Bengaluru-based semiconductor startup C2i Semiconductors has extended its Series A funding round to $16.7 million, with TDK Ventures participating in both the original raise and the oversubscribed extension round.
Earlier this year in February, the startup had raised $15 million in the first tranche of its Series A funding round led by Peak XV Partners, with participation from Yali Deeptech and TDK Ventures. Before that, the company had secured $4 million in funding from deeptech venture fund Yali Capital in November 2024.
The company said the fresh capital will be used to expand operations and accelerate product development as it strengthens its position in the AI infrastructure and cloud computing market.
Founded in June 2024 by Ram Anant, Vikram Gakhar, Preetam Tadeparthy, Dattatreya Suryanarayana, Harsha S B, and Muthusubramanian N V, C2i Semiconductors develops power management solutions designed for AI data centres and cloud infrastructure.
The startup focuses on system-level innovations that rethink how power is delivered from the grid to processor cores, aiming to improve efficiency and performance in next-generation AI infrastructure.
C2i’s platform is built around proprietary intellectual property powering its semiconductor products. Its technology stack includes the Manas Controller, a software-defined controller with a unique control architecture that remains adaptable to changes in processor requirements and power delivery network (PDN) systems.
The company’s Sarayu Power Stage and Modular Scalability architecture are designed to support flexible phase operations for higher-current applications while also enabling VPD architecture and voltage regulators (VRs).
Recently, C2i announced the tape-out of its smart power stage chip developed specifically for AI infrastructure. According to the company, the chip was designed entirely in India by its in-house semiconductor engineering team.
The demand for AI infrastructure continues to grow rapidly worldwide. Market estimates suggest that AI infrastructure capital expenditure could reach between $500 billion and $600 billion over the next 12 to 18 months and may grow to nearly $1 trillion by 2030.
C2i claims its platform can deliver more than 96% power conversion efficiency, compared to the 94% efficiency offered by existing solutions in the market. In large-scale AI data centres with capacities of around 100 MW, the company estimates these improvements could help generate nearly $12 million in annual energy savings due to better efficiency and reduced heat generation.
The startup also said its technology allows processors to operate up to 4°C cooler, which could help improve the lifespan and long-term performance of AI hardware systems.
-By Shivani Solanki
