embedUR Spins Off ModelNova to Simplify Edge AI Deployments

Silicon Valley-based embedded engineering company embedUR Systems has spun off ModelNova as an independent company focused on accelerating Edge AI deployment, as enterprises increasingly move AI workloads from the cloud to power-efficient edge devices.

ModelNova announced on July 16 that it aims to address one of the biggest challenges in Edge AI, moving trained AI models from prototypes to production across diverse semiconductor platforms.

Headquartered in Chennai for its India launch, the company has built its platform over the past 18 months and already works with nine semiconductor partners, including Arm Holdings, STMicroelectronics, Infineon Technologies, Alif Semiconductor, NXP Semiconductors, Silicon Labs, Renesas, Synaptics and Ceva. It is also a leadership partner of the Edge AI Foundation.

ModelNova’s portfolio comprises three offerings: an open-source Model Zoo containing pre-trained AI models and datasets for edge devices; Fusion Studio, a commercial platform for deploying AI across microcontrollers and neural processing units; and a suite of production-ready AI models that can be licensed for applications such as facial recognition, wireless sensing and automotive child presence detection.

“ModelNova began as our answer to a simple question: why is it still so hard to turn a working AI model into a real product at the edge?” Rajesh Subramaniam, Founder and CEO of embedUR systems, said in a statement. “Establishing ModelNova as an independent company lets us go after that problem with full focus—giving developers a free place to start, a platform to build on, and production-ready models they can license and ship.”

The company said its Model Zoo is available free of charge, while Fusion Studio is currently in beta. Production-ready models, including NovaEyeD for facial recognition and wireless sensing models, are available for licensing.

“The gap between a working model and a shipping product is what’s holding the industry back—ModelNova is focused on precisely that problem, and its launch is a meaningful step for the whole ecosystem,” Michael Hurlston, President and CEO of Lumentum, said.