The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Sand 9 stopped operating as an independent startup by mid-2015 because Analog Devices acquired it in June of that year, according to contemporaneous reporting. The Boston University spinout had pursued piezoelectric MEMS timing devices as an alternative to quartz, and had reportedly raised about $66 million before the acquisition.
Did Sand 9 shut down?
In August 2015, EE Times reported that Sand 9 appeared to have closed: its website was inactive, its listed phone number no longer worked, and executive employment records indicated that several leaders, including the last known CEO, had left in May. At that point, the report said a sale was also possible; there was no public closure announcement.
A follow-up report the next week clarified the outcome: Analog Devices had acquired Sand 9 in June 2015. The company therefore disappeared as an independent startup through an acquisition, rather than simply closing without a buyer.
What did Sand 9 develop?
Founded in 2007 as a Boston University spinout by professor Raj Mohanty and Matt Crowley, Sand 9 worked on piezoelectric microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) resonators for electronic timing circuits. These circuits were intended to compete with quartz crystal timing devices, including in mobile phones.
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#1 Best Overall
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In 2013, Sand 9 said it was gaining traction in mobile phones and had customers lined up for its first piezoelectric timing chips, as EE Times later reported. That was the company’s claim at the time; it does not establish how many chips shipped or how much revenue the business generated.
How much funding and intellectual property did it have?
EE Times reported that Sand 9 had raised about $66 million in venture capital. Named backers included Intel Capital, Flybridge Capital Partners, General Catalyst Partners, Commonwealth Capital Partners, Khosla Ventures, Vulcan Capital, and Ericsson. The figure indicates substantial investor backing, but does not by itself show how the capital was spent or whether the business was financially sustainable.
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- STM32F429ZIT6 microcontroller featuring 2 Mbytes of Flash memory, 256 Kbytes of RAM in an LQFP144 packag
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Sand 9 also claimed to have filed more than 80 patents covering MEMS technology and related circuits, systems, and process innovations, according to the same 2015 reporting. The available accounts do not establish the final disposition of every patent or product after Analog Devices acquired the technology.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why did independent operation end?
Technology consultant Mark Sherwood, quoted in the contemporaneous acquisition coverage, said Sand 9 had faced technical issues as markets changed and had effectively outlasted investors’ patience. This is a reported explanation, not a formal Analog Devices statement or an audited postmortem.
Rank #3
- 3-Axis MEMS Accelerometer Module: This LIS2DH12TR accelerometer module is designed for accurate 3-axis linear acceleration measurement, making it ideal for motion sensing, orientation detection, shake control, pedometer projects, impact detection, gaming input devices, and embedded motion-monitoring applications.
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- Programmable Interrupts and Orientation Detection: Built-in programmable interrupt generators support motion detection, free-fall detection, wake-up events, and 6D/4D orientation detection. With a wide operating temperature range of -40°C to +85°C and a compact sensor design, this module is well suited for robotics, smart devices, data logging, and industrial or DIY motion-sensing projects.
Sherwood described the transition this way: “I can confirm the sale of Sand 9 to Analog Devices Inc. We are now about three months post acquisition, and the Sand9 executive team is gone but the meat of the company was indeed the MEMS technology that had been in development for many years.”
The record supports a distinction between the startup and its technology: Sand 9 ceased to be an independent company, while its MEMS technology was the focus of the acquisition. It does not provide a complete account of what Analog Devices subsequently did with each product, patent, or development program.
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- It adopts MEMS technology that the sensor is small in size and low in power consumption, so it is also suitable for low-power applications, such as wearables.
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Rank #4
- SPW2430 MEMS Microphone Breakout Board Sound Test Sensor Module 100 -10KHz Development Board for Arduino
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