BigEndian Semiconductors, a fabless semiconductor design startup, has successfully secured $3 million in funding, spearheaded by Vertex Ventures SEA & India, with additional contributions from other strategic investors. The capital infusion is earmarked for bolstering the company’s engineering workforce, amplifying its research and development efforts, and scaling its operations to cater to the rising demand for advanced surveillance technology, both within India and on a global scale.
Despite housing approximately 20-25% of the world’s semiconductor design talent, India’s semiconductor industry has historically had a limited impact on the global market. However, recent global supply chain realignments and increasingly supportive domestic policies promoting indigenous semiconductor design have begun to create a conducive environment for innovation within India’s semiconductor sector.
In a statement, Sunil Kumar, co-founder and CEO of BigEndian, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “This investment empowers us to accelerate our mission to revolutionize the value chain with open, secure, and collaborative technology. Beyond our SoCs, we are committed to establishing an advanced, authentically Indian ecosystem, fostering both upstream and downstream innovations that have the potential to transform the emerging Indian semiconductor industry.”
The influx of funds is set to propel BigEndian’s growth, particularly in the development of its upcoming surveillance system-on-chip (SoC) solution, and contribute to the expansion of India’s rapidly growing semiconductor ecosystem. Ben Mathias, managing partner of Vertex Ventures SEA & India, highlighted the strategic significance of this investment, saying, “The reconfiguration of global electronics supply chains has presented India with a unique opportunity to emerge as a leader in the semiconductor industry.
He added, “We are thrilled to support this macro trend, beginning with our investment in BigEndian. Their strategic approach to developing a surveillance SoC is perfectly aligned with the escalating global demand for advanced security solutions, and we believe the founding team possesses all the qualities necessary for BigEndian to become a leading player in the global semiconductor arena.”
The founding team at BigEndian Semiconductors brings decades of experience in semiconductor design, with a proven track record of developing multiple SoCs from India. The founders have extensive expertise, having led teams at renowned global organizations such as ARM, Intel, Broadcom, and Cypress, as well as in innovative startups like Beceem and Arcus. This deep well of experience positions BigEndian Semiconductors to make significant contributions to the semiconductor industry from India, with aspirations to influence the global market.
BigEndian Semiconductors is a fabless semiconductor design startup focused on developing advanced system-on-chip (SoC) solutions for the global market. Leveraging decades of industry experience, the company aims to drive innovation in the semiconductor sector by building secure, collaborative technologies and fostering a truly Indian ecosystem. BigEndian Semiconductors is committed to transforming India’s role in the global semiconductor landscape.
