Design and Verification Engineers Can Now Test-Drive More Software in Online Labs

San Francisco, California – October 13, 2009 – Xuropa^SM Incorporated today announced that Cadence Design Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CDNS) has added Incisive® Formal Verifier and Incisive Enterprise Specman-Elite ® Testbench to its Xuropa Online Labs.

Based upon the Cadence® SoC Functional Verification Kit, approved design and verification engineers can quickly and easily try out these two additional Cadence verification products and learn new techniques online. The SoC Functional Verification Kit automates and eases the adoption of new verification technologies that increase productivity and project predictability, from verification planning to closure.

Users can now also run testbench simulation and formal analysis on example circuits at their convenience from their desktops. Using only a standard web browser, approved visitors to Xuropa Labs™ can now access the following two new labs:

• Block, Chip, and System Testbench Verification with Incisive Enterprise Specman-Elite Testbench
• Connectivity Verification, Productivity Flows, and Designer Level Formal Analysis with Incisive Formal Verifier

The service is free to Xuropa members and dramatically simplifies the process of evaluating EDA software products. Users can begin to test-drive applications in minutes vs. the days or weeks it used to take to get agreements signed, software downloaded, and license keys installed.

Simplified Initial Product Evaluation

“We have seen the value that Xuropa Online Labs bring to enable customers to test-drive Incisive Verification IP online, and we are excited to meet more customer needs by expanding our offering,” said Sarah Lynne Lundell, Enterprise Verification Senior Product Marketing Manager at Cadence. “Today’s schedules are so tight, it is important to simplify the initial evaluation process. Removing the need for a Software Product License Agreement to evaluate new software lets design and verification engineers focus on the potential productivity, predictability and quality gains for their projects.”

Face-to-face meetings are always going to be important, but as design teams are now global, software vendors need to simultaneously engage multiple locations and accelerate the engagement process.

“The Xuropa Platform uses the power of Cloud Computing and web 2.0 technologies to accelerate the software sales process and increase revenues for software vendors,” Xuropa CEO and founder James Colgan explained. “The Xuropa team is very happy to see Cadence realize the returns of the platform and make more of their industry leading technology available on the platform.”

Availability

Xuropa Online Labs featuring Cadence Incisive Formal Verifier and Specman Elite Testbench are available today and accessible at no cost to authorized Xuropa members. Go to www.xuropa.com and sign-in for access. For information about how to create your own Online Lab, or any of the other Xuropa Platform products, please contact Xuropa at the address below.

About Xuropa Incorporated

The Xuropa Platform and a Xuropa Lab™ bridge the gap between traditional Enterprise Software and Software-as-a-Service business and distribution models. Xuropa^SM Incorporated was founded by veterans from the internet, IT, and electronics industries with the goal of transitioning Enterprise Software to a SaaS model to increase revenues and lower costs.  http://www.xuropa.com/

Contact:

sales@xuropa.com

+1 (415) 727-5741

Cadence, Specman-Elite and Incisive are registered trademarks of Cadence Design Systems, Inc. in the United States and other countries.

Posted under News, Xuropa

Richard Goering, the famed Industry Insights editor for Cadence, posted an interesting analysis of how Cadence is using the Xuropa Platform.  The openening paragraph summed it up quite nicely:

“Evaluating EDA software or silicon IP is an arduous process that often requires negotiated license agreements, software downloads, installation, and the physical presence of a jet-lagged AE who just flew across the country. What if you could run an evaluation instantly on line, and skip all that? That’s what Cadence is working with independent web site Xuropa to provide – and the end result could impact the way in which EDA software and silicon IP is evaluated and sold.”

Richard Goering Industry Insights Blog

As you can tell from the timeline, Cadence was very thorough in their approach to the Xuropa Platform and have already seen great dividends since they launched back in May.  Regarding the end-user response, Susan Peterson (VIP Portfolio Marketing Director, Cadence) noted in an interview with Richard:

“The user response so far has been really, really good,” she said. She noted that users are spread throughout the world, with many from Asia, where it’s difficult to physically bring in AEs to run demos. “Engineers don’t really want to leave their desks, and they like being able to do things when they want to do things,” she said. “Engineers like to get their hands on stuff – to not just read a datasheet, but get on line and try something out.”

For the whole article click here.

To check out one of Cadence’s Online Labs click here.

Posted under News, industry

Design and Verification Engineers Can Test-Drive More Verification Solutions Online

San Francisco, California – July 28, 2009 – Xuropa^SM Incorporated today announced that Cadence Design Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CDNS) has increased the number of products available within Xuropa Online Labs.

