funding and hire the various domain experts required to get a cutting-edge (or even last-gen) chip off the ground, your questions would get answered automatically.
Which is not to say they're not interesting questions, but the answers will not be actionable information without the aforementioned money and people.
It's a bit like a single carpenter asking about how you get a permit to build a skyscraper.

GianFabien · Answer

Seems like a fascinating and extremely challenging undertaking.
The most obvious question is whether you have the skills or access to the skills to design a device at that level. AFAIK it would require a team of specialists.
Going beyond that, would it be possible to validate the design using FPGA or ASIC?
How are you confirming the market reach and size? Since you are looking at a multi-million dollar investment, investors would want to see credible ROI. The execution risks appear to be substantial. That is, unless you have capabilities far beyond those implied by your questions.
To answer your last question. I fail to see any better option than the USA. Of course, there are numerous potential legal hurdles depending your current country of domicile. As a minimum you could hasten to Silicon Valley and start building a network of connections. Perhaps there are others on HN who are in a good position to assist.