Athena Design Elects EDA Industry Luminary Jim Hogan to Board of Directors; EDA Start-up Benefits from 30+ Years of Management Experience In Semiconductor, EDA and Venture Capital Industries.

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Athena Design Systems, Inc., new EDA start-up focused on critical implementation issues in physical IC design, today announced that James (Jim) Hogan has joined its board of directors, bringing three decades of experience in the semiconductor, electronic design automation (EDA) and venture capitalist industries.

Hogan, well-known for his visionary thinking on EDA technology and business models, joins a prestigious group of board members including: Dan Ahn, managing director, Woodside Fund; William H. Draper III, general partner, Draper Richards Foundation (observer); Bennett Dubin, partner, Asset Management Company; and Athena Design's founder and president Dimitris Fotakis and CEO John Murphy.

"Jim has really been a driving force and beacon of innovation in the EDA industry for many years. His strategic thinking, especially in the IC implementation space, has resulted in unprecedented improvements to how IC designers' needs are served. Now he is ready to jump in to help shape the next cycle of technology innovation required to meet a new set of challenges. He brings a great combination of experience -- hands-on management in the EDA industry, as well as an investment experience honed by his years as a venture capitalist," said John Murphy, CEO of Athena Design. "Anyone who knows Jim, knows he's a hands-on person. He will be an active member of our team, advising our management on critical strategy, fundraising, personnel and other issues that are critical at this stage of our evolution."

Hogan has worked in the semiconductor industry for more than 30 years with an impressive track record of orchestrating market-changing strategies. His experience includes time as a senior executive in EDA, semiconductor intellectual property, semiconductor equipment, and fabrication companies. He also sits on the boards of four other companies in the semiconductor design and manufacturing industries.

"It's an excellent time to be bringing truly significant new technology to the IC design market. I have enjoyed something of a front-row seat observing how chips are designed over the past 30 years, and the Athena Design approach is both promising and necessary," said Hogan. "I look forward to working with John and his team, as well as my fellow board members, to help create a company that has lasting value and impact."

Most recently Hogan was general partner at Telos Venture Partners. Before joining Telos, Hogan was senior vice president of business development of Artisan Components. Previously, he was senior vice president of business development and the senior member of the Office of Chief Technologist at Cadence Design Systems. Hogan was also a Cadence Executive Fellow and held several executive positions during his tenure at Cadence.

His career in the semiconductor industry also includes chief operating officer of Smart Machines, Inc., a semiconductor equipment automation company, as well as management positions at National Semiconductor and Philips Semiconductor. Hogan holds a B.A. degree in mathematics, a B.S. degree in computer science and an M.B.A. all from San Jose State University. He serves on the Board of Advisors for the School of Engineering at San Jose State University.

About Athena Design

Headquartered in Santa Clara, California, Athena Design Systems, Inc. develops and markets design optimization tools that address the physical implementation challenges of complex nanometer chip design. The company's products accelerate the productivity of engineers, design tools and computing resources enabling chip companies to reach design closure faster with higher quality of results and lower development costs. For more information about Athena Design, visit http://www.athenadesign.com.