Kerala-based semiconductor startup Netrasemi has successfully raised Rs 10 crore in a Pre-Series A funding round. The investment comes from Unicorn India Ventures, aiming to accelerate the company’s development of Edge AI technology for IoT products. The funds will primarily support the fabrication of two advanced machine learning system-on-chips (SoCs), named Netra A2000 and Netra R1000.

Netrasemi in Edge AI Technology

Netrasemi, founded in 2020 by Jyothis Indirabhai, Sreejith Varma, and Deepa Geetha, focuses on creating cutting-edge semiconductor technology. The startup is developing AI/ML-enabled SoCs designed to meet the growing demand for smart IoT products.

By introducing a family of AI/ML-capable SoCs and reference designs, Netrasemi simplifies and optimizes Edge AI product development. Their solutions aim to address over 100 AI/ML use cases, making advanced technology more accessible and cost-effective.

Strong Growth and Market Potential

In the past year, Netrasemi has gained significant traction from major original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) across various industries, including medical, telecom, and industrial sectors. The company reported revenue growth of $0.75 million from chip design and porting services for strategic partners. Netrasemi expects this figure to grow by 150% in FY25 and expand exponentially with the volume production of chips by FY27.

Investor and Founder Comments

Anil Joshi, Managing Partner of Unicorn India Ventures, expressed confidence in Netrasemi’s potential. “The Edge AI market holds tremendous opportunities, and Netrasemi’s AI chips are poised to transform multiple sectors. The company has achieved remarkable progress in designing innovative solutions and is well-positioned to capitalize on this growing market,” he said.

Co-founder Jyothis Indirabhai highlighted the uniqueness of Netrasemi’s technology. “Our family of chips will be the first AI/ML SoCs from India for intelligent edge devices. With fully in-house developed digital IPs, we own both the chip and its components. This funding is a crucial milestone in our journey to expand and succeed,” he stated.

Target Segments and Applications

Netrasemi’s AI-powered SoCs are designed for various applications, including surveillance, smart sensors, infrastructure, machine vision, robotics, drones, and autonomous vehicles. With the rising demand for security cameras driven by privacy concerns and smart city projects, the startup aims to serve diverse sectors like government, BFSI, transportation, and industrial markets.

Netrasemi’s innovative approach is set to position India as a leader in the Edge AI and semiconductor space, paving the way for smarter, more efficient IoT solutions.