Semiconductor Startup Calligo Technologies Secures $1.1 Million to Expand Chip Innovation

In a boost to India’s growing semiconductor space, Bengaluru-based startup Calligo Technologies has raised $1.1 million in Pre-Series A funding. The round was led by Seafund and Artha Venture Fund, and will support the company’s next stage of growth—developing its second-generation semiconductor chip and scaling up its operations.

Powering the Next Phase of Chip Development

Founded in 2012 by Anantha Kinnal, Rajaraman Subramanian, and Vinay N. Hebbali, Calligo Technologies focuses on building cutting-edge chips and software designed for high-performance computing (HPC), big data, and AI applications. The funds raised will help the company build its version 2.0 silicon chip and expand its engineering team. A significant portion of the funding will also go toward strengthening industry partnerships and boosting research and development.

Calligo previously raised $1.57 million from investors including KITVEN and has already made strides in product development and deployment. The company’s version 1.0 chip has been shipped to early customers and tested in real-world scenarios, demonstrating both functionality and commercial interest.

The POSIT Advantage on a RISC-V Platform

Calligo stands out for using the POSIT number system, which is a smarter alternative to the usual floating-point format used in computing. This system is built on the RISC-V platform, helping boost speed and accuracy in data processing.

Its main product, the TUNGA accelerator board, features an eight-core POSIT-enabled RISC-V processor. It works well with popular server types like x86, ARM, and PowerPC. This setup is designed to save energy, improve accuracy, and handle complex computing tasks better—perfect for training AI models and running high-performance computing (HPC) simulations.

International Collaboration and Market Expansion

Over the past year, CalligoTech has worked closely with U.S.-based universities, national laboratories, and supercomputing centres. These collaborations have helped the startup expand its global footprint, attract international talent, and prepare for a soft U.S. launch.

Calligo has also modified RISC-V compilers to support popular programming languages such as C/C++, Fortran, and Python, enabling developers to run existing HPC and AI applications without changing their source code.

India’s Growing Semiconductor Ambitions

Calligo’s rise comes at a time when India’s semiconductor market is expected to grow rapidly. The industry was valued at $6.67 billion in 2024 and is projected to hit $14.09 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 10.1%. As global demand for sustainable and energy-efficient chips increases, Calligo is well-positioned to make a significant mark.

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