What Does Phyworks Do?

Total employees60
HeadquartersBristol
Founded2001

Phyworks Ltd. was a UK-based fabless semiconductor company specializing in the design and supply of high-speed integrated circuits (ICs) for optical networking and communication systems. They were renowned for their expertise in physical layer (PHY) devices, particularly for standards like 10G Ethernet, SONET/SDH, and Fibre Channel. Phyworks focused on delivering solutions that enabled faster and more cost-effective optical data transmission. The company was acquired by Maxim Integrated Products in April 2010, which sought to strengthen its portfolio in optical transceivers. Maxim Integrated was subsequently acquired by Analog Devices Inc. (ADI) in 2021.

Where Is Phyworks's Headquarters?

HQ Function

Served as the primary center for research and development, engineering, corporate management, sales, marketing, and administrative operations for Phyworks' global activities in high-speed optical IC development.

Notable Features:

Located in Temple Quay, a modern business and commercial development in central Bristol. The offices likely offered contemporary facilities suitable for a high-tech company, though specific architectural details are not widely publicized post-acquisition.

Work Culture:

As a pioneering fabless semiconductor company, Phyworks likely fostered an innovative, agile, and engineering-centric work culture. The environment would have been fast-paced, focusing on cutting-edge technology development to compete in the demanding optical communications market.

HQ Significance:

The Bristol headquarters was pivotal as the operational core and R&D hub where Phyworks developed its advanced PHY ICs. It represented a key contributor to the UK's technology sector, particularly within the 'Silicon Gorge' tech cluster.

Values Reflected in HQ: The choice of a strategic location like Temple Quay likely reflected Phyworks' values of innovation, professionalism, and connectivity within a thriving technology and business ecosystem.

Location:

While headquartered in the UK (Bristol) and with a key office in the US (San Jose, CA), Phyworks served a global customer base. Its high-speed optical ICs were integrated into optical modules and networking systems deployed worldwide by leading telecommunications and data communications equipment manufacturers. This was supported by a network of direct sales and distribution partners in various regions.

Street Address:

One, The Crescent, Temple Quay (Historical)

City:

Bristol

State/Province:

England

Country:

United Kingdom

Where Else Does Phyworks Operate Around the World?

San Jose, California/USA

Address: 2033 Gateway Place, Suite 500, San Jose, CA 95110, USA (Historical)

To provide direct support and foster business development within the significant North American market for optical communication components, and to maintain a presence in a key global technology hub.

Buying Intent Signals for Phyworks

Highperformr Signals uncover buying intent and give you clear insights to target the right accounts at the right time — helping your sales, marketing, and GTM teams close more deals, faster.

Notable news
Hiring actively
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
*Example signal, not calculated in real time

Who's Leading Phyworks? Meet the Executive Team

As of April 2025, Phyworks' leadership includes:

Stephen King - Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Mike McTighe - Chairman
Prof. Richard Penty - Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) and Founder
Dr. Ian White - Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and Founder
Niall Robinson - VP of Marketing

Who's Investing in Phyworks?

Phyworks has been backed by several prominent investors over the years, including:

Addiego
Advent Venture Partners
Mezzanine Management
Esprit Capital Partners

What Leadership Changes Has Phyworks Seen Recently?

Hire0
Exits0

Phyworks was acquired by Maxim Integrated in April 2010 and subsequently ceased to operate as an independent entity. Therefore, there have been no executive new hires or exits for Phyworks in the last 12 months. The company is no longer active.

What Technology (Tech Stack) Is Used byPhyworks?

Discover the tools Phyworks uses. Highperformr reveals the technologies powering your target accounts — helping your sales, marketing, and GTM teams prioritize smarter and close faster.

Phyworks Email Formats and Examples

Based on common corporate email patterns for UK-based technology companies of its era, Phyworks likely used formats such as [first].[last]@phyworks.com or [first_initial][last]@phyworks.com. The domain @phyworks.com is no longer active.

[first].[last]@phyworks.com or [first_initial][last]@phyworks.com (presumed)

Format

jane.doe@phyworks.com or jdoe@phyworks.com (example)

Example

0%

Success rate

What's the Latest News About Phyworks?

EE Times / Maxim Integrated Press ReleaseApril 20, 2010

Maxim Integrated Acquires Phyworks, Leader in 10G Physical Layer Devices

Maxim Integrated Products announced its acquisition of Phyworks Ltd., a UK-based fabless semiconductor company specializing in 10Gbps physical layer (PHY) ICs for optical communications. The acquisition aimed to enhance Maxim's portfolio for optical transceivers and high-speed interconnects....more

LightReading / EE Times UKOctober 30, 2006

Phyworks Raises $12.5M in Series C Funding for 10Gbit/s Development

Phyworks Ltd. secured $12.5 million in a Series C funding round. The round was led by Esprit Capital Partners and included existing investors Addiego, Advent Venture Partners, and Mezzanine Management. The funds were intended to accelerate the development and market introduction of its 10Gbps optical networking ICs....more

Lightwave / BusinessWireMarch 26, 2007

Phyworks Announces World's First Fully Compliant 10GBASE-LRM Transimpedance Amplifier

Phyworks introduced its PHY1095, promoted as the world's first transimpedance amplifier (TIA) fully compliant with the IEEE 802.3aq 10GBASE-LRM standard. This development aimed to enable lower-cost 10 Gigabit Ethernet optical modules for transmission over multi-mode fiber....more

Highperformr's free tools for company research

Explore Employees by Region or Country

See where a company’s workforce is located, by country or region.

View Funding Details

View past and recent funding rounds with amounts and investors.

Understand Revenue Insights

Understand company revenue estimates and financial scale.

Track Active Job Openings

Track active roles and hiring trends to spot growth signals.

Review Product and Offerings

Discover what a company offers—products, platforms, and solutions.

Get SIC or NAICS Codes

Get the company’s official SIC and NAICS classifications.

Analyze Website Traffic Trends

Analyze visitor volume, engagement, and top traffic sources.

Discover Social Profiles and Engagement

Explore LinkedIn, Twitter, and other active social profiles.

Identify Top Competitors

Identify top competitors based on similar business traits.

Research and Discover Companies with Highperformr — Smarter, Faster

Explore companies in depth — from the tech they use to recent funding, hiring trends, and buyer signals — all in one powerful view.

Highperformr AI helps you surface the right accounts and enrich your CRM with verified company and contact insights, so your teams can prioritize and engage faster.

  • Track intent signals to find buyers who are actively in-market
  • Enrich contacts and companies instantly, no need to switch tools
  • Automate workflows to stay ahead of every change
  • Connect your CRM & tools for seamless data sync and activation

Thousands of companies, including Phyworks, are just a search away.