Amar Gopal Bose was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to parents of Indian descent. His father, Noni Gopal Bose, was a physicist who had been imprisoned for his activism during the Indian independence movement. His mother was an American schoolteacher. This unique blend of scientific curiosity and social consciousness likely influenced Amar's later endeavors.

During World War II, when electrical components were scarce, the twelve year old Amar, displaying an early aptitude for electronics and entrepreneurship, started a radio repair shop in his family home. This experience provided him with practical skills and a fundamental understanding of electronics that would prove invaluable in his future career.