AheadComputing, a new company launched last year by four former Intel architects, said Wednesday that it has raised $21.5 million in an initial funding round.

The startup says it has a new microprocessor architecture that can reduce bottlenecks in central processing units, the brains inside computers, and enable faster, more energy-efficient performance.

“With this funding, we will expand our world-class engineering team and accelerate the development of our core IP, enabling customers to meet their most demanding computing needs,” CEO Debbie Marr said in Wednesday’s announcement.

Until last year, Marr had been in charge of advanced architecture development at Intel. She joined the chipmaker in 1989 and left in July to start AheadComputing. Her three cofounders, Jonathan Pearce, Mark Dechene, and Srikanth Srinivasan, each spent many years at Intel.

AheadComputing said it employs 40 people. The startup did not immediately respond to an inquiry about how many of those are in Portland or if the company has a physical office. Social networking profiles posted by AheadComputing’s staff indicate that the vast majority of them are Intel alumni.

Though Intel is Oregon’s largest technology employer, the chipmaker has rarely spawned new startups or local spinoffs. But while they are infrequent, such startups are not unknown.

Eclypsium, one of Oregon’s best-funded young companies, was started a decade ago by two former Intel security researchers. It has raised $85 million, including a $45 million round last month.

— Mike Rogoway covers Oregon technology and the state economy. Reach him at mrogoway@oregonian.com or 503-294-7699.

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