CIMware, a Bengaluru-based deep-tech infrastructure startup pioneering the next generation of high-performance data centre technology, has raised $2.3 million in a pre-Series A funding round led by Transition VC.
The funds raised will be used to develop a networking smart switch, expand the company’s software engineering team, and cover day-to-day operational expenses.
Founded in 2019 by Rajiv Ganth, CIMware is developing next next-generation top-of-the-rack smart network switch that enables data centers to become smart, scalable, and sustainable. Its flagship product, Composable Infrastructure Module (CIM), is the world’s first smart switch that converges compute, storage, and networking into a single, ultra-efficient, rack-level unit.
Developed in India and backed by multiple patents, CIMware is purpose-built for the modern workloads, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), social media, video streaming, that are overwhelming traditional data centres.
With a global market opportunity of $100 billion, CIMware expects to capture 25% of its serviceable market within the first four to five years. By 2026–27, it targets a top line of $175 million, with plans for an initial public offering (IPO) in the next five to six years.
Rajiv Ganth, said, “Today’s data centres are increasingly constrained by power availability, physical space, and outdated architecture. With AI and large language models (LLMs) generating exponential compute and bandwidth demands, legacy infrastructure cannot keep up. CIMware’s solution enables infrastructure to scale without multiplying cost or carbon footprint. It slashes total cost of ownership by 80 per cent through smarter power draw, reduced latency, and modular upgrades, making it ideal for both greenfield and brownfield deployments across colocation, private, public cloud, and on-premise ecosystems.”
Raiyaan Shingati, co-founder and managing partner, Transition VC, said, “As AI advances, the world’s compute needs are growing exponentially, and so is the energy consumed by data centres. CIMware is tackling this head-on by making data centre infrastructure dramatically more efficient, with the potential of reducing energy consumption by up to 80 per cent. We believe that if anyone can solve this critical challenge from India, it is Rajiv Ganth, a rare combination of deep-tech expertise and relentless execution.”
Shoeb Ali, co-founder and managing partner, Transition VC, said, “Data centres have become increasingly power- and energy-hungry due to the rising demand for AI and data-intensive applications. They face challenges related to physical space, power supply, and outdated infrastructure. CIMWare’s solution addresses these issues by requiring fewer CPUs compared to current approaches, specifically, one CPU for every four servers. This innovative solution reduces capital expenditures (capex) by 66 per cent and lowers energy consumption by 25 per cent, ultimately decreasing the carbon footprint of data centres.”
