AI Startup SixSense Secures $8.5M for Semiconductor Innovation

Singapore-based deep tech startup SixSense has successfully raised $8.5 million in its latest funding round, bringing its total capital raised to approximately $12 million. The investment was led by Surge from Peak XV (formerly Sequoia India & SEA), with participation from Alpha Intelligence Capital and FEBE. This funding marks significant progress in applying artificial intelligence to semiconductor manufacturing challenges.

Image source note: The image is AI-generated, and the image licensing service provider is Midjourney

Founders' Vision for Smarter Chip Production

Founded in 2018 by engineers Akanksha Jagwani (CTO) and Avni Agarwal (CEO), SixSense addresses a critical gap in semiconductor manufacturing: transforming raw production data into actionable insights. The company's AI platform processes defect images and equipment signals to provide real-time analysis, helping factories prevent quality issues and optimize efficiency.

"Engineers currently spend excessive time identifying patterns and investigating anomalies," explained Agarwal. "Our platform automates this process, allowing faster response to production issues."

Industry Expertise Driving Innovation

The founders bring complementary expertise to the venture:

• Jagwani previously worked at Hyundai Motor and General Electric, specializing in quality control and software automation
• Agarwal developed large-scale data systems at Visa before focusing on industrial AI applications

After consulting with over 50 semiconductor engineers, the team identified that most inspection processes remain manual despite advanced equipment. While factories generate vast amounts of data, existing systems often fail to provide meaningful analysis.

Platform Capabilities and Market Traction

The SixSense platform offers three core functions:

1. Real-time defect detection
2. Root cause analysis
3. Failure prediction

Designed specifically for process engineers, the system requires no coding knowledge and can be deployed within two days using a factory's own data. Current clients include major manufacturers like GlobalFoundries and JCET, where the platform has processed over 100 million chips with notable results:

• 30% faster production cycles
• 1-2% increased output
• 90% reduction in manual inspection work

The system works with equipment covering 60% of the global semiconductor inspection market, giving it significant scalability potential.

Geopolitical Shifts Create Expansion Opportunities

As global chip manufacturing expands due to geopolitical tensions, SixSense sees growing demand for its solutions. "New facilities lack legacy system constraints," noted Agarwal. "They're more open to AI-native approaches from day one."

The company currently serves clients in Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Israel, with plans to enter the U.S. market. Its focus remains on large chip manufacturers including foundries, assembly/test service providers, and integrated device manufacturers.

Key Points:

• 💰 $8.5M funding round brings SixSense's total capital to $12M
• 🔍 AI platform provides real-time defect detection for semiconductor manufacturing
• ⚡ Clients report 30% faster production cycles and 1-2% higher output
• 🌎 Expanding globally as geopolitical shifts drive new chip factory construction
• 🤖 No-code solution deploys in two days using factory-specific data