If you’ve watched a video on YouTube, streamed something on Netflix, or used a video doorbell, there’s a meaningful chance that Ittiam Systems’ codec technology was somewhere in the chain. This Bengaluru company is one of India’s genuine deep-tech success stories — building embedded media processing solutions that major semiconductor companies and device makers around the world rely on. They’re not a consumer brand, which is why most people haven’t heard of them, but in their world they’re very well known.
| Founded | 2001 |
| Founders | Srini Rajam & former Texas Instruments engineers |
| Headquarters | Bengaluru, Karnataka, India |
| Specialty | Embedded media processing, video codecs (H.265, AV1, VP9), AI video |
| Clients | Semiconductor companies, OTT platforms, security camera makers |
| Status | Active — growing AI/ML video processing division |
Who Owns Ittiam Systems?
Ittiam Systems is a privately held company founded in 2001 by Srini Rajam along with a group of colleagues who had previously worked at Texas Instruments’ India operations. Rajam serves as Chairman and has been the company’s most visible spokesperson throughout its history. Ittiam is structured as an employee-owned company with significant ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan) participation, which has helped it retain Bengaluru’s deep engineering talent in a fiercely competitive market. The company has received investment from Qualcomm Ventures among others, though the founding team retains control. Ittiam’s core business is building software and algorithm stacks for video codec processing (H.264, H.265/HEVC, VP9, AV1), image processing, and increasingly AI/ML-based video analytics — all running on embedded hardware in cameras, set-top boxes, drones, and IoT devices. Their clients include major semiconductor vendors who integrate Ittiam’s IP into their chip reference designs, and device OEMs across North America, Europe, Japan, and India. For another Bengaluru embedded-tech story, see who owns Cosmic Circuits. Ittiam’s capabilities are detailed at ittiam.com.
| Entity | Role | Ownership |
|---|---|---|
| Srini Rajam | Co-founder & Chairman | Significant stake (private) |
| Founding team & employees | Co-founders & ESOP holders | Substantial collective stake |
| Qualcomm Ventures | Strategic investor | Minority stake |
Key Milestones
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 2001 | Ittiam Systems founded in Bengaluru by Srini Rajam and TI alumni |
| 2003–2006 | Built H.264 codec stack; gained traction with semiconductor reference design clients |
| 2008 | Qualcomm Ventures invests; Ittiam expands into wireless video and HD processing |
| 2010–2013 | Expanded to VP8, VP9 codec support; entered video surveillance and IP camera market |
| 2015–2017 | Built H.265/HEVC and 360° video processing stacks for OTT and VR applications |
| 2018–2020 | Launched AI/ML-based video analytics division; edge AI for security cameras |
| 2022–2026 | AV1 codec development; expanded into drone video processing and automotive camera AI |
Leadership
Srini Rajam founded Ittiam and has served as its Chairman since inception. His leadership philosophy of deep technical excellence and employee ownership has shaped the company’s culture. Ittiam has consistently appeared on India’s “best employers” lists for engineering talent, which is a significant achievement in Bengaluru’s hyper-competitive tech market.
My Take on Ittiam Systems
Ittiam is the kind of company I wish got more coverage in India’s tech media. Every time someone talks about Indian IT, they mean services outsourcing. Ittiam is not that — it’s deep product engineering, algorithm development, codec research. These are the same kinds of companies that make the Silicon Valley ecosystem work, and India has produced one right here in Bengaluru. The ESOP-heavy model is a smart choice for a company that competes on engineering talent — it means the best engineers aren’t just employees, they’re owners. And Qualcomm investing isn’t just validation; it’s a signal that Ittiam’s work is genuinely best-in-class for the semiconductor reference design world. This company should be a case study in every Indian engineering college.
