SNUG Silicon Valley - Synopsys Converge 2026

For more than 35 years, the Synopsys Users Group (SNUG) has united design engineers from every facet of the silicon ecosystem, fostering collaboration, sharing insights, and accelerating innovation. As the premier ‘user to user’ event for silicon to systems design solutions, SNUG empowers technology innovators to amplify their R&D capability and productivity — driving the next wave of intelligent, AI-driven products that define the Era of Pervasive Intelligence.

SNUG Silicon Valley 2026 is an integral part of Synopsys Converge — a dynamic conference that brings together the Executive Forum, SNUG, and Simulation World under one transformative experience. This year’s SNUG program is dedicated to the future of silicon technology and the growing significance of system-level innovation. From advanced node development to multi-die packaging to state-of-the-art verification and AI-driven design, SNUG is designed for engineers who are shaping the future in an era where pervasive intelligence transforms industries and everyday life.

Be part of the evolution. Register for SNUG 2026 at Synopsys Converge and help ignite the ingenuity that will power tomorrow’s breakthroughs.

SNUG is restricted to Synopsys customers only, and offered at no charge.

Shankar Krishnamoorthy is the Chief Product Development Officer of Synopsys, an industry-leading company delivering engineering solutions from silicon to systems powering the era of pervasive intelligence. Shankar oversees technology and product development organizations across multiple lines of Electronic Design Automation (EDA) including design, verification, emulation, prototyping, virtualization, signoff, test, TCAD, and manufacturing domains. With the acquisition of Ansys, Shankar also leads technology and product development in the simulation and analysis areas of Structures & Mechanical Analysis, Fluids, Thermals, Electronics, Optics, Digital and Mission Engineering.

Prior to this role, Shankar held other executive positions at Synopsys, including GM of the Electronic Design Automation Group, Silicon Realization Group and Digital Design Group. Under his leadership, Synopsys has delivered several ground-breaking technologies enabling semiconductor designers to achieve the most optimum power, performance, area, cost, and time to market on their most advanced products.

Before rejoining Synopsys in 2017, Shankar served as GM of the IC Design Solutions Division at Mentor Graphics. He joined Mentor in 2007 with the acquisition of Sierra Design Automation, where he was founder and CTO. Prior to Sierra Design, Shankar led Synopsys’ physical synthesis and logic synthesis R&D organizations.

Delivering first time right, PPA optimized silicon within compressed 12-month cycles calls for a fundamental re-engineering of the silicon design, verification, and validation process as well as extreme co-design across multiple disciplines. Synopsys, with Ansys, is leading this transformation with new capabilities that optimize energy efficiency, incorporate agentic AI workflows, harness powerful accelerated computing, and enable verification and validation across architecture, software, and silicon. Together, these advances tame growing complexity, expand engineering capacity and drive the velocity needed for rapid silicon innovation without compromising quality.

Unlock the future of engineering with the Synopsys.ai Innovation Experience at Synopsys Converge. Step into the Synopsys.ai Innovation Theater and Experience Labs, where you’ll engage in dynamic discussion-style presentations, interactive implementation tutorials, and collaborative partner sessions—all designed to showcase how AI is revolutionizing the silicon-to-systems design paradigm.

Explore firsthand how advanced AI copilots are transforming engineering workflows. Get hands-on with the latest Synopsys.ai technologies, discover practical strategies to supercharge your design processes, and connect with experts and peers driving innovation across the industry.

Whether you’re seeking in-depth knowledge, practical guidance, or inspiration, the Synopsys.ai Innovation Experience provides a unique opportunity to learn, collaborate, and experience the cutting-edge of AI-powered engineering.

The Silicon Startup track at SNUG is designed to guide pre-seed and early-stage semiconductor startups through the key stages of their journey, focusing on overcoming challenges and seizing growth opportunities in a rapidly evolving market. The track provides insights into current industry trends, growth trajectories, and the unique hurdles startups face.

Who Should Attend:

This track is ideal for founders, technical leaders, and investors interested in the semiconductor startup ecosystem, offering practical advice, success stories, and networking opportunities to accelerate innovation and business growth.