Semicon Startup Netrasemi Bags INR 10 Cr To Build Edge AI For IoT Products

SUMMARY

Thiruvananthapuram-based semiconductor startup Netrasemi has secured INR 10 Cr (approximately $1.2 Mn) in Pre-Series A funding from Unicorn India Ventures

Founded in 2020, Netrasemi specialises in Edge AI semiconductor technology, developing system-on-chips for IoT products

The funding comes amid India's growing semiconductor industry, which is projected to grow from $33 Bn in 2023 to $150 Bn by 2030

Semiconductor startup Netrasemi has raised INR 10 Cr (around $1.2 Mn) in a Pre-Series A funding round from Unicorn India Ventures.

The Thiruvananthapuram-based company will use the fresh capital for fabrication of two ML SoC chips – Netra A2000 and Netra R1000.

Founded by Jyothis Indirabhai, Sreejith Varma and Deepa Geetha in 2020, Netrasemi is an Indian Edge AI semiconductor technology company building system-on-chips (SoCs) to enable the new age need for optimal computing for smart IoT products.

“Netrasemi family of chips will be the first AI/ML SoCs from India for intelligent edge devices, with a full array of digital IPs inhouse developed,” said Indirabhai.

Its key target segments include surveillance, smart sensors, smart infrastructure, machine vision and industry 4.0, robotics, drones and autonomous vehicles, among others.

The company’s domain-specific architecture (DSA), SoCs, AI development tools, flexible SDKs and platform reference designs help IoT product and solution makers to go to market with cost effective and power efficient advanced AI chipsets catering to their specific domains.

The development comes at a time when India is ramping up efforts to position itself as a semiconductor hub. The government has already approved five semiconductor plants under the India Semiconductor Mission, which are expected to bring in investments worth INR 1.52 Lakh Cr.

India’s semiconductor startups have seen a host of funding developments recently.

For instance, in October, Bengaluru-based AGNIT Semiconductors secured $3.5 Mn (INR 29.4 Cr) in a seed funding round co-led by 3one4 Capital and Zephyr Peacock.

Similarly in September, fabless semiconductor startups such as FermionIC Design and BigEndian Semiconductors secured funding from various investors to boost their product expansion and reach overseas markets.

India is currently home to over 100 semiconductor startups and the country’s semiconductor industry is expected to become a $150 Bn opportunity by 2030 from $33 Bn in 2023, as per Inc42.