Nova Spectral AI Raises Rs 21.15 Crore Led by Shastra VC
Shastra VC led the seed round in the Bengaluru startup building infrared sensor chips.
Key Takeaways
- Nova Spectral AI raised Rs 21.15 crore in a seed round.
- Shastra VC led the round; Equirus InnovateX Fund and angel investors took part.
- The Bengaluru startup is building SWIR image sensor chips with quantum dots.
- It aims to cut SWIR sensor costs by up to 100 times versus InGaAs.
- The company said it will build a field-ready prototype within 18 months.
Nova Spectral AI, a Bengaluru-based deeptech startup, has raised Rs 21.15 crore in a seed round led by Shastra VC. Equirus InnovateX Fund and a group of angel investors also took part in the round.
The startup, founded in 2026 by Anish Priyadarshi and Sanjeev Kumar, is developing short-wave infrared (SWIR) image sensor chips. The company said it will use the funds to build its team and develop a field-ready prototype within 18 months.
Nova Spectral AI funding at a glance
| Detail | Nova Spectral AI |
|---|---|
| Amount | Rs 21.15 crore |
| Round | Seed |
| Lead investor | Shastra VC |
| Other investors | Equirus InnovateX Fund and angel investors |
| Sector | Deeptech, infrared image sensor chips |
| City | Bengaluru |
What Nova Spectral AI does
Nova Spectral AI is building SWIR image sensor chips that help cameras capture images in low light, haze and smoke. The sensors are meant for drones, surveillance systems, robots and autonomous vehicles.
Most SWIR sensors today use a material called indium gallium arsenide (InGaAs), which is costly. Nova Spectral AI instead uses lead-free indium arsenide (InAs) colloidal quantum dots on standard silicon CMOS chips. The company said it aims to cut sensor costs by up to 100 times compared with InGaAs technology.
Defence is the first market for Nova Spectral AI's chip
According to the startup, its first market is defence, specifically intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) platforms and drones. The company is also targeting smartphones, wearables, robots and automobiles.
Nova Spectral AI's journey so far
| When | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Anish Priyadarshi and Sanjeev Kumar found Nova Spectral AI in Bengaluru |
| By October 2026 | Raises a Rs 21.15 crore seed round led by Shastra VC |
Anish Priyadarshi on building the chip in India
Priyadarshi has built a quantum dot fabrication facility.
"India’s armed forces should not have to rely on an imported sensor to see at night or through smoke."
What Nova Spectral AI says it will do with the money
The company said the funds will go toward building its team and developing a field-ready prototype within 18 months.
Where Nova Spectral AI stands after its seed round
Nova Spectral AI, founded in Bengaluru in 2026, has raised Rs 21.15 crore in seed funding to develop SWIR image sensor chips that use lead-free indium arsenide quantum dots on silicon CMOS. According to the startup, defence is its first market, and it is also targeting smartphones, wearables, robots and automobiles. The company said it plans to build its team and develop a field-ready prototype within 18 months.
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