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Thursday, May 09, 2002

By Stephanie Franken

Ken Gabriel, a Carnegie Mellon University professor and a leading researcher in microelectromechanical systems technology, said he was leaving his post at the university to focus on growing the company he launched six months ago, Akustica.

	Akustica's Jim Rock, left, and Ken Gabriel are reflected in a silicon wafer with microelectromechanical systems chips mounted to it. (Gabor Degre, Post-Gazette)

Co-founded by chief executive officer Jim Rock, Akustica aims to capitalize on four patents it licensed through CMU's technology transfer office in December.

The firm plans to grow from its current location in the South Side's River Park Commons building, where it will add 100 workers over the next three years.

For Gabriel, a force behind several local so-called MEMS companies, the promise of Akustica's technology was compelling enough to warrant taking a leave of absence from CMU.

The company specializes in acoustic technology, making tiny "smart" speakers and microphones for use in devices such as cell phones and hearing aids. Ranging in size from a pinhead to a postage stamp, the acoustic MEMS chips help those devices to filter out unwanted noise and focus on only those sounds people want to hear.

"We are talking about improving peoples lives, improving the quality of hearing aids," Gabriel said. "This is really going to make a difference."

While several other firms nationwide are developing similar technology, Akustica is different because its acoustic MEMS products can be made cheaply, quickly and in quantities of millions per month, as opposed to thousands, Gabriel said.

That's because Akustica's patented technology allows its MEMS products to be outsourced and produced en masse, in nearly any factory where computer chips are made, he said. Other firms have to make the devices at greater expense in their own labs.

Due to its cost and time advantages, Rock said, the little company is getting noticed. "We are in private hearing aid and mobile phone manufacturers, and have been for several months," he said.

Investors, too, are expressing interest, Rock said.

The company expects to close on its first round of seed funding ahead of schedule, with between $1 million and $2 million. "Given this brutal funding environment, Ken and I have been delighted."