optoML Secures $1.8 Million in Pre-Series A to Propel Next-Gen AI…

Team S · 2026-02-25T13:27:22.000Z

optoML, a fabless semiconductor startup focused on advanced system-on-chip (SoC) solutions, has raised $1.8 million in a Pre-Series A funding round led by Bluehill VC and A99. This capital injection will help the company scale hiring and advance development of its next-generation chip architectures following a key technical milestone. Founded by Saravana Maruthamuthu, optoML builds analog-in-memory compute platforms with optical interconnects designed to address critical constraints in energy efficiency, latency and bandwidth across AI workloads ranging from edge devices to data centres. The company has recently completed a 12 nanometer tape-out with TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company), a crucial step in transitioning from design to manufacturable silicon and bringing its first products closer to commercial readiness. Funding Round and Investors - The Pre-Series A round was led by Bluehill VC and A99, with the proceeds earmarked for expanding the engineering team and accelerating chip development. The company has also signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Kaynes Semiconductor to support wafer assembly and testing as chips return from fabrication. This partnership will help bridge the gap between silicon validation and scalable packaging and production. optoML’s patented architecture claims up to 50 times higher energy efficiency compared to traditional digital accelerators, a potential advantage in reducing power draw and thermal load for large-scale AI deployments. The firm operates with a global footprint, headquartered in Singapore with an R&D centre in Bengaluru, India highlighting a growing deep-tech semiconductor ecosystem across Asia.

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optoML Secures $1.8 Million in Pre-Series A to Propel Next-Gen AI… | Newnex