RISC-V and beyond: GS Madhusudan at Incore Semiconductors on building India's chip industry future

GS Madhusudan, co-founder and CEO of Incore Semiconductors, says India’s chip ecosystem needs many more people who can conceive and market products.My guest in today’s episode is GS Madhusudan, Co-Founder and CEO of Incore Semiconductors, a company at the forefront of processor IP innovation in India. With nearly four decades of experience in the technology sector, Madhusudan has played a significant role in shaping India’s semiconductor landscape.Before co-founding Incore in 2018, he managed the Shakti processor project at IIT Madras, which helped build foundational expertise for commercial processor design in the country.Incore Semiconductors, incubated at the institute, emerged from this ecosystem, focusing on RISC-V architecture to offer customisable processor IP for applications ranging from consumer electronics to automotive and industrial settings.Under Madhusudan’s leadership, Incore is combining technical advancement with practical business strategies, offering solutions for secure, fault-tolerant, and AI-optimised processors. The company has developed a flexible SOC generator platform and collaborates with multiple foundries, supporting customers from IP licensing to product tape-out.Incore is backed by the well-known VC firm Peak XV Partners.Madhusudan remains an active advisor to government agencies. He emphasises the importance of talent development, marketing and product management, and practical deployment in India’s quest for a stronger presence in the global semiconductor market.