Funding · AI & Deep Tech
optoML raises $1.8 million for chip development
By Startup Enthusiast ·
- Date
- Company
- optoML
- What it does
- Analog-in-memory compute chip platform
- Kind
- Funding
- Amount
- $1.8 million
- Stage
- pre-Series A
- Based in
- Bengaluru
- Sector
- AI & Deep Tech
What they do
OptoML builds an analog-in-memory compute SoC platform with optical interconnects for AI workloads
What happened
It raised $1.8 million in a pre-Series A round led by Bluehill.VC and A99
Why it matters
The company completed a 12nm tapeout with TSMC and signed an MoU with Kaynes Semiconductor for assembly
The details
- optoML raised $1.8 million in a pre-Series A round.
- The round was led by Bluehill.VC and A99.
- The company completed a 12nm tapeout (final chip design sent to fabrication) with TSMC.
- It signed an MoU (memorandum of understanding) with Kaynes Semiconductor for assembly and testing.
- The investment is subject to regulatory approval.
- Funds will be used for hiring and next-generation chip development.
The bigger picture
- Rising investor interest in India's semiconductor ecosystem is evident; C2i Semiconductors recently raised $15M from Peak XV, Yali Deeptech, and TDK Ventures.
- optoML says its chips use up to 50 times less energy than standard digital accelerators.
- The company is fabless (designs chips but outsources manufacturing), headquartered in Singapore with an R&D centre in Bengaluru.
About the business
- optoML builds an analog-in-memory compute (AiMC) SoC platform with optical interconnects.
- Its chips handle AI tasks for edge devices, enterprise servers, and data centres.
- The company claims its technology is up to 50 times more energy-efficient than conventional digital accelerators.
- It is a fabless semiconductor company (designs chips but does not own fabrication plants).
- Headquartered in Singapore, with an R&D centre in Bengaluru.
What happens next
- Use funds for hiring and next-generation chip development.
The deal
- Type
- pre-Series A
Investors
- Bluehill.VC (lead) — Chennai-based venture capital firm with a corpus of Rs 350 crore; first tranche investments of $750k-$2M and follow-on up to $3M.
- A99 (lead) — General partner is Vignesh S.
Founders
- Saravana Maruthamuthu, Founder & CEO
About optoML
- Product
- System-on-Chip (SoC) platforms with patented analog-in-memory compute design and optical interconnects for AI applications
- Customers
- Enterprises and data centres requiring edge AI computing solutions
- How it makes money
- B2B fabless semiconductor - designs chips manufactured by third parties like TSMC
- What sets it apart
- Delivers 50x higher energy efficiency compared to traditional digital accelerators; optimized for edge, enterprise and data centre use cases
- Operations
- Completed 12nm TSMC tapeout; partnership with Kaynes Semiconductor for assembly and testing
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