India’s semiconductor ecosystem has taken a decisive leap forward with the unveiling of the HrdWyr Indus 1011 — a fully indigenous, high-volume chip designed and developed by semiconductor startup HrdWyr, in partnership with boAt, India’s leading audio wearables brand. With assembly, packaging, and testing led by Tata Electronics, the launch signals India’s strengthening capability across the entire semiconductor value chain.
What makes this breakthrough remarkable is boAt’s shift from working with international chipset makers to betting on a homegrown startup at the core semiconductor stage. As the first Indian audio wearables brand to do so, boAt is not only harnessing local innovation to differentiate its products but also demonstrating strategic foresight by championing India’s self-reliance in semiconductors.
The Indus 1011 — designed entirely in India — introduces intelligent battery management capabilities and will first appear in boAt’s premium TWS charging cases early next year. Beyond its immediate product impact, the chip reflects how consumer brands can become catalysts for deep-tech innovation, localisation, and capability building in India.
This collaboration is pioneering in structure: boAt brought market insights and user needs, while HrdWyr translated them into silicon, creating new IPs optimised for low power, high performance, and reliability through data-first design principles. By acting as the lead customer, boAt gave HrdWyr the platform and scale to innovate for global relevance.
Closing the loop, Tata Electronics ensured end-to-end execution within India — from design and IP creation to assembly and testing. Together, the trio showcases a model that aligns with the government’s vision of Viksit Bharat, Atmanirbhar Bharat, and national initiatives like Make in India, Digital India, and the India Semiconductor Mission.
Commenting on the milestone, Sameer Mehta, Co-founder and CEO of boAt, said:
“boAt has always believed in Make in India and in pushing boundaries of innovation. By taking this first-mover step with HrdWyr, we’re proving that product differentiation starts at the chip level — and it can be achieved right here in India.”
Ramamurthy Sivakumar, Co-founder and CEO of HrdWyr, added:
“Semiconductors and AI are the foundation of modern economies. Strategic autonomy in semiconductor innovation is vital for India. This milestone demonstrates that Indian startups can design world-class semiconductor products and IP, and with boAt’s trust and Tata Electronics’ support, we’re ready to scale globally.”
This partnership is more than a product launch — it’s a defining proof point of India’s semiconductor ambitions. By daring to be the first to embrace a homegrown chip, boAt has set a precedent for consumer–startup collaboration, accelerating India’s journey toward deep-tech self-reliance and positioning Indian innovation on the global stage.
