Nova Spectral AI Funding: Raises ₹21.15 Crore in Seed Round Led by Shastra VC
- Nova Spectral AI has raised ₹21.15 crore ($2.25 million) in seed funding, led by Shastra VC with participation from Equirus InnovateX Fund and angel investors.
- The Bengaluru semiconductor startup is developing short-wave infrared (SWIR) image sensor chips using colloidal quantum dots and silicon CMOS-compatible processes.
- The fresh capital will fund team expansion and development of a field-ready prototype over the next 18 months, with initial applications targeting defence, surveillance and other physical AI systems.
Bengaluru-based semiconductor startup Nova Spectral AI has raised ₹21.15 crore ($2.25 million) in seed funding in a round led by Shastra VC, with participation from Equirus InnovateX Fund and angel investors.
The company plans to use the fresh capital to expand its team and develop a field-ready prototype over the next 18 months. Nova Spectral AI is developing short-wave infrared (SWIR) image sensor chips aimed initially at defence applications, including drones and surveillance systems.
Founded by IIT Kanpur alumni Anish Priyadarshi and Sanjeev Kumar, the startup is working on SWIR sensors based on indium arsenide colloidal quantum dots and silicon CMOS-compatible manufacturing processes. Its longer-term applications include robotics, autonomous vehicles and other physical AI systems.
About Nova Spectral AI
Unlike conventional cameras that primarily capture visible light, SWIR imaging detects wavelengths beyond the visible spectrum, providing additional information in conditions where visible-light cameras can face limitations. SWIR systems can be useful in low-light conditions and certain hazy, smoky or foggy environments.
Nova Spectral AI is developing lead-free colloidal quantum dot (cQD) SWIR sensors designed to work with standard silicon complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) technology. The company is targeting applications where conventional SWIR sensors, including those based on indium gallium arsenide (InGaAs), can be expensive or difficult to integrate.
The startup’s approach combines quantum-dot-based infrared sensing with CMOS-compatible processing. If the technology can be manufactured at scale, the company believes it could lower the cost of SWIR imaging and make the technology accessible to a broader range of systems.
Nova Spectral AI has stated that its technology could eventually reduce sensor costs by up to 100 times compared with existing alternatives. This is currently a company target and has not yet been demonstrated as a commercial cost advantage.
What’s Next for Nova Spectral AI
The latest ₹21.15 crore seed round will primarily support team expansion and product development, with Nova Spectral AI targeting a field-ready prototype within 18 months.
The prototype phase will be important for demonstrating whether the company’s quantum-dot-based sensor architecture can deliver the required imaging performance while maintaining compatibility with scalable manufacturing processes.
The startup’s development is taking place as Indian semiconductor and deep-tech companies work on specialised hardware for defence, aerospace, robotics and other strategic applications. Nova Spectral AI’s focus is on the sensing layer rather than complete camera or autonomous platforms.
The company has not yet disclosed a commercial launch date, production capacity or confirmed customer deployments for the new sensor technology.