How Silicon Labs evolved into a force in wireless connectivity semiconductors

Silicon Labs was founded in 1996 by Nav Sooch, Dave Welland and Jeff Scott as a mixed-signal semiconductor company.

How Silicon Labs developed

Its early products combined analogue and digital functions for communications applications. The business later reshaped its portfolio through acquisitions and divestitures, increasingly concentrating on wireless connectivity, microcontrollers and software for Internet of Things devices.

Silicon Labs in 2026

By 2026, Silicon Labs focused on secure wireless technologies used in connected home, industrial, commercial and smart-city devices.

Its history illustrates how a semiconductor supplier can move from broad mixed-signal products toward a more specialised platform strategy as wireless standards and embedded software become central to product design.

Information was checked against public company material, regulatory filings and reputable independent reporting where available, using sources accessible on 18 September 2026.