Weebit Nano Secured $3.1 Million

Weebit Nano Ltd provide the following operational update for the quarter ending 30 September 2019, along with its Appendix 4C cash flow results.

It is targeting the global semiconductor industry with its next gen silicon oxide ReRAM memory technology (SiOx ReRAM). It has achieved a Mb array (June 2018) and has measured technical parameters that are at the forefront of current Non-Volatile Memories (NVM) in production. This has enabled the company to enter discussions with potential first customers and partners as a first step towards commercialisation.

Non-volatile embedded memories are commonly used in many industries and commercial applications, including smartphones, computers, wearable technology, consumer products, security and automotive. South Korea and China are the world’s largest semiconductor memory markets with the former manufacturing 57% of the world’s supply and the latter being the largest consumer of this technology.

Weebit has transitioned over the past 4 years from a university laboratory technology to a company in next gen memory technology, and is on track to commence commercial manufacturing in a production fab by the end of 2020.

Coby Hanoch, CEO, said: “We are actively working to secure first orders of our technology and are currently developing a memory module to meet the exact specs of a potential first customer. Based in South Korea, this potential first customer is a material player in the global semiconductor industry, with its own fabrication plant. Weebit is targeting some of the largest semiconductor markets in the world and is working with potential partners and prospective customers within these key markets. The demonstration of a Mb array in June last year has lowered the technological barriers and the risk profile of the company. Since then, we have achieved substantial technical and commercial advancements as we near commercialisation, including industry-leading technical specs such as data retention of over 10 years at temperatures of up to 150°C.”

Secured $3.1 million through combined Placement and Entitlement Offer
to progress key commercial milestones
During the reporting period, the firm raised $2.5 million via a share Placement to sophisticated investors, issuing 6,410,256 new shares at $0.39 per share. The Placement was well supported by existing and new investors and included participation from Weebit’s directors.

The company also conducted an Entitlement Offer to existing eligible shareholders at the same price as the Placement, raising a further $636,350. It is progressing discussions with several parties in relation to a variety of potential corporate transactions and strategic partnership opportunities to facilitate the company’s transition from technology to production.

Funds raised from the Placement and Entitlement Offer will be used to hire staff and purchase tools to develop and implement the memory module for the potential South Korean customer. The capital will also be used to engage with production facilities, with the aim of transferring to production by December 2020.

Memory module development with first potential customer
Weebit has progressed the development of its customised SiOx ReRAM memory module for a South Korean company, which is on track to be delivered by mid-2020. The company believes this potential first customer is its ideal partner.

Concurrent with this customisation work, the firm will continue to progress discussions with other potential customers in other markets.

The company has added additional resources to support delivery of key customisation milestones, including the appointment of a senior analog designer and domain expert.

Hanoch commented: “We are very excited to be at a point where we are engaged with potential customers and partners. The memory module we are building is a critical element on the path to commercialisation, as it enables us to embed a module with Weebit’s technology on customers’ products. Furthermore, we are building a module that it is both flexible and configurable and can be utilised by other potential customers, so in the future we can address the customisation requirements of customers much faster.“

Signed Letter of Intent (LOI) with XTX Technology
During the quarter, Weebit signed a LOI with Chinese memory solutions company XTX Technology Limited to investigate the use of its SiOx ReRAM technology in XTX products.

XTX is a provider of flash memory chips for consumer electronics, industrial embedded systems, telecom and networking markets and supplies a variety of flash-based NVM solutions to around 2,000 companies globally, including some of the leading semiconductor companies.

As China is the world’s largest consumer of semiconductor technology, XTX has been examining emerging memory technologies with a view to enhancing or replacing some of its products which are based on older technologies. The two companies set up a joint team to test Weebit’s ReRAM technology at XTX’s facilities in Shenzhen.

Under the LOI, the two companies are also exploring potential co-operation in sales and marketing activities in China.

