Makr Microsystems Raises ₹10.2 Crore to Develop Nanoscale Semiconductor Metrology Technology
Bengaluru-based semiconductor metrology startup Makr Microsystems has raised ₹10.2 crore in a seed funding round led by Bluehill VC, with participation from Artha Venture Fund, as it develops technology capable of measuring hidden structures and defects beneath the surface of advanced semiconductor devices.
The company plans to use the fresh capital for technology development, customer validation and progress toward commercial deployment with semiconductor manufacturers.
Makr is developing nanoscale three-dimensional subsurface metrology products based on technologies including Acoustic Atomic Force Microscopy, optical tomography and 3D data analytics software.
Its systems are designed to address one of the increasingly difficult challenges in semiconductor manufacturing: inspecting structures buried beneath multiple material layers without damaging the device being analysed.
The company's initial target applications include advanced semiconductor packaging, hybrid bonding, buried interfaces, chiplet interconnects and defect detection, all of which are becoming more important as chip architectures move toward increasingly complex three-dimensional designs.
The funding also highlights growing investor interest in Indian semiconductor startups operating deeper in the chip value chain, including manufacturing equipment, instrumentation, measurement and specialised process technologies.
Bluehill VC Leads ₹10.2 Crore Seed Round
Makr Microsystems has raised:
₹10.2 crore
in seed capital.
The round was led by frontier-technology investor:
Bluehill VC.
Artha Venture Fund also participated.
The financing provides Makr with early institutional capital as it moves from research and product development toward customer validation and eventual commercial deployment.
For semiconductor-equipment startups, that transition can be particularly demanding.
Customers need to be confident not only that a technology works in laboratory conditions but that it can perform reliably within sophisticated manufacturing environments.
Funding Will Support Three Key Priorities
Makr intends to deploy the funding across three primary areas:
-
technology development;
-
customer validation;
-
commercial development and deployment.
Each stage is critical for a semiconductor instrumentation company.
Developing a scientific prototype is only the beginning.
The company must then prove that its measurements are repeatable, useful to semiconductor manufacturers and capable of integrating into existing process-development or production workflows.
Commercial deployment can require further engineering around:
automation,
software,
reliability,
throughput,
calibration,
and customer support.
What Does Makr Microsystems Do?
Makr Microsystems is developing:
nanoscale 3D subsurface metrology technology.
Semiconductor metrology refers to the science and technology used to measure extremely small features during chip manufacturing.
These measurements help manufacturers determine whether:
structures have been fabricated correctly,
layers have the required dimensions,
interfaces are aligned,
and defects are present.
As chip geometries become smaller and semiconductor structures become more complex, metrology becomes increasingly important to maintaining manufacturing yield.
Makr Wants to See Beneath Semiconductor Surfaces
A central challenge in modern semiconductor manufacturing is that important structures are no longer always directly visible from the surface.
They may be buried beneath:
metal layers,
dielectric materials,
bonded interfaces,
packaging structures,
or other semiconductor features.
Conventional surface inspection may therefore provide only part of the information engineers need.
Makr is developing technology intended to reveal and measure what exists:
below the surface.
The goal is to perform that analysis without physically cutting apart or destroying the device.
Acoustic Atomic Force Microscopy Is Core Technology
Makr's core technology is based around:
Acoustic Atomic Force Microscopy, or AAFM.
Atomic force microscopy already allows extremely small surface features to be analysed using a scanning probe.
Makr's approach combines that capability with:
acoustic sensing.
Acoustic waves can propagate through materials and carry information about structures beneath the surface.
By combining probe-based microscopy with acoustic signals, Makr aims to obtain information that conventional surface-only measurement techniques may not reveal.
AAFM Could Enable Non-Destructive Subsurface Analysis
The major potential benefit is:
non-destructive inspection.
Some semiconductor analysis techniques require samples to be:
cut,
polished,
sectioned,
or otherwise altered.
Destructive analysis can provide highly detailed information, but the sample can no longer be used afterward.
It can also make routine production inspection difficult.
A reliable non-destructive technique could allow chipmakers to examine buried structures while leaving devices substantially intact.
That could be valuable for:
process development,
failure analysis,
quality control,
and yield improvement.
Optical Tomography Forms Another Technology Layer
Makr is also developing capabilities involving:
optical tomography.
