OrCAD History

1985 - Founded

OrCAD® was founded in 1985 by John Durbetaki, Ken Seymour, and Keith Seymour as “OrCAD Systems Corporation” in Hillsboro, Oregon. A supplier of desktop electronic design automation (EDA) software, the name OrCAD was a reflection of the company’s focus and the software’s origins: Oregon + CAD. The company's first product was SDT (Schematic Design Tools), which first shipped late in 1985.

1986 - Booming

In 1986, the flagship SDT product was soon followed with a digital simulator, VST (Verification and Simulation Tools) and printed circuit board (PCB) layout tools. Over time, OrCAD's product line broadened to include Windows-based software products to assist electronics designers with developing field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), including complex programmable logic devices (CPLDs). Durbetaki, then CEO and head of R&D, left the company in 1991, and was succeeded as CEO by Michael Bosworth.

1995 - Acquisitions

In June 1995, OrCAD acquired Massteck Ltd., a small company that offered a PCB layout tool and a sophisticated autorouter, and Intelligent Systems Japan, KK, OrCAD's distributor in Japan.

1996 - IPO

OrCAD made their initial public offering.

1997 - MicroSim Merger 

OrCAD merged with MicroSim to acquire PSpice, a PC-based analog and mixed-signal simulation software for designing PCB systems.

1999—Acquired  

In July of 1999, OrCAD and its product line were acquired by Cadence Design Systems.

2005 - Advanced Technologies

OrCAD integrated with Cadence Allegro PCB design software creating a fully scalable solution for solving any level of PCB design challenge. 

2014 - New OrCAD

In 2014, OrCAD rolled out its new brand identity, including a new logo and global website. The brand identity highlights Cadence’s ongoing commitment to our PCB solutions and to our OrCAD customers.