Mindgrove Technologies, a fabless semiconductor company based at IIT Madras Research Park, has entered into a commercial partnership with Pune-based electronic design firm Pinetics. The two-year agreement marks a significant step toward integrating domestically designed semiconductor chips into commercially deployed electronic products.
Under the partnership, Mindgrove’s chips will be incorporated into systems on module (SoM) developed by Pinetics, enabling their use in applications such as biometric access control systems, smart locks and camera-based solutions. The collaboration is expected to expand into additional product categories over time.
The initiative addresses a longstanding gap in India’s electronics ecosystem, where semiconductor components have largely been imported despite advancements in printed circuit board design and product assembly. By combining chip design with module-level integration, the partnership aims to enable a more complete domestic value chain, from silicon to finished products.
Pinetics will leverage its expertise in product design and original design manufacturing to build integrated modules around Mindgrove’s chips. This approach allows product manufacturers to adopt locally developed semiconductor solutions without relying on external module suppliers. The collaboration is expected to improve supply chain reliability while offering solutions tailored to domestic market requirements.
Shashwath TR, Co-founder and CEO of Mindgrove Technologies, stated that the partnership represents a step toward broader industry adoption of Indian semiconductor technology. He noted that integrating locally designed chips into widely used products can accelerate the development of a stronger domestic ecosystem.
Navin Goyal, Co-founder and CEO of Pinetics, highlighted that semiconductor components have traditionally been one of the most difficult elements to localize in product design. He added that working with a domestic chip provider enables faster development cycles, improved supply continuity and greater alignment with evolving industry needs.
Mindgrove’s current portfolio includes a Secure IoT system-on-chip built on 28nm technology, designed for connected devices such as biometric systems, smart meters and point-of-sale machines. The company is also developing a Vision SoC aimed at high-performance computing and imaging applications, including surveillance systems, automotive cameras and smart displays.
The partnership provides Indian manufacturers with access to domestically designed semiconductor solutions at both component and module levels. It is expected to support innovation, reduce dependence on imports and strengthen India’s position in electronics manufacturing.
Headquartered in Pune, Pinetics is an electronics product design and Original Design Manufacturing (ODM) company focused on embedded systems, IoT solutions, and medical devices. The company offers comprehensive capabilities across hardware engineering, firmware development, and module integration, enabling OEMs and brands to transform ideas into commercially deployable products. Pinetics serves customers across India, Europe, and the United States and operates legal entities in both the US and the UK. The company was founded by Navin Goyal, Alankar Dhobale, and Sanjay Barewar.
Based at the IIT Madras Research Park in Chennai, Mindgrove Technologies develops advanced, scalable, and reliable System-on-Chips (SoCs) under its Mindgrove Silicon brand. The company’s semiconductor solutions are designed to deliver high performance with power efficiency and cost optimisation for applications across IoT, vision systems, automotive technologies, and related sectors. Its first product, “Secure IoT,” is recognised as India’s first commercial-grade high-performance microcontroller. Mindgrove Technologies is also a Design Linked Incentive (DLI)-approved startup.
The company was founded by Shashwath T R and Sharan Srinivas J. It is backed by investors including Rocketship.vc, Speciale Invest, Mela Ventures, Peak XV Partners, Nishchay Goel, Anshul Goel, and Whiteboard Capital. Mindgrove is incubated by IITM Pravartak Technologies Foundation and the IIT Madras Incubation Cell.
