Indian startup Zepto Logic, which specialises in full-stack VLSI and semiconductor IP design, has signed a ₹250 crore (≈ Rs 2.5 billion) memorandum of understanding with the government of Government of Tamil Nadu to launch a fabless chip-design house and a VLSI skilling centre.
Under the agreement, the planned design house will focus on system-on-chips (SoCs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) and embedded-system solutions. Its core design services will be supported by its associate company Caliber Embedded Technologies, based in Coimbatore — marking a strategic effort to decentralise chip-design capabilities outside traditional tech hubs.
Founded in 2018 and headquartered in Coimbatore, Zepto Logic claims a robust pedigree in “full-stack VLSI design services” — from architecture and RTL coding through to physical implementation and GDSII output — and already has a portfolio of reusable IP blocks including connectivity, memory, analog/mixed-signal modules, and AI accelerators. Through this initiative, the startup seeks to scale its capabilities aggressively, aligning with India’s broader ambition for semiconductor self-reliance.
Beyond design, the plan includes setting up a long-term “semiconductor innovation and training campus” that aims to produce a steady pipeline of engineers skilled in VLSI, RTL verification, physical-design, and embedded systems. According to the company, this campus will help nurture homegrown talent and provide critical manpower support to India’s growing semiconductor ecosystem.
Industry analysts view the move as timely: with increasing demand for chips tailored to AI workloads, telecom (5G) infrastructure, data-centre accelerators, and industrial automation, indigenously designed ASICs and SoCs could give Indian original-equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and startups a competitive edge — cutting lead times, reducing reliance on imports, and enabling faster time-to-market.
In effect, the agreement positions Tamil Nadu as an emerging hub for semiconductor design and associated talent development, while casting Zepto Logic not just as a design firm but as a cornerstone of India’s push toward chip design sovereignty.
