India is known for being home to 20% of the world’s chip designers, however, it lacks a significant presence in the global semiconductor market. In light of this, the Indian government has recently started investing in efforts to establish the country in the semiconductor industry. The global shift towards a “China-plus-one” strategy has prompted companies to seek alternatives to China, creating an opportunity for Indian semiconductor startups like BigEndian Semiconductors to make their mark.
Founded in May, BigEndian Semiconductors is a fabless design startup based in Bengaluru, led by CEO Sunil Kumar, a former executive at ARM Broadcom and Intel. The founding team boasts significant experience in prominent chipmaking companies such as Broadcom and Cypress Semiconductors. Kumar mentioned that the team’s decision to start the company stemmed from observing significant domestic consumption in the surveillance chip market due to a shift away from Chinese alternatives. The Indian government’s incentives and customer demand also played a role in motivating them to establish BigEndian.
India has allocated a budget of $9 billion to boost local semiconductor and display manufacturing companies. The Modi government has approved the establishment of four semiconductor units in the country, with a focus on producing chips for automotive, consumer electronics, EVs, industrial, and telecom applications. BigEndian plans to collaborate with Taiwanese fab company UMC to develop surveillance chips, with a reference chip based on a 28nm node process expected in the first quarter of 2025. The startup also aims to expand its presence in the IoT market, primarily focusing on 16- and 32-bit microcontrollers.
Unlike traditional fabless semiconductor companies, BigEndian is working on a platform-as-a-service model to provide customized software solutions for surveillance cameras, helping governments avoid reliance on Chinese middleware. This approach allows the startup to generate additional revenue by offering customizations as subscription-based add-ons. Kumar highlighted the need to diversify into other segments like the emerging automotive sector, but acknowledged that funding constraints pose a challenge for startups in India.
To kickstart its operations, BigEndian secured $3 million in an all-equity seed round led by Vertex Ventures SEA and India. While this funding may not be sufficient for mass production, Kumar emphasized that the Indian government’s incentives provide crucial support for the company. Strategic investors like Amitabh Nagpal from Amazon Web Services have also participated in the funding round, laying the foundation for larger investments in the future. BigEndian aims to expand beyond the Indian market and establish itself as a key player in providing surveillance chips for a range of cameras.
BigEndian Semiconductors’ journey exemplifies the growing potential of the Indian semiconductor industry. With a focus on innovative solutions and strategic partnerships, the company aims to carve out a niche for itself in the global semiconductor market. By leveraging the government’s support and technological expertise, BigEndian is poised to make significant strides in the semiconductor industry and establish itself as a prominent player in India and beyond.