Kerala-based semiconductor startup Netrasemi has successfully raised ₹107 crore (approximately $12.9 million) in a Series A funding round. The investment was co-led by Zoho Corporation and Unicorn India Ventures.
Funding Utilization
Netrasemi plans to use the fresh capital to accelerate its research and development (R&D) initiatives, expand its manufacturing capabilities, and enhance its marketing efforts to capture a larger share of both domestic and global markets. A significant portion of the funding will also be directed towards bringing four new system-on-chip (SoC) variants into production. These advanced chips will feature AI and video analytics capabilities, designed to meet the computing platform requirements of original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in various sectors. These sectors include surveillance, industrial robotics, and smart infrastructure products.
System-on-Chip (SoC) Development
Netrasemi specializes in building system-on-chips (SoCs) that deliver optimal computing power for smart IoT products, particularly those dealing with complex workloads like video processing. The company's chips are designed to perform advanced AI-based analytics directly on devices, eliminating the need to send data to servers or the cloud. This capability is powered by Netrasemi's energy-efficient deep-neural AI acceleration core (NPU) and a comprehensive portfolio of in-house silicon intellectual properties. The startup has already completed the development of two Edge-AI chips with advanced video capabilities. These chips, the A2000 and R1000, are currently in the tapeout stage, targeting TSMC's 12nm technology node.
Expansion Plans
Netrasemi aims to double its workforce from 83 to 166 chip engineering professionals. The company also intends to broaden its reach across diverse applications within the surveillance, industrial robotics, smart home devices, smart city infrastructure, and retail sectors. In the next 12-18 months, Netrasemi plans to complete full mask production of all three SoC families and initiate R&D for next-generation ultra-high-performance SoCs, potentially addressing edge-servers and smart NVR compute requirements. The company's upcoming launches are expected in early 2026.
Strategic Partnerships and R&D
Zoho will collaborate with Netrasemi on R&D projects at its new R&D center in Kottarakara, Kerala. In the past year, Netrasemi has initiated the development of a CCTV AI camera chip for the Indian market, established partner agreements for evaluation boards and platform development, and signed multiple MOUs with global partners for sample release and product R&D. The company has also secured interest and requirements from multiple OEMs for platform development using Netrasemi SoCs.
Statements from Key Stakeholders
Jyothis Indirabhai, Co-founder & CEO of Netrasemi, emphasized the necessity of domain-specific optimization in the new age of AI-based automation and smart devices. Shailesh Davey, Co-founder and CEO of Zoho Corporation, stated that their investment in Netrasemi aligns with Zoho's commitment to building a resilient deep-tech ecosystem in India and supporting indigenous innovation that contributes to national self-reliance. Anil Joshi, Managing Partner at Unicorn India Ventures, believes that Netrasemi has opened up new markets and will lead the next wave of innovation in the semiconductor industry. He also noted the rapid evolution of the global edge AI market and the increasing demand for specialized, energy-efficient semiconductor solutions.
