Kevin Garrigan

Kevin Garrigan from Rosenblatt Securities asked about the remaining development milestones for the VW ID. Buzz program before its start of production (SOP) and requested an update on the BMW China platform's competitiveness.

Answer

CEO Omer Keilaf reported that for the VW program, Innoviz is approaching the C sample phase, having already achieved the critical design and point cloud freeze milestones. The final step is completing production validation. Regarding BMW China, Keilaf emphasized the superior quality and reliability of Innoviz's LiDAR for Level 3 systems, which he believes provides a substantially better and safer user experience compared to competitors.

Kevin Garrigan of Rosenblatt Securities asked about the competitive landscape for the FIFA World Cup contract, specifically whether Ouster competed against camera-based solutions or other LiDAR suppliers, and also inquired about the company's distributor strategy.

Answer

CEO Angus Pacala attributed the FIFA win to the superior accuracy of the BlueCity solution, which is powered by advanced AI algorithms trained on a massive proprietary dataset. He explained that Ouster's distribution strategy is tailored by vertical, utilizing a distributor-integrator model for smart infrastructure and security, while maintaining direct sales relationships with large enterprise customers in the industrial and automotive sectors.

Kevin Garrigan from Rosenblatt Securities Inc. asked about the pace of LiDAR adoption and the impact of geopolitical tariffs. He questioned whether adoption is accelerating faster than management previously expected and inquired about any changes in customer behavior or strategy due to tariffs.

Answer

CEO Angus Pacala noted that while early industry expectations were too high, Ouster is now tracking to its long-term growth model, with advancements in AI and edge computing providing positive tailwinds. Interim CFO Chen Geng stated that the company has not seen significant business disruption from tariffs, as the value proposition of its solutions remains strong, and they are confident in their ability to execute their business plan.

Kevin Garrigan of Rosenblatt Securities asked about customer retention rates and how renewing customers identify new applications for D-Wave's quantum annealer.

Answer

CFO John Markovich stated the retention rate is over 90% for the last four quarters. CEO Alan Baratz added that they have two customer types: 'do-it-yourself' users and larger enterprises engaged through professional services on multi-application roadmaps. He noted the Quantum Launchpad program helps convert DIY users to more structured, value-driven projects.

Kevin Garrigan questioned if there were any remaining technology gaps the company might fill via acquisition and asked for more details on the real-world quantum AI applications being explored with Japan's AIST.

Answer

CEO & Chairman Niccolo de Masi stated that the company's "north star" is to lead in the complete quantum internet—from sensors to computers to networks—and they will continue to evaluate opportunities to accelerate their roadmap. Speaking more broadly on AI, he pointed to existing successes in industrial AI and drug discovery as examples of quantum machine learning, emphasizing that IonQ partners with industry leaders like NVIDIA and AWS to deliver end-to-end solutions and is expanding into verticals like financial services.

Kevin Garrigan inquired if AMD's decision was driven by a plan to disband its internal team or by performance limitations, and asked about Arteris's strategy to convert the 20+ customers evaluating FlexGen into sales.

Answer

CEO K. Charles Janac clarified that AMD is not disbanding its internal team but will use Arteris FlexGen for non-coherent applications alongside its own Infinity Fabric. He added that the numerous FlexGen evaluations are expected to result in sales starting in the second half of the year. CFO Nick Hawkins noted that the public validation from a major company like AMD will help accelerate other customer decisions.

Kevin Garrigan from Rosenblatt Securities questioned if Arteris is observing an acceleration in customer decision timelines from initial conversation to a signed agreement, and asked about the potential for the new Intel Foundry Alliance partnership to attract new customers.

Answer

CEO Karel Janac stated that while customers are trying to accelerate their own design cycles, the company's licensing activity shows steady growth rather than faster deal closures. He noted the outsourcing trend is driven by the complexity of next-generation designs. CFO Nicholas Hawkins added that economic pressures and a scarcity of qualified hardware engineers are key factors pushing customers toward commercial IP. Regarding the Intel partnership, Mr. Janac expressed optimism that it will result in additional business over the next 12 months, citing Intel's increased openness to commercial IP solutions.

Kevin Garrigan from Rosenblatt Securities asked about the trend in average selling prices (ASPs) per project, the company's progress toward its $1 million ASP target for 2026, and whether the design-to-production timeline for the new microcontroller (MCU) business differs from the company's typical average.

