Anticipated Commercial Debut of Secure Internet of Things (IoT) Chips by IIT-M's Mindgrove Within the Next Six Months

Anticipated Commercial Debut of Secure Internet of Things (IoT) Chips by IIT-M's Mindgrove Within the Next Six Months

India's tech landscape is seeing a significant shift, with Mindgrove Technologies, an IIT Madras incubated startup, leading the charge in the microcontroller and Vision SoC space.

In May 2024, Mindgrove Technologies made headlines by introducing India's first indigenously designed commercial MCU chip. Since then, the company has been working on advanced microcontroller and vision SoC designs for CCTV cameras and Industry 4.0 applications.

The V-series of chips, currently under development, will not only perform the functions of the first chip but also control and connect to cameras. The range of capabilities for Vision SoC can extend beyond just CCTV cameras.

Mindgrove Technologies has placed its first mass manufacturing order for Secure IoT chips with its foundry partner. This high-performance microcontroller System-on-Chip (SoC) taped out at 28nm is designed for electronic devices transforming into "smart" connected devices and for powering devices like printers and PoS machines. The company expects to receive the mass-manufactured Secure IoT devices in about six months.

The government's push to support Indian companies is a key advantage for Mindgrove Technologies in the CCTV market, as devices sold in India must comply with specific security requirements. The startup received approval under the Government of India's semiconductor Design-Linked Incentive (DLI) scheme, amounting to ₹15 crore, last September.

Mindgrove Technologies is also backed by prominent venture capital firms such as Rocketship.vc, Speciale Invest, Mela Ventures, Peak XV Partners, Nishchay Goel, Anshul Goel, and Whiteboard Capital. The funds raised will be used to take the product to market and design the second chip.

In terms of comparison, Mindgrove Technologies stands out from established competitors like Renesas Electronics, L&T’s new fabless chip design venture, Tata Electronics, Foxconn-HCL joint ventures, and Micron's ATMP facility. While these companies focus on mature-node semiconductor manufacturing (28nm to 65nm) and have large investments backed by government incentives, Mindgrove Technologies is comparatively more innovative, with a focus on secure IoT microcontrollers and Vision SoCs for edge AI and vision processing applications.

The startup, co-founded by Sharan Srinivas J, is strategically important in India’s microcontroller and Vision SoC domain, supported by government programs aimed at fostering chip design capabilities. It complements larger capital- and manufacturing-heavy players by advancing proprietary chip IP and edge AI SoC technologies that align with India’s push for ‘Make in India’ and self-reliant semiconductor capabilities.

In fact, Mindgrove Technologies is among the first Indian startups to develop production-grade SoCs designed entirely in India, at par with global standards. The company is also exploring go-to-market opportunities with Bosch Global Software Technologies (BGSW) and has signed an MoU to this effect.

With its indigenous chip designs and focus on edge computing and vision processing, Mindgrove Technologies is poised to make a significant impact in India's tech industry. The long-term goal of the co-founder is to target automotive applications, positioning the startup for further growth and innovation in the future.

1. Mindgrove Technologies, a startup from IIT Madras, is leading the charge in India's microcontroller and Vision SoC space, having introduced the country's first indigenously designed commercial MCU chip in May 2024.
2. The V-series of chips, currently under development by Mindgrove Technologies, will perform the functions of their first chip and control and connect to cameras, with potential applications beyond just CCTV cameras.
3. Mindgrove Technologies has received government support through the semiconductor Design-Linked Incentive (DLI) scheme, amounting to ₹15 crore last September.
4. The startup has garnered backing from venture capital firms such as Rocketship.vc, Speciale Invest, Mela Ventures, Peak XV Partners, Nishchay Goel, Anshul Goel, and Whiteboard Capital, with funds being used for market expansion and the design of the second chip.
5. In the competitive automotive and technology sector, Mindgrove Technologies stands out with a focus on secure IoT microcontrollers and Vision SoCs for edge AI and vision processing applications.
6. With its indigenous chip designs and focus on edge computing and vision processing, Mindgrove Technologies aims to make a significant impact in India's tech industry, with long-term goals of targeting automotive applications.

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