Sensesemi Technologies: Investment in Edge-AI Chip Development

Fabless semiconductor startup Sensesemi Technologies has successfully raised Rs 25 crore (approximately $2.75 million) in a seed funding initiative led by Piper Serica. The funding round also saw involvement from LetsVenture Angel Fund, Sun Icon Ventures, MyAsiaVC, Whitepine Investments, Jain Oncor, REAN Foundation, Niraj Shah, Deepak Khanna, and various others. The raised funds are earmarked for enhancing product development, which encompasses chip tape-outs and reference design creation. Additionally, the funds will facilitate the expansion of the engineering team and foster strategic alliances with device manufacturers and ODMs, as reported by Sensesemi in a recent press release.

Sensesemi Technologies: A Brief Overview

Founded in 2014 by Vijay Muktamath and Namit Varma, Sensesemi Technologies represents a DLI-approved fabless semiconductor firm dedicated to designing integrated edge-AI silicon tailored for industrial IoT, automotive, and medical device sectors. The organisation develops ultra-low-power system-on-chips that integrate AI inferencing, wireless connectivity, and precision analog signal processing on a unified platform. This innovative design permits the creation of intelligent, secure, and energy-efficient edge devices.

Focus on Core Chip Design

Based in Bengaluru, Sensesemi prioritises ownership of core chip design intellectual property while advancing next-generation silicon solutions. The emphasis is on supporting extended battery life, enabling real-time on-device intelligence, and ensuring scalable deployment across international markets. This focus addresses the surging demand for high-performance edge processing capabilities.

Innovations in Analog AI Inference

Sensesemi is currently working on an analog AI inference processor to significantly lower power consumption for battery-operated and implantable devices. The application of analog-domain AI inferencing allows the company to attain enhancements in power efficiency, thus making multi-year battery life feasible without compromising on intelligence or reliability.

Market Opportunities for Edge-AI Chips

According to market research, the global edge-AI chipset market is anticipated to reach an annual volume between 5 and 7 billion units by 2030. Sensesemi’s integrated edge-AI chips are designed for diverse applications across various high-growth sectors, including:

• Industrial IoT: Encompassing predictive maintenance, vision-based quality inspections, and environmental monitoring.
• Automotive: Including multi-sensor ADAS, driver monitoring, and predictive diagnostics.
• Medical Devices: Supporting cardiac monitoring, neurostimulation, and advanced drug delivery systems.

The company faces competition from other notable entities in this field, such as Netrasemi, Hrdwyr, Edgecortix, and Blumind, among others.