India's Netrasemi Secures Major Funding for Edge AI Chip Development
July 25, 2025, 3:38 pm
Netrasemi, an Indian Edge AI semiconductor pioneer, has secured INR 107 Crore in Series A funding. Zoho Corporation and Unicorn India Ventures led the investment. This capital fuels aggressive research, manufacturing expansion, and market penetration for Netrasemi's advanced System-on-Chips. These SoCs bring powerful, on-device artificial intelligence to smart IoT products. They serve critical sectors: surveillance, industrial robotics, and smart infrastructure. Netrasemi's technology enables efficient, local data processing, reducing reliance on cloud infrastructure. The company plans to launch its innovative chip variants by early 2026, strengthening its deeptech leadership.
Netrasemi, a pioneering semiconductor startup, has completed a significant Series A funding round. The company, based in Kerala, India, raised INR 107 Crore. This investment, approximately $12.4 million, boosts its formidable trajectory. Zoho Corporation led the funding initiative. Unicorn India Ventures also demonstrated strong support. This capital infusion marks a pivotal moment. It propels Netrasemi into a new phase of development and market expansion.
The core of Netrasemi’s innovation lies in Edge AI semiconductor technology. The firm engineers sophisticated System-on-Chips, known as SoCs. These chips facilitate optimal computing directly on smart Internet of Things (IoT) devices. Edge AI architecture processes data locally. This eliminates the necessity of sending information to distant cloud servers. The approach ensures faster processing. It enhances data privacy. It also improves overall system security.
Netrasemi's technology is highly differentiated. Its SoCs incorporate an energy-efficient deep-neural AI acceleration core, or NPU. The company also holds extensive intellectual property. These proprietary silicon IPs are crucial. A unique domain-specific architecture (DSA) defines its chip design. This architecture provides superior performance. It ensures energy efficiency. The design is critical for real-time, on-device computing. These features position Netrasemi as an innovator in deeptech.
The company's advanced chips serve diverse, high-demand sectors. Surveillance systems benefit from enhanced, on-device analytics. Industrial robotics gains heightened autonomy and processing power. Smart infrastructure projects achieve greater efficiency and responsiveness. Netrasemi’s solutions also extend to smart home devices. They target smart city infrastructure. Retail applications also stand to gain. Its technology underpins the next generation of AI-driven automation. It prepares devices for future demands.
The freshly secured funds will primarily accelerate Netrasemi's research and development. A key focus is the enhancement of its R&D facility in Kerala. The capital will also expand manufacturing capabilities significantly. This scaling move aims to meet growing demand. Netrasemi plans to introduce four new System-on-Chip variants. These future chips will integrate advanced artificial intelligence and video analytics functions.
Netrasemi projects a substantial increase in its workforce. The team will double from 83 to 166 engineers. This expansion supports an ambitious product roadmap. Two SoC products are already in the tapeout stage. They leverage TSMC's 12nm technology node. The company intends to complete full production of three distinct SoC families. It will also initiate R&D for ultra-high-performance chips. These next-generation products will target smart network video recorders and edge servers.
Product launches are anticipated by early 2026. This timeline highlights the company’s swift progress. Netrasemi has already begun work on a specialized AI chip for Indian CCTV cameras. It has secured memorandums of understanding with global partners. These agreements facilitate product evaluation. Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) across various sectors show significant interest. The global Edge AI market is experiencing rapid expansion. Netrasemi is poised to lead this transformative market segment.
Zoho Corporation’s investment underscores its commitment to India's deep-tech ecosystem. The collaboration aims to cultivate robust indigenous intellectual property. Zoho actively supports innovation. This drives national self-reliance. Its R&D efforts extend to rural development initiatives. Zoho's new R&D center in Kottarakara, Kerala, will foster joint projects with Netrasemi. This partnership strengthens the domestic technology landscape.
Unicorn India Ventures recognizes Netrasemi’s disruptive potential. Its energy-efficient chips promise to revolutionize AI workload management at the edge. The venture firm notes the company’s impressive progress. This funding infusion enables global scaling. Unicorn India Ventures anticipates Netrasemi will lead the next wave of semiconductor innovation. The evolving global edge AI market demands specialized, energy-efficient solutions. Netrasemi is well-positioned to fulfill this critical need.