Tomographic techniques reconstruct internal information from multiple measurements rather than relying on a single surface image.
The principle is familiar from medical imaging, although semiconductor applications operate at radically different scales and use different physical methods.
Combining multiple measurement techniques can provide a richer understanding of complex semiconductor structures.
Makr's broader platform therefore goes beyond one microscopy instrument.
3D Data Analytics Software Completes Platform
The company is also building:
3D data analytics software.
Measurement hardware produces large quantities of raw data.
That information needs to be reconstructed, processed and interpreted before engineers can use it effectively.
Software can help transform sensor signals into:
three-dimensional representations,
dimensional measurements,
defect maps,
and process insights.
This combination of instrumentation and analytics could become strategically important because semiconductor manufacturers increasingly require not just images but actionable process data.
Advanced Packaging Is an Initial Target Market
One of Makr's main applications is:
advanced semiconductor packaging.
Modern semiconductor performance is no longer driven solely by shrinking individual transistor dimensions.
Chipmakers are increasingly combining multiple semiconductor dies within sophisticated packages.
These configurations can improve:
performance,
memory bandwidth,
power efficiency,
and system flexibility.
But advanced packaging also creates new measurement challenges.
Many critical structures are located beneath surfaces or between interconnected components.
Hybrid Bonding Creates New Inspection Challenges
Another target application is:
hybrid bonding.
Hybrid bonding connects semiconductor components using extremely fine metal and dielectric interfaces.
It is becoming increasingly important for:
3D integration,
chip stacking,
advanced memory,
and high-performance computing.
The process requires exceptionally precise alignment and interface quality.
Small defects or voids can affect electrical connectivity and manufacturing yield.
Because the bonding interface may be buried between two semiconductor components, subsurface metrology can become especially valuable.
Chiplets Increase Measurement Complexity
Makr also sees applications in:
chiplet interconnects.
Chiplets allow semiconductor designers to combine multiple specialised dies within one system.
Instead of manufacturing one enormous monolithic chip, companies can integrate separate components optimised for different functions.
This architecture is increasingly important for:
AI processors,
high-performance computing,
and advanced data-centre hardware.
But every additional interconnection introduces potential manufacturing defects.
Reliable measurement becomes essential.
Buried Interfaces Are Difficult to Inspect
Semiconductor devices contain many interfaces between different materials.
As device architectures become three-dimensional, more of those interfaces are buried beneath other layers.
Problems at an interface can include:
voids,
delamination,
alignment errors,
contamination,
and bonding defects.
Surface inspection may not detect these issues directly.
Makr's technology is being designed specifically around the need to characterise these hidden regions.
Defect Detection Can Directly Affect Manufacturing Yield
Defect detection is one of the most economically important parts of semiconductor manufacturing.
Chip fabrication involves hundreds or even thousands of individual process steps.
A small defect introduced during one stage can cause the finished device to fail.
If defects are discovered only late in the manufacturing process, substantial time and money may already have been spent on the affected wafer or package.
Earlier and more accurate detection can therefore improve:
yield,
cost efficiency,
and process control.
Semiconductor Yield Has Enormous Economic Importance
Yield refers to the percentage of manufactured devices that meet required specifications.
Even modest improvements in yield can have substantial financial implications at semiconductor factories.
Advanced chips are expensive to manufacture.
As processes become more complicated, identifying why individual dies fail becomes increasingly difficult.
Metrology equipment helps engineers understand whether manufacturing steps are operating within extremely narrow tolerances.
This makes measurement technology a fundamental component of semiconductor economics.
Chip Architecture Is Becoming More Three-Dimensional
The semiconductor industry has historically relied heavily on transistor miniaturisation.
But continued performance improvements increasingly involve:
stacking,
advanced packaging,
chiplets,
and three-dimensional integration.
This shifts critical structures away from flat, easily accessible surfaces.
The manufacturing challenge consequently changes from simply measuring surface dimensions to understanding entire three-dimensional structures.
That trend directly supports Makr's subsurface-metrology thesis.
AI Chips Increase Demand for Advanced Packaging
The rapid development of artificial-intelligence computing is also accelerating advanced semiconductor packaging.
High-performance AI systems often combine:
logic processors,
high-bandwidth memory,
and specialised interconnect technologies.
These architectures demand extremely high data-transfer rates.
Advanced packaging enables components to be placed much closer together.
