SENSEX   73,832.55

 -150.63

NIFTY   23,161.60

 -53.35

CRUDEOIL   8,707.00

 -19.00

GOLD   147,415.00

 -602.00

SILVER   234,775.00

 -730.00

Updated - June 09, 2026 at 09:23 PM.

| Bengaluru

Hareesh Chandrasekhar, CEO and Co-founer, AGNIT

AGNIT Semiconductors, an indigenous Gallium Nitride (GaN) semiconductor start-up, has officially opened a new 350-square-foot advanced testing laboratory at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bengaluru. Financed through a ₹3 crore investment, the facility is designed to enhance domestic semiconductor testing and validation infrastructure, specifically tailored for high-power radio-frequency (RF) applications.

The setup aims to achieve rapid in-house validation, reduce external dependency, enhance customer confidence in quality assurance, and strengthen market readiness across the defence, telecom, and next-generation RF sectors.

The new laboratory incorporates specialised technical infrastructure, including an environmental chamber capable of operating between -60°C and 125°C, a connectorised load pull testing station, RF test and measurement benches, and automated printed circuit board (PCB) assembly systems. These systems enable the company to perform in-house PCB assembly, generate reliability data, and execute power amplifier board characterisation with significantly faster turnaround times. Looking forward, the company intends to expand this infrastructure to establish facilities for comprehensive accelerated lifetime testing and qualification of military-grade components.

SEMICONDUCTOR AMBITION

Highlighting the strategic necessity of the facility, Hareesh Chandrasekar, Co-founder and CEO of AGNIT Semiconductors, noted, “India’s semiconductor ambitions require not only chip design and fabrication capabilities but also robust indigenous validation and reliability ecosystems.” He said that the laboratory marks an important milestone in the company’s growth journey under the vision of “Make in India for the world,” adding that “Having a dedicated in-house testing ecosystem will allow us to move faster from development to deployment, strengthen product performance, and better support the evolving requirements of telecom and defence customers.” Previously dependent on shared IISc-based infrastructure, the standalone lab will be operated by a dedicated team of five to eight engineers and researchers to enable closer integration with the design and fabrication teams.

AGNIT Semiconductors has raised a total funding of ₹60 crore from investors such as 3one4 Capital and Zephyr Peacock, with participation from Lakshmi Narayanan. Founded on more than 15 years of research and development at the IISc, the Bengaluru-based start-up operates as a vertically integrated GaN platform focusing on materials (wafers), manufacturing processes, and device design. Backed by a founding team with over 100 years of aggregate experience in GaN technology, the company is now focused on scaling its manufacturing capabilities with a vision to produce 100,000 chips over the next 24 months to service the defence and telecommunications sectors.

Published on June 9, 2026

THIS AD SUPPORTS OUR JOURNALISM. SUBSCRIBE FOR MINIMAL ADS.

THIS AD SUPPORTS OUR JOURNALISM. SUBSCRIBE FOR MINIMAL ADS.