Quadric, a chip-IP startup, was founded by veterans from the early bitcoin mining firm 21E6. Today, they’re on the leading edge of the cutting or breakthrough edge of the artificial intelligence (AI) sector. The company’s mission is to change the way the world thinks about AI technology with a shift from cumbersome cloud-based solutions to powerful, efficient on-device inference systems. Quadric’s cutting-edge technology was originally born out of automotive. Now, it’s branching out into new markets including laptops and industrial devices, further proving its versatility and incredible potential.
Quadric was created by technology leaders in the high-performance computing space. They’re using their proprietary programmable technology to plug customers in to powering next-gen AI models with simple software updates. This capability prevents the need for expensive hardware reconfiguration to a large extent, making it extremely appealing for industries such as defense. The company’s clients include prominent names such as Kyocera and Denso, Japan’s leading auto supplier that manufactures chips for Toyota vehicles.
Originally targeting the automotive space Quadric’s on-device AI solutions improve real-time features such as driver assistance. This foundational technology is an incredible first step that shows Quadric’s long-term vision of delivering time-saving, real-world value for users on every platform possible.
Quadric now has some close to 70 people working around the world. Approximately 40 of them are American, and about 10 are Indian. The company has taken important strides to position themselves for international expansion! The firm’s post-money valuation has since surged to between $270 million and $300 million. That’s an incredible jump from just around $100 million following its Series B round in 2022. With an upcoming announcement, Quadric is clearly accelerating its growth path even further. They closed a mammoth $30 million Series C funding round led by ACCELERATE Fund and managed by BEENEXT Capital Management. This new investment doubles the startup’s funding to $72 million.
Quadric’s licensing revenues show encouraging progress. The company has announced expected licensing revenue of $15-$20 million for 2025. This is a huge jump from the $4 million they made in 2024. This increase reflects the growing adoption of Quadric’s programmable AI processor IP, which serves as a “blueprint” that customers can integrate into their silicon designs.
It has built an equally impressive software stack and toolchain in the process. This new technology is making it possible for AI models spanning computer vision use cases to voice recognition to run locally on devices. Such capabilities will be essential, as industries from transportation to defense to maritime continue their evolution toward more autonomous and intelligent systems.
Beyond its current major clients, Quadric is going after new partnerships, including work with the governments of India and Malaysia. The firm has Moglix CEO Rahul Garg as a strategic investor. His experience has been a guiding force in determining Quadric’s go-to-market strategy in India. This “sovereign” strategy seeks to drive creative solutions to the specific needs of communities and spur additional innovation.
In fact, the first products that leverage Quadric’s technology are on track to ship later this year. Laptops will be the primary vehicle for this launch. Quadric is building its royalty-driven on-device AI business. This year, it expects to bring in as much as $35 million in revenue.
Quadric’s approach fundamentally changes how AI can be integrated into everyday devices. It changes the paradigm from working in the nebulous world of cloud computing to localized processing. “Nvidia is a strong platform for data-center AI,” noted Veerbhan Kheterpal, emphasizing the need for alternatives in the ever-evolving landscape of AI technology.