Users can run simulations and employ this verification IP on example circuits at their convenience from their desktop. With only a web browser, approved visitors to Xuropa Labs™ can now access the Cadence Incisive® verification IP components for the protocols listed below.

AMBA VIP with Compliance Management System (CMS)
AMBA AHB, AXI and APB UVCs

USB VIP with Compliance Management System (CMS)
USB 1.1 and 2.0 UVC

PCI Express VIP with Compliance Management System (CMS)
PCI Express 1.1 and 2.0 UVC

OCP VIP with Compliance Management System (CMS)
OCP 2.2 UVC

SATA VIP with Compliance Management System (CMS)
SATA I and II UVC

Ethernet VIP with Compliance Management System (CMS)
Ethernet 802.1 and 802.3 UVC

The service is free to Xuropa Community members and dramatically simplifies the process of evaluating EDA software products.  Users can begin to test drive applications in minutes vs. the days or weeks it used to take to get agreements signed, software downloaded, and keys installed.

The Xuropa Online Community presents networking and learning tools in a professional environment and is dedicated to electronic design. 

Lowering the Cost of Customer Engagement

“Xuropa Labs enable customers to move beyond the marketing collateral and actually test-drive the technology themselves – at their desktops, and at their convenience,” said Susan Peterson, Verification IP Marketing Director at Cadence.  “With no installation headaches to deal with, the evaluation process and customer training becomes more efficient and effective for us and our customers.”

Face-to-face meetings are always going to be important, but as design teams are now global, companies need cost effective alternatives to reduce the number of flights while accelerating the engagement process.

“Xuropa has reinvented the front end of the customer engagement process with a web platform that lowers the cost of sales, training and support.”  Xuropa CEO and founder James Colgan explained. “Xuropa Labs provide engineers on-demand hands-on access to technology to learn about it before a purchase is made.”

Availability

Xuropa Online Labs featuring Cadence Incisive Verification IP Products are  accessible at no cost to authorized Xuropa members.  Go to www.xuropa.com and sign-in for access.  For information about how to create your own Online Lab, or any of the other Xuropa community products, please contact Xuropa at the address below.

About Xuropa Incorporated

Xuropa^SM Incorporated was founded by veterans from the internet, IT, and electronics industries.  With the goal of reinventing business processes to lower sales costs and increase revenues for software companies, a Xuropa Lab™  bridges the gap between traditional client-installed and Software-as-a-Service business and distribution models.  Xuropa’s current area of focus is the electronic design industry. http://www.xuropa.com/

Contact:

sales@xuropa.com

+1 (415) 727-5741

Posted under News

This day has been a long time coming - we can now officially announce that the Cadence MIPI Verification IP Online Labs are up and running!  This is a real vote of confidence in the platform from Cadence, and we’re looking forward to announcing more activity in the coming weeks.

Below is the full press release.  (Yes, the press release is trailing reality…but that’s the web for you.)

Online Community Lowers Cost of Sales, Enables Effective Leverage of Field Resources Globally

San Francisco, California – July 2, 2009 – Xuropa^SM Incorporated today announced the opening of the first Xuropa Online Lab featuring technology from Cadence Design Systems (NASDAQ:CDNS).

With only a web browser, approved visitors to Xuropa Online Labs can access the Cadence Incisive® MIPI verification IP Components. Users can run simulations, employing them on example circuits at their convenience.

The service is free to Xuropa Community members and dramatically simplifies the process of evaluating EDA software products. Users can begin to test drive applications in minutes vs. the days or weeks it used to take to get agreements signed, software downloaded, and keys installed.

The Xuropa Online Community presents networking and learning tools in a professional environment and is dedicated to electronic design.

Addressing a Dynamic and Global Marketplace

“The better educated customers are about Cadence products the more likely they are to call us. Having our technology available through Xuropa Online Labs enables customers to move beyond the datasheet to view presentations and videos, and actually use the technology themselves – at their desktops, and at their convenience,” added Susan Peterson, Verification IP Marketing Director at Cadence. “With no installation headaches to deal with, the evaluation process becomes more efficient and effective for us and our customers.”

Physical trade shows and conferences present engineers with the opportunity to try out new technologies and discuss them with experts. The Xuropa community complements these events by providing the tools and the experts online all year round, accessible from all over the world.

