C2i Semiconductors Secures $16.7 Million in Series A Funding

Semiconductor startup C2i Semiconductors has successfully expanded its Series A funding round to $16.7 million, with TDK Ventures involved in both the initial fundraising and the subsequently oversubscribed extension. Based in Bengaluru, the startup initially garnered $15 million in the first phase of its Series A funding led by Peak XV Partners, with additional investments from Yali Deeptech and TDK Ventures in February this year. Before this funding round, C2i Semiconductors achieved $4 million from the deeptech venture fund Yali Capital in November 2024. The startup has indicated that this new capital will be directed towards scaling its operations and accelerating product development efforts.

Innovative Power Management Solutions

C2i Semiconductors was co-founded in June 2024 by a team including Ram Anant, Vikram Gakhar, Preetam Tadeparthy, Dattatreya Suryanarayana, Harsha S B, and Muthusubramanian N V. The company is dedicated to developing advanced power management solutions designed specifically for AI data centres and cloud infrastructure. Their focus centres around system-level innovations that aim to revolutionise the manner in which power is distributed from the grid to the processor core.

Distinctive Intellectual Property

C2i Semiconductors stands out due to its unique proprietary intellectual property that underpins its product offerings. The platform features the Manas Controller, a software-defined controller with an innovative control architecture that remains agnostic to power distribution network changes and processor specifications. The Sarayu Power Stage, together with a Modular Scalability architecture, allows for flexible phase operations aimed at high-current applications and also supports voltage regulator designs.

Market Insights and Efficiency Gains

Recent market research suggests that capital expenditure on AI infrastructure is anticipated to soar to between $500 and $600 billion in the next 12 to 18 months, potentially escalating to $1 trillion by 2030. C2i’s platform is estimated to achieve over 96% power conversion efficiency, marking a notable advancement over the 94% efficiency typically provided by existing solutions. In a 100 MW AI data centre, these efficiency gains, accompanied by decreased heat generation, could mean nearly $12 million in annual energy savings. Moreover, this technology enables processors to operate up to 4°C cooler, likely extending the lifespan of costly AI hardware.