Arm Flexible Access for Startups provides qualifying early-stage silicon startups with a fast, affordable, and trusted route to developing system-on-chip (SoC) prototypes. The program offers $0 access to a broad portfolio of verified Arm IP, tools, training, and technical support, helping startups experiment, prototype, and develop silicon without upfront IP access costs. Pricing is designed to be clear and predictable, with applicable license fees due only when a design moves to manufacture.
Program Overview
• Program name: Arm Flexible Access for Startups
• Core value proposition: $0 access to Arm technology and development resources to help eligible startups prototype silicon faster and reduce upfront development costs
• Target participants: Early-stage startups developing innovative semiconductor or silicon products, including teams designing SoCs
• Access model: $0 access to a broad portfolio of Arm IP, tools, training, models, technical support, and related development resources
• Prototype licensing: $0 license fee for the production of prototypes
• Commercial pricing: Clear and predictable pricing, with applicable IP license fees due when the final design moves to manufacture
• Support: Arm technical support, development resources, training, and access to the broader Arm ecosystem
• Eligibility: The company must be privately owned, have no more than $50 million in total funding, and have no more than $5 million in annual revenue
• Companies above the thresholds: Startups or companies exceeding these thresholds may still be able to use the broader Arm Flexible Access offering, although they may not qualify for the startup-specific $0 package
• Related initiative: The Arm Silicon Startups Contest is a separate competition built around the Arm Flexible Access for Startups ecosystem. In 2025, Gigantor Technologies won the contest and Chevin Technology was named runner-up for innovations in edge AI acceleration and embedded hardware security.
What’s Included
• Access to an extensive SoC design portfolio that includes Arm Cortex processors, Arm Mali Graphics and ISPs, Arm Corstone, Arm CoreLink, and Arm CoreSight system IP
• Tools, training, and technical support intended to reduce development time and help startups progress toward market more efficiently
• Access to eligible development and design tools, models, training resources, and Arm support
• A downloadable product sheet detailing the IP, tools, training, and physical IP libraries included in the program
• Free access to Arm IP Explorer, enabling teams to compare Arm IP, check compatibility, simulate configurations, and benchmark performance before committing to a final architecture
• The ability to contact Arm regarding products that are not included in the published program portfolio
• Flexibility to experiment with multiple eligible Arm IP products before determining which IP will be included in the final SoC design.
Startup Adoption and Partner Feedback
Arm’s current program page states that around 70 startups are using Arm Flexible Access for Startups to produce their silicon designs. Separately, Arm reported in March 2025 that the program had enabled more than 160 early-stage companies since its inception, indicating that the larger figure reflects cumulative participation rather than necessarily the number of startups actively using the program at one time.
Program participants highlighted by Arm include SpiNNcloud, Synthara, and Weeteq.
• Matthias Lohrmann, Co-Founder and Managing Partner, SpiNNcloud: said joining the program helped reduce time to silicon while providing access to the wider Arm ecosystem.
• Manu Nair, Co-Founder and CEO, Synthara: highlighted Arm's responsiveness and technical support during the company's design process.
• Martin Macdonald, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer, Weeteq: credited access to Arm IP and the Arm ecosystem with helping the company turn its technical vision into a practical silicon development path.
Getting Started
Eligible startups can apply directly to Arm Flexible Access for Startups. Applicants are asked to provide company and project information so Arm can assess whether they meet the program's qualifying criteria.
The program is particularly relevant to privately owned, early-stage companies developing a silicon or semiconductor product that need access to processor, system, graphics, imaging, or related Arm IP for SoC development but want to minimize upfront licensing and development costs. Companies that do not meet the startup-specific funding or revenue thresholds can explore the broader Arm Flexible Access program, which provides similar access to Arm technology under different commercial terms.