Background:

Since 1984, Steve Szirom operated HTE Research, Inc., a management consulting and market research practice, targeting a broad group of electronics and financial organizations.

In addition to managing assignments in market development, business planning/implementation, strategic studies, technology assessment, organizational development and semiconductor economic analysis, Szirom has provided management consulting to start-ups, venture capital companies, and overseas firms in acquiring strategic partners.

He has a 30+ year track record in the semiconductor industry covering marketing, international operations, and business functions. Szirom, who was born in Europe, has worked extensively with Japanese and European companies, including on-site assignments based in France, Eindhoven, Paris, Hamburg and London. His personal and professional background in the international arena makes him uniquely qualified to work with clients in today's globally diverse semiconductor marketplace.

While employed at Motorola Semiconductor (now Freescale) and Philips Semiconductor, he has covered a diverse number of product areas including analog ICs, memories, military ICs. His broad matrix of product and international experience coupled with his world wide contacts puts him in a unique position to help clients achieve a competitive edge and a strategic vision for the future.

As part of his consulting practice, Szirom established the North American subsidiary of SICAN GmbH (now Sci-Worx, of Hannover, Germany), an IP and design services firm, and was president of its U.S.A. subsidiary during its formative stage. Szirom has served on the boards of SICAN Microelectronics Corp. and RAPID, an industry association.  Szirom is a founding member of the Bellingham Angels Group.

Steve Szirom founded InsideChips.com, a division of HTE Research, in 2000 to provide startup business information and analysis to executives who are involved in the semiconductor industry. InsideChips.com focuses on tracking and analyzing emerging chip ventures (fabless startups, IP firms, EDA firms, and design houses) from the "kitchen table" to the IPO stage.  InsideChips.com was founded as an outgrowth of the experience and know-how accumulated by HTE Research.

Szirom has also been a columnist for the Semiconductor Industry News, a Japanese trade publication, and is a regular contributor to electronics trade publications and a speaker/panelist covering business, marketing, startup and international issues in the semiconductor industry.

Szirom received a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Purdue University and has attended the MBA program at Arizona State University.

He was born in Austria of Hungarian parents, lived in the Dominican Republic, worked in Europe, and traveled extensively in Europe and Asia. Besides his main avocation, sailing, he enjoys cycling, skiing, tennis, and chess -- among many other endeavors.

• New Venture Business Planning and Implementation
• Emerging Ventures Assessment for Venture Capital and Investment Organizations
• Strategic Business Analysis/Planning and Market Development
• Market Strategy Design and Business Development
• Organizational Development and Assistance in Candidate Selection
• Company Audit/Analysis and Recommendations
• Market Research, Economic, and Competitive Analysis
• Expert Witness Relating to Semiconductor Business and Markets
• Application of PCs for Market Research and MIS Automation
• High-level Matchmaker for Semiconductor Acquisition, Technology Licensing, and Funding

Professional Background (Functions & Positions):

Date	Position	Region Responsibility	Product Responsibility
1969-1973	International Marketing	Far East /Japan	Linear ICs/Hybrids
1973-1976	Product Marketing	Manager Europe	Linear ICs/Military
1976-1977	Strategic Marketing	U.S.A./Canada	Power Discretes
1977-1980	International Marketing Manager	Europe	Memory ICs
1980-Present	President/Analyst/Consultant	Worldwide	Semiconductors and related
2000-Present	President/Analyst/Consultant	Worldwide	Semiconductors startups

Professional Background (Locations):

Date	Company	Location Experience
1969-1973	Motorola Semiconductor	Mesa, Arizona
1973-1976	Motorola Semiconductor	Toulouse, France
1976-1977	Motorola Semiconductor	Phoenix, Arizona
1977-1980	Philips Semiconductor	Sunnyvale/Eindhoven/London/Paris/Hamburg
1980-Present	HTE Research, Inc.	San Francisco, California
2000-Present	InsideChips	Bellingham, Washington

Academic Degrees/Other Licenses: