Summary:
SixSense raises $8.5M in Series A funding led by Peak XV’s Surge
AI platform helps semiconductor manufacturers predict and detect defects in real time
Founded by Akanksha Jagwani and Avni Agarwal, targeting inefficiencies in chip production
Platform is used by process engineers, requiring no coding for deployment
Already deployed at GlobalFoundries and JCET, with 100M chips processed
Delivers 30% faster production cycles, 1-2% yield boost, and 90% less manual work
Expanding into U.S., Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Israel
SixSense: A Game-Changer in Semiconductor Manufacturing
A Singapore-based deep tech startup, SixSense, has developed an AI-powered platform that enables semiconductor manufacturers to predict and detect potential chip defects in real time. This innovation is set to transform the industry by improving yield and reducing manual inspection work.
$8.5M Series A Funding Led by Peak XV’s Surge
The startup has secured $8.5 million in Series A funding, bringing its total funding to approximately $12 million. The round was led by Peak XV’s Surge (formerly Sequoia India & SEA), with participation from Alpha Intelligence Capital, FEBE, and others.
Founders with a Vision
Founded in 2018 by engineers Akanksha Jagwani (CTO) and Avni Agarwal (CEO), SixSense addresses a critical challenge in semiconductor manufacturing: converting raw production data into real-time insights. Their platform helps factories prevent quality issues and enhance efficiency.
- Akanksha Jagwani: Brings expertise in manufacturing, quality control, and software automation from her roles at Hyundai Motors, GE, and Embibe.
- Avni Agarwal: Leverages her experience in building large-scale data analytics systems at Visa, with a focus on applying AI beyond fintech.
Why Semiconductors?
The co-founders identified a significant gap in the semiconductor industry: despite the abundance of data, real-time intelligence was lacking. Traditional inspection processes are manual and fragmented, creating inefficiencies.
"The burden of using data for decision-making still falls on engineers. That’s time-consuming, subjective, and doesn’t scale well," says Agarwal.
How SixSense Works
SixSense’s platform is designed for process engineers, not data scientists. Key features include:
- Defect detection: Early warnings to prevent issues.
- Root cause analysis: Identifies the source of problems.
- Failure prediction: Proactively addresses potential failures.
Engineers can fine-tune models using their own fab data and deploy them in under two days—without writing code.
Competitive Edge
While competitors include in-house engineering teams and startups like Landing.ai and Robovision, SixSense stands out with its user-friendly, AI-native approach.
Proven Results
SixSense’s platform is already in use at major manufacturers like GlobalFoundries and JCET, with:
- 100 million chips processed
- 30% faster production cycles
- 1-2% boost in yield
- 90% reduction in manual inspection work
The system is compatible with inspection equipment covering over 60% of the global market.
Expanding Globally
With geopolitical tensions reshaping chip manufacturing, SixSense is expanding into the U.S., Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Israel. New facilities in these regions are particularly open to AI-native solutions.
"We’re already based in the region, and many new facilities are starting fresh—without legacy systems. That makes them far more open to AI-native approaches like ours," Agarwal explains.
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