TOKYO, Japan, June 18, 2026 – Renesas Electronics has acquired Pictorus, a California-based software developer whose cloud-based behavioral modeling technology will become part of Renesas’ embedded systems portfolio.
Pictorus provides a connected platform for model-based system design. The acquisition will expand Renesas 365, its platform for electronics system development across discovery, development, and lifecycle management. The Pictorus platform allows engineers to visually design, express, and simulate system behavior and intent during the application development cycle.
Pictorus is a cloud-native platform designed to support a digital thread from system modeling to software implementation and device deployment. The acquisition supports its Digitalization Vision with Altium, which is centered on an Electronics System Design & Lifecycle Management Platform intended to broaden access to electronics design.
The acquisition comes as automotive, robotics, and industrial equipment developers move toward software-defined systems, where system validation and development speed are important. By integrating Pictorus into Renesas 365, Renesas plans to support systems engineering workflows that account for design constraints and system behavior in development.
Engineers can use Pictorus to create block diagrams in a web browser that define how a device should behave. The platform then converts those diagrams into embedded software generated in memory-safe Rust, with C/C++ and Python interoperability.
“Incorporating Pictorus’ capabilities advances system design on Renesas 365 by combining current architectural modeling capabilities with behavioral modeling and simulation,” said Leigh Gawne, Renesas’ vice president of R&D and Digital Industries, Software & Digitalization. “In addition, Pictorus’ technology will drive a further left shift through rapid virtual prototyping and code generation, accelerating exploration and evaluation, enabling faster, more optimal device selections,” he added.
Chris Sullivan, founder and CEO of Pictorus, added, “We started Pictorus because embedded firmware development still asks engineers to bridge too many gaps between hardware, software, simulation, and deployment. Engineers deserve something more modern and cohesive. What excites us most about joining Renesas is how strongly that vision aligns with the direction of the Renesas 365 platform. Renesas is uniquely positioned to connect hardware, software, and development workflows at a massive scale, and we’re excited to help build that future together.”
Source: Renesas Electronics
About Renesas Electronics
Renesas Electronics is a semiconductor manufacturer that develops and supplies microcontrollers, analog devices, power semiconductors, system-on-chip products, and connectivity components used in embedded systems. The company provides semiconductor devices and related software for automotive systems, industrial equipment, infrastructure, consumer electronics, and IoT applications. Renesas serves automotive suppliers, electronics manufacturers, device makers, and industrial system developers worldwide. The company designs, manufactures, and markets semiconductor components used in control systems, sensing, power management, and communications. Renesas Electronics was formed in 2010 through the merger of Renesas Technology and NEC Electronics, building on semiconductor businesses of Hitachi and Mitsubishi Electric. The company is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. Renesas operates design centers, manufacturing facilities, and sales offices across Asia, Europe, and the Americas. Renesas Electronics employs about 23,000 people worldwide.
About Pictorus
Pictorus is a software company based in Oakland, CA. Founded in 2022, the company develops tools for embedded system software. Its software helps engineers design, simulate, deploy and monitor software used in connected devices. The tools generate Rust code and support C, C++ and Python workflows. Pictorus serves engineering teams working on hardware, vehicles, robots and other connected systems. Its stated industry focus includes aerospace, automotive and robotics. The company provides browser-based modeling, simulation, telemetry and device management features.