However, greater integration increases the number of interfaces that manufacturers must inspect.
AI hardware growth could therefore indirectly drive demand for more sophisticated semiconductor metrology.
Semiconductor Metrology Is a Specialised Global Market
Metrology sits within the semiconductor manufacturing-equipment industry.
It is a highly specialised field requiring expertise across:
physics,
materials science,
optics,
mechanical engineering,
electronics,
software,
and semiconductor manufacturing.
Customers are typically demanding because measurement errors can translate directly into manufacturing problems.
The sector is therefore difficult for new entrants.
But those same barriers can create valuable intellectual property for companies that develop differentiated technology.
Makr Is Targeting a Deep Layer of Semiconductor Value Chain
Bluehill VC has positioned its investment in Makr as part of a strategy of moving deeper into the semiconductor value chain.
Much public attention around semiconductors focuses on:
chip design,
fabrication plants,
and AI processors.
But a functioning semiconductor industry also depends on:
manufacturing tools,
measurement equipment,
specialised materials,
testing systems,
packaging technologies,
and process-control software.
Without these supporting layers, semiconductor factories cannot produce advanced chips reliably.
India Wants More Domestic Semiconductor Technology
India's semiconductor strategy has created increasing interest in building domestic capabilities beyond chip design.
The country is attracting investments across:
fabrication,
assembly,
testing,
packaging,
materials,
and equipment ecosystems.
Developing Indian intellectual property in semiconductor tools could strengthen this broader supply chain.
A company such as Makr is therefore relevant even if it never manufactures chips itself.
Its technology could help manufacturers measure and improve how chips are produced.
Semiconductor Equipment Is Difficult to Localise
Building semiconductor manufacturing equipment is particularly challenging.
Customers require:
extreme precision,
high reliability,
repeatable measurements,
and long-term technical support.
Equipment may need to function continuously inside expensive fabrication facilities.
Replacing an established supplier with an unproven startup therefore carries substantial risk for chipmakers.
Makr will need extensive customer validation before large-scale deployment becomes realistic.
Customer Validation Will Be Critical Milestone
This is why part of the ₹10.2 crore funding is specifically being allocated to:
customer validation.
A semiconductor manufacturer will typically want to test whether the technology can solve a meaningful process problem.
Validation may involve comparing Makr's results against:
existing measurement tools,
known reference samples,
destructive analysis,
or other metrology methods.
Accuracy is not enough.
Customers may also evaluate:
measurement speed,
repeatability,
ease of use,
and integration with manufacturing workflows.
Commercialisation Could Take Time
Deep-tech companies often require longer development cycles than conventional software startups.
A consumer application can sometimes launch after a few months of development.
Semiconductor instrumentation may require years of:
research,
prototype development,
testing,
calibration,
customer trials,
and hardware refinement.
The ₹10.2 crore round should therefore be viewed as early-stage technology capital rather than funding for immediate large-scale commercial expansion.
The key next step will be demonstrating that Makr's technology works reliably in real semiconductor applications.
Founder Ashwin Lal Brings Semiconductor Experience
Makr Microsystems is led by founder and chief executive:
Dr. Ashwin Lal.
Lal holds a master's degree in physics from:
IIT Kanpur
and a doctorate in microtechnology from:
EPFL in Switzerland.
His academic background is directly aligned with the high-precision scientific challenges involved in semiconductor metrology.
He also previously worked as an engineer at:
Applied Materials, one of the world's major semiconductor equipment companies.
Lal Previously Founded Shilps Sciences
Before Makr Microsystems, Lal founded:
Shilps Sciences.
His broader experience combines:
research,
engineering,
entrepreneurship,
and semiconductor technology.
Such technical founder backgrounds are common in deep-tech companies because the underlying intellectual property often emerges from specialised scientific expertise rather than conventional consumer-market insight.
Commercial success, however, will also require Makr to build capabilities around sales, manufacturing and customer support.
Team Covers Multiple Engineering Disciplines
Makr's wider team includes expertise across areas such as:
semiconductor metrology,
atomic force microscopy,
scanning probe systems,
MEMS,
embedded systems,
scientific instrumentation,
and data science.
That multidisciplinary approach is important.
A semiconductor metrology platform cannot be built through software alone.
It requires integration between:
physical sensors,
precision mechanics,
electronics,
control systems,
and analytics.
