Neuronova, a Milan-based deep tech startup focused on sustainable innovation, has raised €1.5 million in pre-seed funding to drive a breakthrough in energy-efficient AI chips. This funding will fuel the development of Neuronova's ultra-low-power processor, a groundbreaking technology that reduces energy consumption by 1000x, allowing AI to run on battery-powered smart devices and sensors.

Neuronova’s AI Processor Tackling Sustainability Challenges

In 2023, global sales of smart devices, including wearables and IoT-connected devices, reached nearly two billion units, highlighting the growing demand for more efficient technologies. As this market expands, relying on centralized cloud infrastructure is increasingly unsustainable due to high energy consumption, environmental impact, and rising costs. Neuronova's processor tackles this issue by enabling AI at the edge, shifting from centralized processing to energy-efficient, embedded solutions within smart devices. It is thus possible to reduce congestion on the cloud infrastructure while simultaneously enabling otherwise unfeasible real-time processing applications, ranging from seamless interaction with AI voice assistants to advanced medical devices.

With this round led by 360 Capital and Tech4Planet, The Technology Transfer Hub the for Environmental Sustainability established at the initiative of CDP Venture Capital, Neuronova will expand its team, prioritize R&D, and develop the design and production of the first processor prototype. This milestone underscores the startup’s mission to make AI more sustainable and scalable, fostering intelligent adoption of advanced technologies across sectors from consumer electronics to IoT nodes, unlocking new devices and business models.

The Game-Changing Technology Bringing AI Everywhere

Founded by three Ph.D. engineers in neuromorphic computing, Neuronova is emerging as a leader in energy-efficient AI solutions, answering the rising demand from top smart device manufacturers. Leveraging technology that emulates brain function directly at the hardware level, Neuronova’s approach involves neurons and synapses as physical structures embedded in silicon. This design enables AI processing in a way that mirrors biological systems, achieving up to 1,000 times lower energy consumption than current solutions, all within a compact 3mm x 3mm chip optimized for high-volume product integration.

Neuronova’s prototype processor, debuting next year, will showcase its AI task-solving capabilities setting new market standards. The strategic positioning of this technology has already garnered interest from leading smart device companies, some of which are closely collaborating with Neuronova to integrate this breakthrough processor into their products.

"Our mission at Neuronova is to revolutionize AI scalability through sustainable technology that empowers devices to do more with less energy," said Alessandro Milozzi, CEO & Co-Founder of Neuronova. "This funding brings us one step closer to revolutionizing the AI & data processing infrastructure, enabling a new generation of smart devices and sensors."

"Effectively embedding intelligence in everyday devices is one of today's key technological challenges. We believe that Neuronova's pragmatic, brain-inspired approach is the answer, and that it will unlock the huge mass-market potential of neuromorphic computing," says Alessandro Zaccaria, Partner a 360 Capital.

"Our investment in this groundbreaking neuromorphic chip technology reflects our commitment to driving sustainable innovation" said Claudia Pingue, Senior Partner and Head of Technology Transfer Fund of CDP Venture Capital “Neuronova’s chip has the potentiality to reduce energy consumption on AI powered sensor and devices by a factor of 1,000 and could represent a strategic solution to one of the biggest challenges in AI sustainability”.