Nova Spectral AI has raised ₹21.15 crore, or approximately $2.25 million, in a seed funding round led by Shastra VC, with participation from Equirus InnovateX Fund and angel investors.
The company is developing short-wave infrared, or SWIR, image sensor technology designed to make advanced machine vision more affordable for drones, defense systems, robotics, vehicles, smartphones, and other physical AI applications.
Nova Spectral AI was founded by Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur alumni Anish Priyadarshi and Sanjeev Kumar.
The company is developing a SWIR image sensor chip in India using lead-free colloidal quantum dots and CMOS-compatible manufacturing processes.
Nova Spectral AI said its approach could reduce the cost of SWIR imaging technology by as much as 100 times compared with existing solutions.
SWIR sensors can help cameras operate in environments where conventional visible-light imaging is limited, including smoke, haze, and low-light conditions.
These capabilities are particularly relevant for drones and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance platforms, where imaging systems must operate across challenging environments.
The company argues that today’s SWIR technology remains expensive and largely dependent on imported indium gallium arsenide sensors, limiting deployment beyond high-end defense and specialized industrial applications.
By developing lower-cost sensors, Nova Spectral AI aims to expand SWIR imaging into much larger markets.
Potential applications include autonomous systems, machine vision, robotics, wearable devices, smartphones, and automotive platforms, where better sensing can improve how physical AI systems understand and interact with their surroundings.
Nova Spectral AI plans to use the seed funding to expand its team and develop a field-ready prototype within approximately 18 months.
The company also highlighted early support from investors including Ashis Nayak, Avijeet Alagathi, Vasant Rao, Jivesh Madan, Shachi Jalote, Saurabh Gunwant, Krishna Jha, Sadhika Agarwal, and Rituraj Chaudhari.
The financing gives Nova Spectral AI additional resources to advance development of its semiconductor technology as India continues to expand its domestic deep-tech, defense technology, and semiconductor ecosystem.
The company is positioning its technology around a broader shift toward physical AI, where autonomous systems increasingly depend on advanced sensors capable of operating reliably in real-world environments.