Founded in 2020, Netrasemi has achieved rapid maturity. The company previously secured INR 18.3 Crore in seed and pre-Series A rounds. These earlier investments originated from Unicorn India Ventures, Medimicrochip Labs, and IIM-Kozhikode. The new Series A funding validates Netrasemi's strategic vision. Its focus on advanced AI capabilities for the edge positions it powerfully. The company is set to drive significant advancements in smart devices and automation. Its trajectory points towards substantial impact on the global semiconductor industry.
Netrasemi, a pioneering semiconductor startup, has completed a significant Series A funding round. The company, based in Kerala, India, raised INR 107 Crore. This investment, approximately $12.4 million, boosts its formidable trajectory. Zoho Corporation led the funding initiative. Unicorn India Ventures also demonstrated strong support. This capital infusion marks a pivotal moment. It propels Netrasemi into a new phase of development and market expansion.
The core of Netrasemi’s innovation lies in Edge AI semiconductor technology. The firm engineers sophisticated System-on-Chips, known as SoCs. These chips facilitate optimal computing directly on smart Internet of Things (IoT) devices. Edge AI architecture processes data locally. This eliminates the necessity of sending information to distant cloud servers. The approach ensures faster processing. It enhances data privacy. It also improves overall system security.
Netrasemi's technology is highly differentiated. Its SoCs incorporate an energy-efficient deep-neural AI acceleration core, or NPU. The company also holds extensive intellectual property. These proprietary silicon IPs are crucial. A unique domain-specific architecture (DSA) defines its chip design. This architecture provides superior performance. It ensures energy efficiency. The design is critical for real-time, on-device computing. These features position Netrasemi as an innovator in deeptech.
The company's advanced chips serve diverse, high-demand sectors. Surveillance systems benefit from enhanced, on-device analytics. Industrial robotics gains heightened autonomy and processing power. Smart infrastructure projects achieve greater efficiency and responsiveness. Netrasemi’s solutions also extend to smart home devices. They target smart city infrastructure. Retail applications also stand to gain. Its technology underpins the next generation of AI-driven automation. It prepares devices for future demands.
The freshly secured funds will primarily accelerate Netrasemi's research and development. A key focus is the enhancement of its R&D facility in Kerala. The capital will also expand manufacturing capabilities significantly. This scaling move aims to meet growing demand. Netrasemi plans to introduce four new System-on-Chip variants. These future chips will integrate advanced artificial intelligence and video analytics functions.
Netrasemi projects a substantial increase in its workforce. The team will double from 83 to 166 engineers. This expansion supports an ambitious product roadmap. Two SoC products are already in the tapeout stage. They leverage TSMC's 12nm technology node. The company intends to complete full production of three distinct SoC families. It will also initiate R&D for ultra-high-performance chips. These next-generation products will target smart network video recorders and edge servers.
Product launches are anticipated by early 2026. This timeline highlights the company’s swift progress. Netrasemi has already begun work on a specialized AI chip for Indian CCTV cameras. It has secured memorandums of understanding with global partners. These agreements facilitate product evaluation. Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) across various sectors show significant interest. The global Edge AI market is experiencing rapid expansion. Netrasemi is poised to lead this transformative market segment.
Zoho Corporation’s investment underscores its commitment to India's deep-tech ecosystem. The collaboration aims to cultivate robust indigenous intellectual property. Zoho actively supports innovation. This drives national self-reliance. Its R&D efforts extend to rural development initiatives. Zoho's new R&D center in Kottarakara, Kerala, will foster joint projects with Netrasemi. This partnership strengthens the domestic technology landscape.
Unicorn India Ventures recognizes Netrasemi’s disruptive potential. Its energy-efficient chips promise to revolutionize AI workload management at the edge. The venture firm notes the company’s impressive progress. This funding infusion enables global scaling. Unicorn India Ventures anticipates Netrasemi will lead the next wave of semiconductor innovation. The evolving global edge AI market demands specialized, energy-efficient solutions. Netrasemi is well-positioned to fulfill this critical need.
Founded in 2020, Netrasemi has achieved rapid maturity. The company previously secured INR 18.3 Crore in seed and pre-Series A rounds. These earlier investments originated from Unicorn India Ventures, Medimicrochip Labs, and IIM-Kozhikode. The new Series A funding validates Netrasemi's strategic vision. Its focus on advanced AI capabilities for the edge positions it powerfully. The company is set to drive significant advancements in smart devices and automation. Its trajectory points towards substantial impact on the global semiconductor industry.