Bengaluru-based startup Maieutic Semiconductor is leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to automate the traditionally manual process of analog chip design, introducing a digital assistant aimed at accelerating hardware development for AI-driven applications.
The company has secured $6 million in seed funding led by Japan’s University of Tokyo Edge Capital Partners (UTEC), with participation from Endiya Partners and Exfinity Venture Partners.
Maieutic CEO Gireesh Rajendran announced that early customer trials of the company’s generative AI-powered virtual assistant are expected to begin by March 2026, followed by a wider commercial rollout. The initial phase will focus on global chipmakers with design centres in India and Japanese semiconductor firms, several of which are already in discussion with Maieutic to adopt the platform.
AI to Simplify Analog Design Complexity
Unlike digital chip design—which has long benefited from automation via electronic design automation (EDA) tools from global players such as Synopsys, Cadence Design Systems, and Siemens EDA—analog and mixed-signal design remains largely dependent on manual engineering expertise. These chips, which process real-world continuous signals like sound and temperature, demand intricate transistor-level adjustments to ensure accuracy and stability.
AI Copilot for Chip Engineers
Ashish Lachhwani, Chief Business Officer at Maieutic, explained that the company’s AI copilot integrates seamlessly with existing design software, acting as an intelligent assistant for engineers. Trained on publicly available datasets including patents and research papers, the system can interpret specifications, analyse circuit diagrams, and respond to design queries in natural language.
The assistant can further suggest alternative architectures, evaluate power–performance trade-offs, and automatically review designs for inconsistencies. According to Maieutic, the technology could reduce the analog design cycle by up to two-thirds, helping engineers accelerate innovation while maintaining data privacy through local deployment options.
The company’s AI-driven approach represents a significant step toward bridging the automation gap in analog chip design, positioning India as an emerging hub for semiconductor design innovation in the AI era.
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