FastFlowLM, a startup founded by researchers with ties to the University of Rhode Island and Clemson University, has joined semiconductor company AMD.
Founded by URI professor of computer engineering Ken Qing Yang, Tao Wei, and Alfred Xu, FastFlowLM develops software that helps large language models and other AI workloads run more efficiently on neural processing units, or NPUs.
FastFlowLM was founded by URI professor of computer engineering Ken Qing Yang and his former colleagues Tao Wei, a professor of engineering at Clemson University who remains on the URI faculty as an adjunct professor, and Alfred Xu. (Credit: URI)
The company grew out of research conducted at URI. As that work moved toward commercialization, URI Innovations and Clemson University helped protect the intellectual property behind the technology and support its path forward.
In June 2025, Yang approached URI Innovations to explore protection for the team’s software. URI Innovations later supported the licensing process as FastFlowLM developed from university research into a commercial venture.
The technology gained wider attention after the team released it on GitHub, where thousands of users tested FastFlowLM on Ryzen AI systems. That visibility eventually helped bring the company to AMD’s attention.
The FastFlowLM team is now part of AMD’s Artificial Intelligence Group, where its work will continue as part of the company’s broader AI software efforts.
URI Innovations congratulates Ken Qing Yang, Tao Wei, Alfred Xu, and the FastFlowLM team on this milestone.
Read the full story in Rhody Today and learn more about FastFlowLM at fastflowlm.com