3rdiTech is India’s pioneer and exclusive Imaging Sensor Fabless Company. In simple terms, it’s India’s solution for specialized chips that power camera systems, from mobile phone cameras to rearview cameras in automobiles, from Earth observation satellites and fighter aircraft observation systems to specific advanced missiles. Essentially, every camera worldwide relies on these image sensor chips.
In a significant international recognition, 3rdiTech was prominently mentioned in the Joint Statement from the White House during Prime Minister Modi’s State Visit to the US in June 2023. Furthermore, the CEO, Vrinda Kapoor, stood as the sole female business leader from India at the prestigious Hi-Tech CEO Round Table Event hosted at the White House the following morning.
Much like semiconductor giants such as Qualcomm and ARM, 3rdiTech operates as a fabless company, focusing on chip design while not manufacturing them.
According to Vrinda Kapoor, CEO of 3rdiTech, contrary to popular belief that semiconductor manufacturing is the most valuable sector, the real power lies in owning the intellectual property for chip design. ARM Holdings recent IPO valuation at $52 billion attests to the enormous worth within the fabless sector.
Adding, “As a bootstrapped, profitable, and wholly Indian-owned entity, 3rdiTech collaborates with all three branches of the Indian Military.” It also boasts marquee customers, including the US Air Force, US Space Force, UK Space Command. In 2022, 3rdiTech entered into a strategic partnership with the US defence giant General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI), significantly contributing to India’s AtmaNirbhar Bharat initiative. Notably, 3rdiTech was among the inaugural winners of the Ministry of Defence’s flagship iDEX program back in 2018.
Additionally, 3rdiTech has been recognized through the Indian Semiconductor Mission’s Start-Up Programs, Design Linked Incentive Scheme, and Chips to Start-Up Scheme.
About Vrinda Kapoor
Vrinda Kapoor is a tech-savvy entrepreneur who prefers to maintain a low profile. She serves as the CEO of 3rdiTech, an aerospace company established at IIT Delhi in 2018 and has been part of the Berkeley SkyDeck accelerator program since 2022.
So, what does her company specialize in?
3rdiTech excels in crafting custom chips, also known as application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), tailored for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) purposes. Following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent US visit, 3rdiTech has emerged as a significant player in the aerospace sector.
Vrinda Kapoor’s work revolves around the intersection of national security and technology, and she has garnered considerable recognition in the tech industry. Earlier this year, she had the privilege of attending a state dinner hosted by US President Joe Biden for Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Washington DC.
Their devices find applications across the aerospace, automotive, and defence sectors, encompassing collaborations with the military and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). These devices incorporate CMOS image sensors, customized cameras utilizing electro-optical sensing in the near-infrared and short-wave infrared wavelengths.
Kapoor’s company is deeply committed to research and development and is a part of the prestigious Berkeley SkyDeck accelerator program, which selects around 20 startups every six months and invests US$200,000 in each.
Notably, Kapoor, originally trained as a biologist, was invited to the White House as part of a delegation of Indian entrepreneurs fostering strategic alliances through diplomacy.
One of Kapoor’s remarkable efforts lies in promoting stronger ties between India and other countries in the technology sector, with a particular focus on advancing semiconductor technology in the Indian military.
Understanding CMOS Sensors
CMOS, an abbreviation for complementary metal-oxide semiconductor, is a widely utilized technology in microchips, including motherboards. CMOS sensors, categorized as image sensors, are commonly found in digital cameras and various other devices. These sensors comprise a photodetector to capture light, significantly contributing to the rapid advancement of digital camera technology on a global scale.
Kapoor believes that the Indian military, through initiatives such as the Defence Research and Development Organisation’s Technology Development Fund (DRDO-TDF) and Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX), should play a pivotal role in the Indian semiconductor mission by nurturing a network of chip startups.
Boasting over 12 patents and a pipeline of many more, one of 3rdiTech’s most compelling innovations lies in the Low Light Imaging Arena. This technology, formerly dominated by US companies, finds extensive applications in night vision devices, space-based sensors, surveillance cameras, and fighter aircraft or helicopter imaging systems. Additionally, it has spin-offs, including Automotive ADAS Cameras and Rear View Cameras. Furthermore, 3rdiTech is actively engaged in developing sensors for 3D imaging, with applications such as proximity sensors, spacecraft landing systems, and forward collision detection sensors.