Christophe Alexandre, Keplertech.io
With 20 years of experience in Electronic Design Automation (EDA), I began my journey with a PhD in microelectronics from Sorbonne University (2008). In 2009, I co-founded Flexras Technologies, a startup specializing in FPGA prototyping tools, which was acquired by Mentor Graphics (now Siemens EDA) in 2015. There, I served as Chief Software Architect, leading global R&D teams and helping evolve our technology into a widely adopted commercial product.
In 2022, I launched a new venture: keplertech.io, an EDA startup built on the belief that Open Source can unlock innovation in one of the most closed and complex industries—semiconductors, integrated circuits, and the tools used to design them. In a space dominated by a handful of major players, we aim to create meaningful opportunities for smaller, agile actors to thrive.
I’m passionate about building complex systems from scratch and bringing ideas to life in the real world.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christophe-alexandre-634bb36/
Mastodon: https://mastodon.social/@xtofalex
naja GitHub: https://github.com/najaeda/naja
Session
Software has long dominated development, but more companies—large and small—are now designing custom integrated circuits to meet their specific needs. However, IC development requires significant budgets and expertise in the complex EDA (Electronic Design Automation) workflow, often constrained by expensive licenses. This talk will explore the emerging Open Source alternative, in which the presenter is actively involved, offering a game-changing approach that lowers barriers for small companies and newcomers entering the field.