CEO Talk: Stefano Perticaroli, RAME

This interview was help with Stefano Perticaroli, Ph.D. Eng., CEO at Radio Analog Micro Electronics srl.

Tell me a bit about your background? How did you first get started with Radio Analog Micro Electronics?

I completed my Ph.D in Electronics Engineering at DIET Sapienza Università di Roma in 2011 at age 29. I started to get in touch with microelectronics industry as a Ph.D. visiting student in companies, mainly in Europe. I stayed still for a couple of years at Sapienza as a PostDoc research fellow for completing my researches but I had clear in mind the perspective to find my own way. Finally in September 2014 I cofunded Radio Analog Micro Electronics srl, an innovative start-up company in the framework of the italian start-up law.

Tell me about Radio Analog Micro Electronics?

Radio Analog Micro Electronics srl, RAME in short, has the mission to represent the state of the art in microelectronics design in specific application fields. We constantly pursue innovation both at circuital as well as at system level. We own patents in RF circuits and TLC protocols, and more recently we submitted patents in PMICs application. I believe that promoting actively efforts in innovation it’s the real thing that matters for increasing the ‘added value’ of a start-up company.

When did you start Radio Analog Micro Electronics? What were you doing before that?

My research topics concerned the RF synthesizers theory and evaluation of dynamical properties of coupled oscillators systems. Further I followed and co-developed a MW structure for electrical conductivity sensing of nano-structured surfaces. In addition I designed a capacitive based sensor for low dielectric constant liquid gauging. Finally I co-developed the code for the PSS analysis in the NGSpice open-source project. Summarizing my personal background is in RF both in technological as well as in system level development.

How was the role/offering of Radio Analog Micro Electronics changed during the recent years?

The role of RAME srl is changing. We started as a contracting company and as a provider of sub-blocks for SoCs. Now we’re committed to implementation of more complex parts of systems, targeting to desgin the overall ASIC.

Did any of the market consolidation (or acquisition) affected your business and how?

At the moment we have no consolidation neither acquisition planned, we’re still growing and gathering expertises, then we’re in expansion phase rather than in a consolidation phase.

Which market segment seems promising to you? And why?

About 2/3 of our projects were in RF applications for Mobile & Telecommunication infrastructure Market and the remaining part was about the Internet of Things (IoT) related projects. In last year, we were approached also by a huge request of crypt-currency ASIC miners. My opinion is that a market is important in perspective related to what a company aim to to reach. The RAME perspective is to develop specific competences that, consequently, will allow our customers to assemble their system with even more capabilities and features.

Customers are focused on time-to-market, first-time-right, price, etc. Do you see a change in customer behavior in recent years? Where is the focus today and why?

Customers are even more focused on time-to-market. Actually most of the projects are due on six months, that is a very challenging short time to begin, develop and finalize projects.

What are the 3 top things you wish your customers would do better (or different)?

For sure the first thing is a better “framing” of specifications they require for their applications. Obviously we support our customers in this process. Further the way the effective costs for the implementation are defined: they depend obviously on the complexity of the required application but also on the role played by development in the company perspective.

Are you currently hiring? What type of jobs?

We look quite constantly at engineers, possibly with Ph.D degree.

What is your #1 advice for people who want want to work for Radio Analog Micro Electronics?

Here at RAME srl resources must have several skills in the ASIC design flow, possibly sharing a general background and an adequate experience on the microelectronics subject. Learning attitude is positively evaluated.

Where can one find more information?

You can visit us at www.ramesrl.it, follow us on LinkedIn or Twitter.

What is the best moment in your day?

Well, it depends. In general is the moment after I accomplished many mandatory tasks and I finally get time to think to future projects or to help team members to finalize current on-going projects.

How do you keep yourself energized and engaged during the day?

I listen to music with headphones when I’m not related to team activities or meetings. Music helps me to keep focused on the task I’m working on.

What is your preferred lunch discussion topic?

We usually talk about the private side of each resources, let’s say all kind of arguments off of jobs we’re running.

How do you spend your time outside working hours?

Mainly with my family, I have two wonderful daughters. Further I’m amateur cyclist, as soon as I can I go for a ride to the lake area around Rome.