Answer

Executive Karel Janac confirmed that Arteris is on track for the $1 million ASP target on complex SoCs, noting they are already securing deals at that level. However, he clarified that the recent expansion into the microcontroller market will involve lower ASPs, which should be considered separately. Regarding MCUs, Janac explained the design dynamic is different; while major vendors start new generations every three years, they may then design 6-15 different MCUs in a very short timeframe within that generation.

Kevin Garrigan of WestPark Capital asked if design activity in the Chinese EV market is increasing faster than elsewhere and if Chinese customers are accelerating development timelines. He also inquired about the average selling prices (ASPs) for licensing deals in the microcontroller market and sought customer feedback on the new NoC tiling product.

Answer

CEO Karel Janac responded that design activity is robust globally, not just in China, as companies are designing chips for future models like the 2030 automotive year. He confirmed that microcontroller ASPs are lower, but this is offset by very high royalty volumes and numerous designs, with a strategy to capture entire product generations. Regarding NoC tiling, Mr. Janac noted it's a new product developed at the request of AI customers, with significant interest, but revenue impact is expected next year. CFO Nicholas Hawkins added that Arteris has prior, successful experience in the MCU space with substantial royalty streams.

Kevin Garrigan of Rosenblatt Securities asked for a breakdown of near-term versus long-term applications in the edge AI market. He also inquired about the strategy behind the company's recent record design wins.

Answer

CEO Ford Tamer detailed the AI revenue mix, projecting it to reach the mid-20s as a percentage of revenue in 2026, with a split between companionship roles (55%) and on-chip AI (45%). He attributed the design win success to a 'single-minded focus on small and mid-range FPGAs,' positioning Lattice as a non-competing 'companionship' solution for 'Far Edge AI' applications.

Kevin Garrigan asked if the growth observed in the Industrial segment was broad-based or concentrated in specific pockets. He also inquired about the size of the AI opportunity for Lattice within the industrial market.

Answer

CEO Fouad Tamer indicated that while the Industrial segment is broad, they are seeing faster growth in areas like aerospace, defense, and medical. He explained that in Industrial AI, Lattice FPGAs can play a more significant role as the main processing element for tiny AI models, unlike their supporting function in data centers. This is due to the performance, low latency, and deterministic attributes of FPGAs in smaller IoT and monitoring applications.

Kevin Garrigan asked if the growth in the Industrial segment was broad-based or concentrated in certain pockets, and inquired about the size of the AI opportunity for Lattice within that market.

Answer

CEO Fouad Tamer and CFO Lorenzo A. Flores indicated that while the Industrial segment is broad, areas like aerospace, defense, and medical are growing faster. Tamer explained that in Industrial applications, Lattice FPGAs can play a larger AI role—sometimes as the main processing element for tiny AI models or for preprocessing—compared to their typical companion-chip function in data centers.

Kevin Garrigan of WestPark Capital asked about the potential for additional cost savings, the current outlook for the automotive market, and the strength of demand from the advanced packaging space, particularly in relation to AI.

Answer

Executive Robert Daigle explained that further cost reductions are being pursued through supply chain management and footprint optimization. He confirmed that the automotive market remains soft, which is reflected in the company's guidance, and noted the strategic pivot towards driving organic growth. Daigle also highlighted that demand from advanced packaging has been strengthening for several quarters, driven by OSATs supporting AI data centers, and he anticipates that AI moving to the edge will further boost equipment volumes.

Asked about the importance of the new design win for future business, the customer demand for the StudioViz simulation platform, and the company's view on the recent NHTSA ruling on automatic emergency braking.

Answer

The new win is crucial as it leverages lessons from the prior GM program, making the company more competitive for future RFPs. The StudioViz platform was developed proactively based on past experience to streamline development for all customers, rather than waiting for them to ask. The NHTSA ruling is seen as a major tailwind for the LiDAR industry, validating the need for advanced safety technology.

The analyst sought clarification on whether recent RFQs were for passenger vehicles and inquired about the impact of Koito's indication of interest on discussions with OEMs.

Answer

The company confirmed the RFQs are for passenger vehicles. They also stated that Koito's proposal is viewed as a positive by OEMs, as it addresses concerns about the long-term viability of LiDAR companies and strengthens the Cepton-Koito partnership.