The ability to combine these components into a reliable commercial system will be central to Makr's development.
Bluehill VC Focuses on Frontier Technologies
Lead investor Bluehill VC is a frontier-technology-focused venture capital firm.
Its investment areas include:
semiconductors,
defence,
space,
energy,
and advanced materials.
These sectors frequently require longer development timelines and more technical risk than conventional software investments.
Bluehill's decision to back Makr therefore reflects a deliberate strategy of investing in difficult technology problems with potentially global applications.
Bluehill Recently Closed ₹400 Crore Maiden Fund
The investment comes shortly after Bluehill VC announced the final close of its maiden fund at:
₹400 crore.
The fund provides Bluehill with additional capacity to invest in Indian deep-tech companies.
Semiconductor technology is one of its stated focus areas.
The Makr transaction demonstrates how part of that capital is moving toward companies that build critical enabling technologies rather than only finished semiconductor products.
Artha Venture Fund Participates in Round
Artha Venture Fund also participated in Makr's seed financing.
Its participation gives the startup an additional institutional investor as it enters a capital-intensive product-development phase.
Early-stage deep-tech companies can benefit from having investors capable of supporting longer development periods.
The path from laboratory technology to commercial semiconductor equipment can require multiple funding rounds.
Strong investor alignment can therefore become important.
Makr's Opportunity Could Be Global
Although Makr is based in Bengaluru, the market for semiconductor metrology is global.
Chip manufacturing is concentrated across major semiconductor ecosystems including:
Taiwan,
South Korea,
the United States,
Japan,
Europe,
China,
and parts of Southeast Asia.
If Makr develops technology that solves a genuinely difficult manufacturing problem, potential customers would not be limited to India.
This is one of the attractions of semiconductor deep tech.
A specialised product developed in India can address the same fundamental manufacturing challenge faced by chipmakers worldwide.
India Can Build Semiconductor IP Without Owning Leading Fabs
Makr also illustrates an important point about semiconductor industrial development.
A country does not need to dominate advanced chip fabrication before creating valuable semiconductor technology companies.
Opportunities also exist in:
software,
equipment,
materials,
inspection,
packaging,
testing,
and design tools.
These segments can generate intellectual property and export revenue.
For India's semiconductor ambitions, building capabilities across these supporting layers could be as important over the long term as attracting fabrication facilities.
Metrology Equipment Has High Barriers to Entry
Successful semiconductor metrology companies can benefit from substantial barriers to entry.
Once a tool is validated within a production environment, switching equipment can create:
technical risk,
workflow disruption,
and additional qualification costs.
Customers therefore tend to value reliability and proven performance.
This can create durable relationships for equipment suppliers.
The challenge for Makr is reaching that initial point of qualification.
Intellectual Property Could Become Core Asset
Makr describes its technology as based on original intellectual property involving acoustic subsurface imaging.
If the technology proves commercially effective, that intellectual property could become the company's most important strategic asset.
Deep-tech businesses often derive competitive advantage from:
patents,
proprietary algorithms,
specialised hardware,
and accumulated process knowledge.
Unlike easily replicated software features, scientific instrumentation may require years of engineering expertise to reproduce.
That can create stronger technical defensibility.
Commercial Equipment Must Balance Resolution and Speed
One major challenge in semiconductor metrology is balancing:
measurement resolution
with:
throughput.
A scientific instrument may produce extraordinarily detailed images but require too much time to examine each sample.
Manufacturing environments operate at scale.
Customers therefore need equipment that provides useful information quickly enough to support practical production decisions.
Makr's commercial success will depend not merely on seeing beneath semiconductor structures but doing so at a speed and cost acceptable to customers.
Accuracy and Repeatability Are Equally Important
A measurement tool must also be:
accurate
and:
repeatable.
If the same structure produces significantly different readings each time, the equipment has limited value for process control.
Semiconductor manufacturers work within extremely tight tolerances.
Equipment suppliers therefore need sophisticated calibration and quality-control systems.
Moving from prototype to production-grade instrumentation requires substantial engineering around these details.
Integration With Existing Factory Systems Matters
Modern semiconductor facilities are highly automated.
Metrology tools may need to exchange information with:
process equipment,
manufacturing execution systems,
data analytics platforms,
and quality-control software.
This means hardware companies increasingly need strong software capabilities.
