# Rain AI

> Rain AI was a San Francisco semiconductor startup seeking cheaper, lower-power AI computation through compute-in-memory architecture. Founded around an analog, brain-inspired vision, it shifted its near-term design to digital SRAM-based cores and offered IP licensing for custom chips. Reporting in 2026 said that after a failed sale process and broad layoffs, OpenAI bought some of its patents.

- **Founded:** 2017
- **Headquarters:** San Francisco, United States
- **Founders:** Gordon Hirsch Wilson (Co-founder and founding CEO), Jack Kendall (Co-founder and CTO; later CEO), Juan Claudio Nino (Co-founder)
- **Products:** Digital compute-in-memory IP, Custom SoC development, Rain AI accelerator chip
- **Notable:** Participated in Y Combinator Summer 2018., Raised a publicly announced $25 million Series A in 2022., Taped out two chips during its earlier analog research, according to co-founder Gordon Wilson.

## Products & services

- **Digital compute-in-memory IP** — Licensable digital compute-in-memory tile and software stack for custom systems on chips, aimed at low-latency, energy-efficient AI.
- **Custom SoC development** — Custom integration and development work offered alongside its IP licensing.
- **Rain AI accelerator chip** — Company-promoted AI chip described on its product page as upcoming; no general commercial availability established.

## Achievements

- Participated in Y Combinator Summer 2018.
- Raised a publicly announced $25 million Series A in 2022.
- Taped out two chips during its earlier analog research, according to co-founder Gordon Wilson.
- Licensed Andes AX45MPV RISC-V vector IP in 2024.
- Rain AI UK researchers were selected for two ARIA Scaling Compute projects.

## Latest updates

- **2026-08** — The Information reported that OpenAI acquired some Rain AI patents after a failed sale effort; it also reported layoffs of nearly all employees in June 2025.
- **2024-06** — Rain announced hires of former Apple engineering leader Jean-Didier Allegrucci and former Meta architect Amin Firoozshahian.
- **2024-06** — Rain announced licensing of Andes Technology’s AX45MPV RISC-V processor.
- **2024-05** — Epic Venture Partners announced an $8.1 million investment as part of a Series A extension.

## Links

- Website: https://rain.ai/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/rain-artificial-intelligence
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/rain__ai
- GitHub: https://github.com/rain-neuromorphics
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rainneuromorphics

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/rain-ai
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-09-29