CEO Interview with Howard Prakash of TekStart

Howard Pakosh is a serial entrepreneur and angel investor. Mr. Pakosh is also Founder & CEO of The TekStart Group, a Toronto-based boutique incubator focusing on Fractional-C business development support, as well as developing, promoting and licensing technology into markets such as blockchain, Internet-of-Things (IoT) and Semiconductor Intellectual Property (SIP). TekStart is currently an early-stage investor with Piera Systems (CleanTech), Acrylic Robotics (Robotics), Low Power Futures  (Semiconductors), ChipStart (Semiconductors), and Freedom Laser (Digital Health).

Mr. Pakosh has been involved in all phases of semiconductor development for over 30 years and was instrumental in the delivery of the first commercially available USB Subsystem at his first IP startup called Xentec and Elliptic Technologies Inc. (both sold to Synopsys Inc.). Other ventures he’s recently led, include the development of Micron’s Hybrid Memory Cube controller and the development of the most power-efficient crypto processing ASIC’s for SHA-256 and SCRYPT algorithms.

Tell us about your company.

When I started TekStart® in 1998, the mission was clear: give bold ideas the resources and leadership they need to become thriving businesses. The semiconductor field has always been high-stakes, demanding both creativity and flawless execution. Over time, TekStart has shifted from a commercialization partner to a true venture builder, now concentrating heavily on semiconductors and AI. Our purpose hasn’t changed. We exist to help innovators succeed. What has changed are our methods, which have adapted to an industry that’s become more global, more competitive, and far more complex.

What new features or technology are you working on?

What I am excited to share is an exciting breakthrough we have achieved through our ChipStart® business unit. With Newport by ChipStart, we’ve proven we’re not only enabling innovation but driving it ourselves. Achieving up to 65 TOPS of performance at under 2 watts is a leap forward, unlocking a new level of performance-per-watt that opens doors to applications once thought impossible.

What problems are you solving?

The semiconductor industry faces three defining challenges: fragile supply chains, the demand for radical energy efficiency, and the relentless race to market. Newport by ChipStart is built to meet these challenges head-on. Instead of designs tied to exotic nodes, we enable resilient architectures that keep innovation moving, even in uncertain times. Instead of incremental power gains, we push for performance that redefines efficiency by delivering more capability per watt. Instead of waiting on the pace of new fabs, we help innovators leap from concept to production silicon faster than ever. Newport isn’t just solving today’s problems. It’s shaping the future of how chips get built.

What application areas are your strongest?

We see the greatest impact in Edge devices that demand real-time intelligence without relying on the cloud. Security and surveillance systems, for example, need to analyze video on-site to detect threats instantly, without the latency of sending data off-premise. In agriculture, sensors and vision systems powered by AI can monitor crops, optimize water use, and detect early signs of disease, helping farmers boost yields sustainably. AR/VR wearables require high-performance AI that runs efficiently in small, battery-constrained form factors, enabling immersive experiences without bulky hardware. And in industrial automation, factories are increasingly reliant upon AI-driven systems to inspect products, predict equipment failures, and streamline processes. These are just a few of the areas where Edge AI is not just useful but transformative, and where Newport by ChipStart is purpose-built to deliver.

What keeps your customers up at night?

The pace of innovation in semiconductors and AI has never been faster, and it’s only accelerating. Our customers worry about launching a product only to find it outdated months later. Staying relevant requires moving from concept to market at unprecedented speed – and doing so without compromising quality or performance. That’s where TekStart, through Newport by ChipStart, makes a real difference. We partner closely with innovators to compress development cycles and deliver silicon that keeps pace with today’s AI-driven world. By helping our partners beat obsolescence, we ensure they stay ahead in markets where timing is everything.

What does the competitive landscape look like and how do you differentiate?

Competition in our space revolves around two unforgiving dimensions: time-to-market and innovation. Both demand relentless execution to stay ahead. We differentiate by combining deep semiconductor expertise with an ecosystem of partners who bring complementary strengths in design, manufacturing, and deployment. Our team has decades of hands-on experience across ASIC design, operations, and AI applications. When combined with our extended network, we’re able to anticipate shifts in technology and deliver solutions that arrive ahead of the curve. This balance of speed and foresight is what keeps our customers competitive and what sets us apart in a crowded landscape.

How do customers normally engage with your company?

We typically engage through close collaboration across the semiconductor supply chain. That means working side-by-side with fab houses, manufacturers, and technology partners to ensure our products integrate seamlessly into their final deliverables. By embedding our solutions at the heart of their systems – whether it’s in smart cameras, connected devices, or industrial machinery – we help our partners to accelerate their own roadmaps. These collaborations go beyond transactions. They’re strategic partnerships designed to align our innovation with their market needs.

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