optoML Raises $1.8 Million in Pre-Series A Round Led by Bluehill.VC and A99 to Accelerate AI Chip Development

Bengaluru-based fabless semiconductor startup optoML has closed a $1.8 million Pre-Series A funding round co-led by deep-tech investors Bluehill.VC and A99. The capital will fund hiring, next-generation chip development, and commercialization following the company’s completed 12nm tapeout with TSMC. The transaction is pending regulatory approval.

optoML and Its Analog In-Memory Compute Technology for AI Workloads

optoML is a fabless semiconductor startup headquartered in Singapore with an R&D center in Bengaluru. The company is developing what it describes as the world’s first FinFET-based Analog AI System-on-Chip (SoC) platform with integrated optical interconnects.

Founded by Saravana Maruthamuthu, who brings 17 years of semiconductor and systems engineering experience from companies including Intel, Qualcomm, Continental, and Isar Aerospace, optoML targets AI compute efficiency across edge devices, enterprise systems, and hyperscale data centers.

The company’s patented Analog-in-Memory Compute (AiMC) architecture is engineered to deliver up to 50 times higher energy efficiency compared to conventional digital accelerators. This positions optoML directly within the growing demand for power-efficient AI inference hardware, a segment receiving increasing attention as AI deployments expand globally. For more on India’s deep-tech startup landscape, visit KnowStartup.

TSMC 12nm Tapeout and Kaynes Semiconductor MoU Mark Critical Milestones

Prior to this funding round, optoML completed its 12nm tapeout with TSMC, realizing the core AiMC architecture and its SoC integration path. This milestone moves the company from research-stage development to validated silicon design.

In parallel, optoML signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Kaynes Semiconductor to support wafer assembly, testing, and scalable packaging once production begins. The partnership is designed to accelerate the journey from silicon to commercial-ready systems.

The newly raised $1.8 million will be deployed across three areas: scaling the engineering team, initiating next-generation chip development, and driving commercialization efforts with prospective enterprise and data center customers.

Investor Reactions: Why Bluehill.VC and A99 Backed optoML’s AI Semiconductor Platform

“India’s deep-tech ecosystem is coming into its own, and semiconductors are at the forefront. optoML sits at the intersection of two irreversible shifts in compute, analog in-memory architectures and optical interconnects. Their 12nm tapeout with TSMC and partnership with Kaynes mark a critical transition from research to real silicon and scalable production.” — Manu Iyer, General Partner, Bluehill.VC

“As AI workloads move to the edge, power efficiency becomes the real constraint. optoML’s analog-in-memory approach addresses exactly that, shifting how AI inference can be delivered at lower energy and cost. Foundational semiconductor IP in AI infrastructure will matter immensely over the next decade.” — Vignesh S, General Partner, A99

optoML Founder on Roadmap to Commercial AI Chip Deployment

Saravana Maruthamuthu, Founder and CEO of optoML, stated that the funding positions the company on a clear path toward productization and real-world deployment of its efficient AI compute systems.

“We are excited to have Bluehill and A99 partner with us. Their conviction and deep experience in early-stage deep tech investments will guide our path from test chip success to commercial viability, customer deployments, and scaled production.” — Saravana Maruthamuthu, Founder and CEO, optoML

What optoML’s Pre-Series A Means for India’s Semiconductor and AI Chip Startup Ecosystem

optoML’s funding round reflects growing investor confidence in India-origin deep-tech hardware ventures. Chennai-based Bluehill.VC manages a Rs 350 crore deep-tech fund with a mandate covering semiconductors, energy, defense, space, and industrial IoT. Its average investment size ranges from $750,000 to $2 million, with follow-on capacity of up to $3 million.

The round comes at a time when global attention on energy-efficient AI infrastructure has intensified. As large language models and edge AI deployments grow, the demand for chips that reduce power consumption while maintaining inference performance has become a strategic priority for both startups and hyperscalers.

optoML’s combination of a completed TSMC tapeout, a manufacturing partnership with Kaynes Semiconductor, and institutional backing from two deep-tech-focused funds places it among the more advanced Indian semiconductor startups at the pre-commercialization stage.

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Author

Sachin

Sachin Sidharth is a Digital Marketing professional with a master’s degree in Digital Marketing from Coventry University, UK. He has 10+ years of blogging and online marketing experience. He currently heads Digital Acquisition for a leading London-based Fintech firm. At KnowStartup.com He focuses on writing Digital Marketing guides and manages...

Sachin Sidharth is a Digital Marketing professional with a master’s degree in Digital Marketing from Coventry University, UK. He has 10+ years of blogging and online marketing experience. He currently heads Digital Acquisition for a leading London-based Fintech firm. At KnowStartup.com He focuses on writing Digital Marketing guides and manages KnowStartup's Digital Agency rankings of firms across multiple cities in India. You can reach him on Linkedin.

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