World’s first neuromorphic demo using SNN (Spiking Neural Network) algorithms
running on ReRAM
As foreshadowed in the company’s announcement on July 19, 2019, Weebit and CEA-Leti, in miniaturisation technologies, demonstrated the world’s first neuromorphic demo using SNN algorithms running on a ReRAM technology at the flash Memory Summit in Silicon Valley.

The demo combines CEA-Leti’s SNN algorithms with SiOx ReRAM technology to showcase how circuits can operate similarly to the human brain. It uses bio-inspired architecture to implement synapses in a way that mimics human biological synapse activity, unlike AI circuits that use standard processors and are implemented via software algorithms trying to simulate the synapse function.

Using neuromorphic techniques based on ReRAM technology has the potential to emulate the way the brain works, rather than simulate, and makes the computing process for AI applications more efficient.

This represents a long-term opportunity for the use of ReRAM technology, given the growth expected in AI applications.

ReRAM memory competitive landscape
Commenting on the competitive landscape for ReRAM memory, Hanoch said: “Globally, Weebit is aware of several other companies developing emerging non-volatile memory technologies. Based on our understanding, these companies have spent 10 years or more developing their technologies considerably longer than Weebit – yet even the most advanced ones are only at early stages of commercialisation.
“Weebit is at a stage close to the most advanced of these companies, after just less than 4 years in development. Weebit accomplished a Mb array in June 2018 and has since demonstrated retention of over 10 years at up to 150°C and endurance of a million cycles. These technical parameters are at the forefront of the industry, as only one ReRAM company has announced such high temperatures. Currently Weebit is engaged with potential customers and is in the process of moving its technology to a production fab.
“Despite Weebit’s progress, our valuation has decreased over the past 14 months. Our current market cap is 3 to 5 times lower than our key competitors, even one which is yet to achieve a working array or report any retention results. We believe achieving a Mb array with good retention results are key milestones in de-risking the technology. In fact, our view is that achieving a Mb array is the most important milestone in proving the viability of the technology. The ability to achieve this is a major step in the commercialisation phase and for discussions with potential customers. We do not believe our valuation by the market reflects the technical or business progress and potential of the company.
“While Weebit is currently working on 200mm wafers, and some competitors are working on 300mm wafers, it should be noted that our 200mm wafers have been developed using 300mm equipment, so moving to 300mm wafers is mostly a matter of money and focus, with manageable technical risk. The potential partners/customers we are dealing with now do not require 300mm wafers, so, we have lowered the priority of this work and are focusing our resources on what really counts – getting to revenues as fast as we can.
“In addition to the significant technological progress, we believe that the quality of Weebit’s board of directors is another key advantage. Chaired by former Intel chief product officer David Perlmutter, Weebit’s board also includes Dr Yoav Nissan-Cohen, founder of Tower Semiconductor, and Atiq Raza, who was the former chairman and CEO of NextGen and the former president of AMD.
“When we look at where Weebit is at, and what we have been able to achieve in a short period of time, we feel we stack up extremely well compared to other ReRAM companies across all facets – technical progress, commercialisation progress, and board and management.”

Looking ahead
Developing the memory module to meet the specs of a first potential semiconductor customer in South Korea remains a key focus for Weebit. While this development work is underway, the company is also progressing advanced discussions with other potential technical partners, production fabs and customers.

Weebit continues to work on improving the technical parameters of its SiOx ReRAM technology and remains on track to transfer its technology to a production fab by December 2020.

Read also:
Weebit Nano and XTX Technology Signed Letter-of-Intent for SiOx ReRAM Technology
Identified potential for co-operation by using SiOx ReRAM technology to replace some of XTX’s products that are based on older technologies reaching limits of capability
August 22, 2019 | Press Release
FMS: Weebit Nano and CEA-Leti Brain-Inspired Neuromorphic Using SiOx ReRAM Technology Demo
Combining artificial spiking neural networks technology and SiOx ReRAM technology may accelerate development of brain-inspired architectures.
July 24, 2019 | Press Release