CMF by Nothing has announced a significant expansion of its partnership with Optiemus Group, aiming to establish India's first full-stack, end-to-end smartphone research and development (R&D) capability. This strategic move is poised to transform India's role in the global smartphone supply chain, moving beyond manufacturing to encompass technology development and exports.
Under the enhanced agreement, Optiemus will join Nothing's upcoming Series A investment round for the CMF brand. This investment is expected to pave the way for CMF to evolve into a majority Indian-owned, independent smartphone brand, with products conceptualized, designed, and engineered entirely in India for international markets.
Building India's Full-Stack Smartphone R&D
The partnership builds upon a manufacturing joint venture established by Nothing and Optiemus in September 2025, which positioned India as a key production hub for both Nothing and CMF products. The new phase of collaboration will intensely focus on cultivating local R&D and engineering capabilities.
CMF plans to concentrate its efforts across several critical areas, including industrial design, mechanical engineering, camera engineering, software engineering, connectivity engineering, and component engineering. This comprehensive approach means the company will be involved in every aspect of smartphone development, from aesthetic design and hardware architecture to advanced camera systems, software interfaces, and core components.
India's Talent and Market Potential
Carl Pei, CEO of Nothing, highlighted India's unique advantages, citing its abundant engineering talent, robust consumer market, and established manufacturing base as essential ingredients for building a global technology business. He affirmed that CMF will leverage Nothing's extensive experience in developing cutting-edge design, software, and engineering capabilities within India.
A key aspect of this expanded partnership is the commitment to local intellectual property (IP) creation. Any IP developed through this new R&D setup will be held locally, ensuring that products are genuinely designed and engineered in India, rather than merely assembled. CMF is also dedicated to nurturing a local ecosystem of engineering talent, suppliers, and product development expertise.
"India has the engineering talent, consumer market and manufacturing base needed to build a global technology business." – Carl Pei, CEO of Nothing.
Founded by Nothing in 2023, CMF has rapidly expanded its presence, currently selling products in over 40 countries. In India, the brand has demonstrated impressive growth, with volumes increasing by 83% year-on-year in 2025, according to Counterpoint Research.