Powering the Edge: The Story Behind Hailo and Its Ownership

When people search for the “Hailo owner,” they are usually looking into the corporate background of Hailo, the pioneering Israeli artificial intelligence (AI) chipmaker. Known for designing specialized processors that run heavy AI workloads locally on edge devices rather than in massive cloud data centers, Hailo has experienced a remarkable journey from an independent startup to a major industry acquisition.

Who Founded Hailo?

Hailo was founded in Tel Aviv, Israel, in February 2017 by a team of tech veterans with backgrounds rooted in the elite technology units of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF):

• Orr Danon (Chief Executive Officer)
• Avi Baum (Chief Technology Officer)
• Hadar Zeitlin (Chief Business Officer)
• Rami Feig (who tragically passed away early in the company’s journey)

For years, the founders, alongside early venture capital backers and institutional investors (such as OurCrowd, Maniv Mobility, and various automotive entities), operated Hailo as an independent private company. Over several funding rounds—including a massive $120 million Series C round in 2024—the company raised roughly $340 million, achieving unicorn status as it built high-performance, low-power microprocessors like the Hailo-8 and Hailo-10.

Who Owns Hailo Now?

The ownership structure shifted significantly when Hailo caught the attention of global semiconductor heavyweights.

In July 2026, the American semiconductor giant Microchip Technology announced a definitive agreement to acquire Hailo. The multi-million-dollar acquisition officially crossed the finish line when the transaction was completed in September 2026.

As a result, Hailo is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of Microchip Technology.

What Does Hailo Do?

To understand why Microchip acquired Hailo, it helps to look at what the company actually builds. Traditional AI requires massive servers running on massive amounts of electricity. Hailo specializes in Edge AI—meaning its microchips allow smart devices (like security cameras, smart cars, industrial automation tools, and consumer electronics) to make complex AI-driven decisions locally on the device itself, without needing an internet connection to a cloud server.

By integrating Hailo’s advanced neural-network processors into its broader portfolio, Microchip Technology secured powerful edge-computing capabilities to serve the next generation of smart, connected technologies worldwide.