Calligo in talks to raise $12-15 million to scale indigenous RISC-V chip play

Bengaluru-based semiconductor startup Calligo Technologies is in talks to raise $12-15 million from a mix of new and existing investors, people aware of the matter told ET. US-based BIG Capital is expected to lead the round, with participation from existing backers Artha Venture Fund and SeaFund.

If the round materialises, the company is likely to be valued at $50–55 million post-money, the sources said. Calligo is also in early-stage discussions with Azim Premji Invest for potential participation.

Founded in 2012, fabless semiconductor startup Calligo has gained traction for its work on indigenous RISC-V processors, targeting applications across artificial intelligence, aerospace, and supercomputing.


According to data from Venture Intelligence, semiconductor startups in India have raised $68 million in private capital in the first four months of 2026, compared with $57 million in 2025, indicating a pickup in investor interest in the sector.

Calligo builds semiconductor chips using a proprietary mathematical computing approach that enables accurate data processing while being energy efficient.

The startup said it aims to solve the performance bottlenecks of computing needed for large-scale modeling and simulations in HPC systems. It will also aid large-model training and inference needed in AI systems, a critical need in a market with large computational needs.

“This positions the company in a fast-growing segment of energy-efficient computing, as demand rises for AI-led workloads,” one of the sources said.

Queries sent to Calligo, BIG Capital, and Artha Venture Fund remained unanswered till press time.

The company is led by industry veterans, including Anantha Kinnal, former director of engineering at AMD, and Rajaraman (Giri) Subramanian, former head of technology at Capillary Technologies. The founding team also includes Vinay N Hebballi, formerly at Hewlett Packard, and Sriganesh K Rao, who previously worked at Tata Consultancy Services.

The startup had raised about $1.1 million last April. It plans to use the fresh capital to commercially scale its Posit-based silicon chip, expand globally, grow its engineering team, and build partnerships with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), people aware of the matter said.