Thiruvananthapuram-based semiconductor startup NetraSemi has raised ₹107 crore (approximately $13 million) in a Series A funding round led by Zoho Corporation and Unicorn India Ventures, according to multiple reports. The startup, which is focused on building edge AI chips, aims to use the funding to scale its engineering teams and accelerate production of its first commercial silicon chip by early 2026.
The development is significant for India’s growing semiconductor ecosystem, especially in the wake of the government’s push for domestic chip design and manufacturing under the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM).
Driving India’s Edge AI Ambitions
Founded by industry veterans with global chip design experience, NetraSemi is developing low-power, high-efficiency chips optimized for edge AI applications such as smart cameras, industrial automation, and consumer electronics. Unlike cloud-based AI processing, edge AI enables real-time data analysis directly on devices, improving speed, privacy, and efficiency.
CEO Nikhil Bhaskaran stated that the company plans to expand its engineering base in Kerala, reinforcing the state’s emergence as a rising hub for semiconductor innovation. “This funding validates our core vision to put India on the global map for deep-tech silicon design,” Bhaskaran said.
Zoho and Unicorn India Ventures Backing Strategic Growth
Leading investor Zoho Corp, which has been increasingly supporting Indian deep-tech startups, sees the deal as part of its broader ambition to promote indigenous technology development. Unicorn India Ventures, an early-stage fund with a focus on emerging tech, has been backing NetraSemi since its early days and doubled down in this round.
The funding will be used not just to scale chip design and fabrication efforts, but also to hire top-tier talent from within India and abroad, as NetraSemi prepares to sample its first chip by Q1 2026.
Positioning Kerala as a Semiconductor Innovation Zone
This fundraise comes at a time when the state of Kerala is making concerted efforts to attract semiconductor and electronics design investments. NetraSemi's progress reinforces the potential of Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities in building high-tech capabilities traditionally concentrated in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, or Pune.
The company’s development center in Thiruvananthapuram is expected to grow significantly over the next 12 months as it ramps up testing and product readiness.
Strategic Timing Amid Global Chip Race
As the global semiconductor race intensifies, especially in the wake of supply chain shifts and AI-driven hardware demand, startups like NetraSemi are being seen as key contributors to India’s chip design ambitions. While the bulk of high-end chip fabrication still lies overseas, India is aiming to move up the value chain through design and system integration—a strategy where NetraSemi aligns perfectly.
The successful funding round also sends a positive signal to other Indian startups building in the deep-tech and silicon space, showing that private capital is increasingly willing to bet on long-gestation, high-impact ventures.