“Generic online communities are generally consumer-centric and electronic design companies tend to get lost in the noise,” Xuropa CEO and founder James Colgan explained. “The electronics industry focus of Xuropa brings resonance and helps electronic design companies connect with their customers. The Xuropa Online Lab, featuring the Cadence VIP, exemplifies our goal – to economically bring technology to engineers so they can make better purchase decisions faster.”

Availability

Xuropa Online Labs featuring Cadence Incisive MIPI verification IP are accessible at no cost to authorized Xuropa members. Go to www.xuropa.com and sign-in for access – Cadence MIPI CSI VIP Online Lab or Cadence MIPI DSI VIP Online Lab. For information about how to create your own Online Lab, or any of the other Xuropa community products, please contact Xuropa at the address below.

About Xuropa Incorporated

Xuropa^SM Incorporated was founded in 2007 by veterans from the internet, IT, and electronics industries. With the goal of economically and effectively bringing together the constituents of different industry verticals to accelerate business processes, Xuropa offers a unique environment that integrates professional networking, collaboration, marketing, and product evaluation tools. Xuropa’s current area of focus is the electronic design industry. http://www.xuropa.com/

Posted under News, Xuropa, business, industry

In 199_ (and I’m not mentioning which year) I got my first product marketing job.  It was all I wanted to do after I got my MBA — I wanted to drive the definition and completion of products.  I was coming in from an applications (sales) engineering position right into product marketing, which I thought would give me a good view on what customers needed and what the product had to look like — and it did.  I started right away defining a feature list, prioritizing them, cost-analyzing them, getting customer feedback, drive the schedules, etc.  I quickly found out that product marketing is a thankless job: there are too many people to make happy (customers, R&D, sales, executives, partners, etc.) and there’s no way to make them all happy; and you’re constantly trying to connect all of the dots and pick up the loose ends.

During my first months of product marketing, one of the company’s more experienced marketers, pulled me aside, as he was leaving the company, and told me not to sweat the “small stuff” like features, etc. and instead focus my thoughts and work around positioning and the overall vision of how the product is changing the industry.  That “lecture” didn’t make any sense at all!  I had a lot of respect for him, so I did take note of what he said, but it really didn’t change the way I went about product marketing at the time.

As a few years have passed by and I moved up through the ranks and eventually became a  executive, his comments began to make more and more sense.  In fact, I have come to the conclusion than feature-driven product marketing only sets your product for long-term failure.  It makes you focus on incremental change.  It is very surprising that a lot of my colleagues and consultant, and some that I have the ultimate respect for (example), still predominantly push a feature-driven approach to marketing.  I do realize that pitching a feature-driven approach works much better with less experienced CEOs and it is a better “consulting sell”, but I’m not convinced if it’s what really creates differentiation for their client companies.  I’d go back to what my old colleague told me — product marketing provides a lot more value if focused on the overall positioning (i.e. how differently the product is solving the customer problem) and the long term vision of how it’s bringing non-incremental value to the customer (technically and financially).

One way to drive this point is to highlight that if someone in the car industry polled customers in 1900’s about how a car should look like, the customers would have all said they’d want a carriage with a horse that eats less and “defecates” less!

Posted under business, industry, marketing

The internet used to thought of as “cyberspace”.  Being online simply meant being an anonymous consumer of information.  But that was then!  The internet of today is identity-centric and social.  Internet users create blogs, upload their information to social networking sites, share ideas and contents, and they do it from their computers, iPhones, cellphones, etc.  This is what I refer to as “worldwide web” moving to “social web”.

There is a generational element to this as well: Web 2.0 (i.e. social web) is still hard to fathom for some baby boomers, but at the same time, there are larger and larger groups of baby boomers starting to post photos, opinions, etc. on the Facebook, for example.  They’re beginning to see how social the internet can be.

People in (or using) Web 2.0 have already internalized what doesn’t yet seem as a business practice by others.  Unfortunately maturing industries like EDA and semiconductor look at Web 2.0 as “social”, and hence constantly raise the question “why do we want to socialize with our customers” or “why would our customers socialize amongst themselves?” — They take the word “social” quite literally.

It’s not necessarily common business wisdom to bring customer experience into aggregators (such as Digg, Yelp, Ning, Xuropa, evenFacebook, etc.).  With these aggregators, even though things happen far away from a company’s destination site, it’s the engine of social discovery that generates astronomically more awareness than the destination site would ever create, and yes, it also generates huge volumes of traffic to the company’s destination site.

