Wolfson Microelectronics

In 1984, in Edinburgh, Scotland, David Milne and Jim Reid founded Wolfson Microelectronics. The company started as a fabless semiconductor firm, specializing in high-performance mixed-signal and audio chips for the consumer electronics market. Their expertise in creating chips that delivered high-quality sound with low power consumption set them on a significant growth trajectory. By the early 2000s, Wolfson's audio chips were in high demand, securing design wins in some of the most iconic consumer electronics of the era. Their technology was at the heart of products like Apple's iPod, Microsoft's Xbox and Zune, and Sony's PSP. This success culminated in a major milestone in 2003 when Wolfson Microelectronics went public on the London Stock Exchange, the largest tech IPO in the UK for three years. The company's journey as an independent entity reached its final chapter in 2014. In a deal valued at £291 million, Wolfson was acquired by its US-based competitor, Cirrus Logic. The acquisition marked the end of an era for the Scottish chipmaker but integrated its rich history of audio innovation and talented team into a larger global semiconductor powerhouse, strengthening Cirrus Logic's position in the audio IC market.