Makr's investment in 3D analytics could help support that requirement.
Over time, the value of the platform may come not only from measuring structures but also from helping manufacturers interpret the resulting data.
Software Could Create Recurring Value Layer
Semiconductor equipment businesses traditionally generate substantial revenue from hardware and servicing.
Software and analytics can add another layer.
If customers use Makr's algorithms to:
reconstruct subsurface structures,
identify defects,
compare measurements,
and monitor process changes,
the software could become increasingly embedded within manufacturing workflows.
That creates potential for more recurring commercial relationships alongside equipment sales.
Makr Was Recognised by SEMI Programme
Makr has previously been selected for the SEMI Startups for Sustainable Semiconductors programme, placing it among a global group of semiconductor startups recognised by the industry organisation.
Such programmes can provide young companies with exposure to:
equipment manufacturers,
chip companies,
investors,
and ecosystem partners.
For a company seeking customer validation, semiconductor-industry access can be particularly valuable.
The commercial challenge remains converting technical recognition into production deployments.
Applied Materials Connection Is Notable
Makr has also presented its solutions within the ecosystem around Applied Ventures, the venture investment arm associated with Applied Materials.
That interaction is significant because Applied Materials is one of the world's leading semiconductor manufacturing-equipment companies.
Industry exposure can help a startup understand:
customer requirements,
equipment qualification,
manufacturing economics,
and commercial expectations.
It does not guarantee commercial adoption, but it can accelerate learning.
India Deep-Tech Funding Is Broadening
The Makr investment also fits into a broader expansion of Indian deep-tech venture funding.
Investors are increasingly backing startups working on:
semiconductors,
space,
defence technology,
robotics,
advanced materials,
and industrial hardware.
These businesses generally take longer to mature than consumer internet companies.
They may also require more capital before generating significant revenue.
However, successful deep-tech companies can build defensible technology with international markets.
Semiconductor Funding Requires Patient Capital
Patient capital is especially important in semiconductor equipment.
The development cycle may involve:
scientific uncertainty,
hardware iterations,
customer testing,
and long procurement cycles.
Revenue may emerge much later than in software businesses.
Investors therefore need to evaluate technical milestones rather than only short-term revenue.
Makr's ₹10.2 crore seed round gives it additional runway to achieve those milestones.
Commercial Deployment Will Be Next Major Test
The most important milestone following the funding will be:
commercial customer deployment.
The company needs to move beyond demonstrating scientific feasibility.
It must prove that semiconductor manufacturers are willing to integrate and pay for the technology.
Early deployments can provide critical information about:
performance,
product design,
customer workflows,
and support requirements.
They can also serve as reference customers for future sales.
Success Could Strengthen India's Semiconductor Equipment Ecosystem
If Makr succeeds, its significance could extend beyond the startup itself.
India currently has much greater visibility in semiconductor design than in advanced manufacturing equipment.
Building domestic expertise in metrology could contribute to a broader equipment ecosystem.
That ecosystem could eventually include:
inspection,
process tools,
testing,
automation,
and specialised scientific instruments.
Such capabilities would deepen India's participation in the global semiconductor supply chain.
Conclusion
Makr Microsystems' ₹10.2 crore seed funding round led by Bluehill VC, with participation from Artha Venture Fund, represents an early but important investment in India's emerging semiconductor-equipment and metrology ecosystem.
The Bengaluru-based startup is developing nanoscale three-dimensional subsurface metrology technology designed to help chipmakers inspect and measure structures hidden beneath semiconductor surfaces without damaging the device.
Its platform combines Acoustic Atomic Force Microscopy, optical tomography and 3D data analytics, with initial applications across advanced packaging, hybrid bonding, chiplet interconnects, buried interfaces and defect detection.
These technologies are becoming increasingly relevant as semiconductor architecture moves toward more complex three-dimensional structures, particularly in AI and high-performance computing.
Makr will use the new capital for technology development, customer validation and progress toward commercial deployment.
The scientific opportunity is significant, but semiconductor equipment is a demanding market. The company must demonstrate not only high-resolution imaging but also the accuracy, repeatability, speed and reliability required by chip manufacturers.
If Makr succeeds in converting its subsurface imaging technology into production-grade equipment, it could help establish an Indian presence in one of the semiconductor industry's most specialised and strategically important technology layers.