A simple example: Netflix opened up their database through an API last October.  Through this API other companies (e.g. aggregators) can access titles, ratings, queues, etc. information from Netflix. By “socializing” the Netflix experience, Netflix now gets 20+M film ratings every single day.  Does it really doesn’t matter where (which website) these titles are rated?!  It all benefits Netflix.

It’s time for EDA and semiconductor companies to see how they can benefit from Business 2.0.  EDA and semiconductor technology is the most advanced ones and those industries solve the most difficult challenges on the technical side.  Yet, they have totally missed the boat on what other industries have already accepted as common business wisdom.  They need to “socialize” their user-experience, create awareness, and turn that into revenue.

Posted under Xuropa, business, career, industry, marketing

In case you haven’t heard, one of the companies that did well in 2008 was Rolls-Royce.  Yes, they did!  And yes, the same company who wasn’t doing so well not so long ago.  What did they do differently?

What Rolls-Royce did was to focus back on their core competency - pursuing technical advances and keeping close with their airline customers.  To quote Winston Churchill who said would like to see finance “less proud and industry more content”, this is another reminder that a lot of Silicon Valley companies must refocus back on technology, and not just offering more attractive “deals” to their customers instead.

The thought of refocusing technology then translates into focusing ondisruptive innovation.  In his book, Innovator’s Dilemma, Clayton Christensen (Harvard Business School) writes that sustaining innovation (the opposite of disruptive innovation) ends up providing more technology to the high end users than what they are willing to pay for.  When the disruptive innovation comes, it provides a new set of less demanding users with less technology but at a state of the art.  There are lots of examples for this (PC vs. iPhones, etc.).  To combat the disruptive innovation, companies with sustaining innovation resort to financial packages to incentivize the less demanding users to stay with the incumbent (sustaining) technology.  

I get the feeling that this has been occurring a lot in Silicon Valley.  Instead of focusing on real (disruptive) innovation, the focus has been on ways to innovate the purchase process.  I saw that first hand at Cadence where a new number of deal structures were used on a regular basis.  In my last quarters there, the sales account review meetings had a different air about them.  In those meetings, the room was filled by finance and legal personnel, rather than field or solution engineers.  More than 75% of the discussion in those meetings was on contract restructuring and revenue recognition rules, than technology and sales (i.e. actually selling something) strategy.

As we have it, Cadence is now refocusing on technology and innovation.  That is the right move.  The key question is how to stay away from the temptations of “financial innovation”.

Posted under business, industry, marketing

A couple of weeks ago, Eric Mangini, was fired as the head coach of New York Jets.  He was the same person who up to only a few weeks before was referred to Man-genius, for his smarts and how those smarts translated to how his teams performed on the field.  Within a week of his firing, he was hired as the new head coach of Cleveland Browns, as the Browns management was looking for someone with previous head coaching experience.  I find it very interesting that someone can go from genius, to no-longer-genius, to smart-and-experienced in a matter weeks.

What does all that have to with Silicon Valley??  A lot.  I have seen many CEO appointment done in the same way head coaches are fired and hired in NFL.  A few months ago I got a call from an executive recruiter (who had previously placed me as a VP of marketing) checking unsolicitated references on a couple of CEO candidates whom I knew.  Both of those candidates had previous CEO experience, and to be honest, not good ones.  I gave my fair and honest feedback to the recruiter, and then asked him if I could throw my name in the hat (just to check his reaction).  His answer was simple: The board has instructed me to only look for ex-CEO’s (regardless of how ineffective they have been).  The recruiter had no stock in the company otherwise he wouldn’t have chased either one of those candidates.

It’s always been obvious to me that companies hire resumes - they don’t hire people.  In this example, if the board cared to see who they were hiring, they would have never hired any of those CEOs.

That explains why some CEOs spend more time producing PR for themselves while at the job, than they companies they work for or the products they market.  I have often see more news about a company’s CEO than their technology or products.  If you notice the track records for those CEOs, they are the ones who consistently ride one company to the next (bigger and better).  On the other hand, the CEO’s who focus on their companies and their employees, end up staying there for long periods of time (sometimes their entire life) and keep growing the company through technology and products.

The lesson: It’s not about what you do, what you deliver, or what you enable.  It’s about what you’re thought of possibly doing, delivering, or enabling.

Posted under Xuropa, industry

There have been many ground-breaking ideas in business that have taken a long time, and a great deal of resistance before they eventually prevailed.  It’s really hard to predict them or know early on which idea would end up as the one standing last.

Posted under Xuropa, business, industry, marketing