mindgrove technologies second chip: Peak XV-backed semiconductor firm Mindgrove’s quad core chip enters design phase

“It is a quad core with support for external memory and an integrated GPU (Graphics Processing Unit),” said Shashwath TR, cofounder and CEO, Mindgrove Technologies. “This chip is targeted at Computer Vision and Imaging applications such as IP Cameras, Digital Video Recorders, in-vehicle infotainment systems and the like.”

A quad-core processor is a chip with four independent units called cores that read and execute central processing unit (CPU) instructions, such as add, move data and branch. It is a type of computer processor architecture that has these four processor cores embedded within a single processor dye.

While work on the second chip has begun, Shashwath said that the company’s first chip – SecureIoT – has successfully advanced to the prototype production stage at the foundry. He explained that since it is a part of a multi-project wafer (MPW), Mindgrove’s design will be created alongside other chips, and it anticipates receiving around 100 chips from this initial run.

“The first chip is targeted for devices like CCTV cameras, automotive cameras and consumer electronics devices as well as a class of applications like biometrics,” Shashwath added. “We already have potential clients lined up which include Indian companies as well as some overseas companies. These are mainly private companies in the B2C and B2B space and those that are vendors to the government.”

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He said conversations were done and in the advanced stages, however, it would only be after the samples come in that the deals will be finalised.

“While the foundry’s strict criteria for accepting designs for MPW ensures a high likelihood of success, there exists the possibility of encountering issues such as bugs or degraded features as it is still a prototype batch,” Shashwath explained.

In the event of any challenges, he said that the company may consider another prototype run to address and rectify any issues that may arise in the final silicon since certain parameters, such as power consumption, can only be finalized after characterizing the completed silicon.

Started in 2021, Mindgrove is designing SoCs (System on chip) and hardware within vertical themes such as IoT and computer vision for enterprises in India and the world.

SoC (System on Chip) is a technology-intensive semiconductor that contains the whole system on one chip.

Mindgrove was incubated under Pravartak at IIT Madras and uses the indigenous RISC-V Shakti cores developed in IIT Madras in their chips and is mentored by Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director at IIT Madras, who is hailed as the father of the Shakti microprocessors. RISC-V is an open-source instruction set architecture used to develop custom processors for a variety of applications.

“The clamor for chips designed for India, by India is growing every day, and Mindgrove could become an important company in an inevitable market trend towards sovereignty in chip design,” Peak XV had said in a blog in May.

“It is a quad core with support for external memory and an integrated GPU (Graphics Processing Unit),” said Shashwath TR, cofounder and CEO, Mindgrove Technologies. “This chip is targeted at Computer Vision and Imaging applications such as IP Cameras, Digital Video Recorders, in-vehicle infotainment systems and the like.”

A quad-core processor is a chip with four independent units called cores that read and execute central processing unit (CPU) instructions, such as add, move data and branch. It is a type of computer processor architecture that has these four processor cores embedded within a single processor dye.

While work on the second chip has begun, Shashwath said that the company’s first chip – SecureIoT – has successfully advanced to the prototype production stage at the foundry. He explained that since it is a part of a multi-project wafer (MPW), Mindgrove’s design will be created alongside other chips, and it anticipates receiving around 100 chips from this initial run.

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“The first chip is targeted for devices like CCTV cameras, automotive cameras and consumer electronics devices as well as a class of applications like biometrics,” Shashwath added. “We already have potential clients lined up which include Indian companies as well as some overseas companies. These are mainly private companies in the B2C and B2B space and those that are vendors to the government.”

Discover the stories of your interest

He said conversations were done and in the advanced stages, however, it would only be after the samples come in that the deals will be finalised.

“While the foundry’s strict criteria for accepting designs for MPW ensures a high likelihood of success, there exists the possibility of encountering issues such as bugs or degraded features as it is still a prototype batch,” Shashwath explained.

In the event of any challenges, he said that the company may consider another prototype run to address and rectify any issues that may arise in the final silicon since certain parameters, such as power consumption, can only be finalized after characterizing the completed silicon.

Started in 2021, Mindgrove is designing SoCs (System on chip) and hardware within vertical themes such as IoT and computer vision for enterprises in India and the world.

SoC (System on Chip) is a technology-intensive semiconductor that contains the whole system on one chip.

Mindgrove was incubated under Pravartak at IIT Madras and uses the indigenous RISC-V Shakti cores developed in IIT Madras in their chips and is mentored by Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director at IIT Madras, who is hailed as the father of the Shakti microprocessors. RISC-V is an open-source instruction set architecture used to develop custom processors for a variety of applications.

“The clamor for chips designed for India, by India is growing every day, and Mindgrove could become an important company in an inevitable market trend towards sovereignty in chip design,” Peak XV had said in a blog in May.