- Previously raised ₹10 crore in a Pre-Series A round from Unicorn India Ventures and ₹8.3 crore in earlier seed rounds.
- Netrasemi is an Indian Edge AI semiconductor startup building advanced system-on-chips (SoCs) to meet the growing demand for optimal, on-device computing in smart IoT products.
- The company’s technology stack includes domain-specific architecture (DSA), IP-rich SoCs, AI development tools, flexible SDKs, and platform reference designs—enabling IoT solution providers to deliver cost-efficient, power-optimized AI chipsets.
- Over the past 12 months, Netrasemi has:
— Completed development of two Edge-AI chips with advanced video processing capabilities
— Initiated the development of an AI-powered CCTV camera chip for the Indian market
— Formed partner agreements for evaluation boards and platform development
— Signed multiple MOUs with global partners for early product samples and collaborative R&D
— Attracted strong OEM interest for customized platform development using Netrasemi SoCs - The newly raised ₹107 crore will be used to:
— Accelerate R&D and bring four new SoC variants with AI and video analytics into production
— Expand manufacturing capacity and partner ecosystems
— Scale marketing efforts to increase domestic and global market penetration
— Meet compute needs of OEMs in surveillance, industrial robotics, and smart infrastructure - Two SoCs have completed development and are currently in tapeout, targeting TSMC’s 12nm technology node:
— A2000: High-performance AI chip for real-time, high-resolution video analytics
— R1000: Energy-efficient AI microcontroller chip for next-gen smart IoT sensors
Mumbai/Chennai/Thiruvananthapuram, July 24, 2025 — Semiconductor startup Netrasemi has raised ₹107 crore in its Series A funding round led by Zoho Corporation and Unicorn India Ventures, marking a significant milestone in India’s emerging deep-tech and chip innovation landscape. The fresh capital will be used to accelerate R&D, ramp up production capabilities, and expand the company’s domestic and global footprint in the Edge AI semiconductor market.
Founded in 2020 by Jyothis Indirabhai, Sreejith Varma, and Deepa Geetha, Netrasemi is building domain-specific, AI-powered system-on-chip (SoC) solutions tailored for smart IoT products. The startup focuses on on-device AI processing and energy-efficient chipsets designed to support real-time analytics in applications such as surveillance, industrial automation, robotics, and smart infrastructure.
Prior to this round, Netrasemi had raised ₹10 crore in a pre-Series A round from Unicorn India Ventures and ₹8.3 crore in earlier seed rounds.
Two SoCs Ready for Tapeout at TSMC’s 12nm Node
The company has successfully completed the development of two advanced Edge-AI SoCs:
- A2000: A high-performance chip built for high-resolution video analytics.
- R1000: A power-efficient AI microcontroller targeting smart sensors in IoT applications.
Both chips are currently in the tapeout phase, manufactured on TSMC’s 12nm technology node.
Over the past year, Netrasemi has made strategic moves, including:
- Development of two Edge-AI chips with video capabilities.
- Initiation of an AI-powered CCTV camera chip tailored for the Indian market.
- Partnerships for evaluation boards and platform development.
- Multiple MOUs with global partners for sample release and joint R&D.
- Early traction from several OEMs for platform development.
Strategic Backing and Deep-Tech Vision
Zoho Corporation, which has actively invested in rural innovation and R&D hubs, sees this investment as part of its broader commitment to India’s deep-tech ecosystem.
“Supporting India’s indigenous semiconductor innovation aligns with Zoho’s mission of building self-reliant, globally competitive technology. Netrasemi’s work in AI, robotics, and edge computing presents exciting opportunities for R&D collaboration, especially at our new R&D centre in Kottarakara, Kerala,” said Shailesh Davey, Co-founder & CEO, Zoho Corporation.
Unicorn India Ventures, which has previously backed the company, reinvested in this round.
“Netrasemi’s domain-specific AI chips are opening up entirely new markets in Edge AI. Their progress and product maturity position them as leaders in India’s chip innovation wave,” said Anil Joshi, Managing Partner, Unicorn India Ventures.
Scaling Talent, Manufacturing & Market Reach
With the fresh infusion of capital, Netrasemi plans to:
- Double its workforce from 83 to 166 chip engineers.
- Launch four new SoC variants with advanced AI and video features.
- Scale operations across surveillance, smart cities, robotics, and retail IoT segments.
- Expand customer and partner engagement globally.
Building India’s Edge AI Future
According to Jyothis Indirabhai, Co-founder & CEO of Netrasemi:
“In the era of real-time automation and intelligent devices, domain-specific architectures are no longer optional—they are essential. Our energy-efficient IP cores and AI-optimized silicon enable Edge computing at scale, and we’re proud to build this innovation in India for global impact.”
He added that backing from Zoho and continued support from Unicorn India Ventures would strengthen the company’s market reach and joint research efforts. He also acknowledged critical institutional support from MeitY, TrEST Research Park, IIM-K, and KSUM.
In the next 12–18 months, Netrasemi aims to:
- Complete full mask production of its SoC families.
- Launch an ultra-high performance SoC targeting edge servers and smart NVRs.
- Deepen its R&D efforts and strengthen India’s semiconductor product economy.
