Inc42 released its October edition of 30 Startups To Watch, highlighting emerging ventures in AI, deeptech, and automation. Indian startups raised over $686 Mn across 104 deals in October. Despite regulatory scrutiny and a slight dip in funding, the list showcases innovative companies ranging from lunar infrastructure to consumer brands.
Inc42's October edition of '30 Startups To Watch' spotlights emerging ventures across AI, deeptech, automation and consumer tech, from lunar infrastructure to advanced imaging sensors
October was a month of contrasts for the Indian startup ecosystem. While AI, deeptech and advanced manufacturing continued to attract significant investor capital, a series of cybersecurity incidents and regulatory actions highlighted the risks and responsibilities that come with scaling digital businesses.
The month saw India's cybersecurity watchdog CERT-In flag unauthorised access to Indian organisations' live systems by AI agents under evaluation, alongside the use of agentic tools in financially motivated cyberattacks.
Digital trust company eMudhra faced a major security setback after researchers recovered eight weak private keys from publicly available certificates, prompting Google, Mozilla, Apple and Microsoft to distrust the affected certificates.
Meanwhile, IRDAI's proposed insurance commission caps raised concerns among distributors and brokers, with industry representatives warning of significant revenue and employment implications.
Together, these developments underscored the mounting compliance, data security and governance challenges confronting India's digital businesses.
Amid this, venture capital interest in the ecosystem took a slight hit. Indian startups raised over $686 Mn across 104 funding deals in October, down almost 10% MoM from September's $760.7 Mn. AI remained a major funding theme, while capital also flowed into spacetech, defence, semiconductors and industrial automation.
The public markets remained active, with four new-age tech companies making their debuts during the month. Zetwerk, Tonbo Imaging, Moneyview and Snapdeal parent AceVector made their market debuts, while Cult.fit and Atomberg received SEBI's approval for their respective IPOs.
Against this backdrop of funding momentum, public-market activity and growing regulatory scrutiny, Inc42 is back with the latest edition of its flagship '30 Startups To Watch' series, spotlighting early-stage ventures that stood out to us in October.
The cohort spans innovation in deeptech, automation and consumer tech, from AI evaluation platforms and autonomous systems to lunar infrastructure, advanced imaging sensors and new-age consumer brands.
With that said, here are the 30 startups that made the cut last month.
The 1970 Shop | A Cleaner Label For India's Traditional Snacks
Diwali and mindful eating rarely go hand in hand. Between boxes of mithai and endless servings of namkeen, even the most disciplined eaters find it difficult to resist.
While traditional snacks remain irresistible, many are made using refined flour, saturated oil, white sugar and other ingredients that health-conscious consumers increasingly seek to avoid.
Delhi-based The 1970 Shop is looking to offer an alternative with traditional Indian snacks made without added preservatives or acidity regulators.
Founded in July 2025 by Lalit, Manju and Vipul Mittal, along with Puruvi Poddar, the startup makes its products in-house, including flour milled using wheat, chana dal, ragi and jowar.
Its portfolio includes atta biscuits, thekua, dal kachori papdi and besan laddoos, made using ingredients such as desi ghee, groundnut oil, jaggery and desi khaand.
Selling through its website, Amazon and other channels, The 1970 Shop claims to have served over 50,000 customers.
The startup says it has more than doubled revenue over three months and achieved CM2 profitability. It is targeting an FY27 revenue run rate of ₹18 Cr and plans to increase monthly sales from 30 tonnes to 150 tonnes by 2028.
Archgen Labs | Using AI To Make Chip Design Efficient
As demand for AI computing pushes chipmakers towards increasingly complex semiconductor architectures, designing and testing these chips is becoming more challenging.
Three-dimensional (3D) chip stacking, which places multiple layers of computing components vertically to improve performance and reduce data-transfer delays, introduces additional engineering challenges, particularly around heat management, placement and timing. This is where San Francisco-based Archgen Labs sees an opportunity.
Founded in 2026 by Hariharan Ayappane and Naveen Venkat, Archgen Labs is developing AI-powered electronic design automation (EDA) tools for semiconductor engineers. Its flagship product, Newton, is an AI chip-design engineer that automates backend physical design tasks, including placement, routing, design-rule fixes and timing closure. Its LayerTherm tool analyses chip temperatures and claims to run around 5,000 times faster than conventional simulations in the company's benchmarks.
The opportunity is expanding alongside the semiconductor industry. Operating in the global EDA market, projected to reach $24.07 Bn by 2030, the startup's challenge will be integrating its tools into established engineering workflows and proving that its AI systems can reliably handle production-grade chip designs.
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Balisto Agritech | Taking Electric Farm Machines To India's Small Farmers
From preparing land to removing weeds, farming requires different machines for different tasks. For farmers, this means higher equipment costs, fuel expenses and dependence on manual labour.
Mumbai-based Balisto Agritech wants to simplify farm operations with a multipurpose electric machine that can perform several tasks.
Founded in 2024 by Aishwarya Ramakrishnan and Kedar Gokhale, the startup has developed Balisto 130 Pro, a 13 hp electric power tiller designed for land preparation, weeding, inter-cultivation, puddling and earthing up.
Powered by detachable batteries and three motors, the machine, priced between ₹2.5 Lakh and ₹3 Lakh, can be operated onboard or remotely. Its IoT connectivity enables machine monitoring and fault diagnosis. Balisto is also developing an autonomous version using GPS and sensors.
The startup claims to have sold over 30 machines, covering more than 600 acres of farmland, and generated cumulative sales exceeding ₹60 Lakh since June 2025. With India's agricultural machinery market projected to reach ₹2.72 Lakh Cr by 2034, according to IMARC Group, Balisto is betting on demand for affordable, multipurpose farm equipment.
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CosmoChute | Building The Foundation For Lunar Exploration
Popular discourse will have you believe that humanity is just a few years away from inhabiting the moon, with lunar deeds being sold online for ₹1,800 to ₹3,100 per acre. In reality, the infrastructure to colonise the moon is severely lacking and transporting specialised equipment and operating payloads on its surface remain expensive challenges.
CosmoChute is betting that these services can be turned into reusable infrastructure that multiple customers can share.
Founded in 2026 by rocket engineers Janhavi Gore, Amit Chowdhary and Dhruv Sangal, Ahmedabad-based Cosmochute is developing LEAP, a lunar mobility programme built around three systems: EPOC, a modular rover; OASYS, a payload-carrying trailer; and Cartridge, a system designed to protect payloads from extreme lunar temperatures.
The rover will remain on the Moon, transporting new payloads delivered through subsequent missions, while the other systems help carry, power and protect customer experiments.
Operating in the lunar rover and mobility vehicle market projected to reach $4.1 Bn by 2032, the startup believes that reusable planetary robotics can lower operating costs for lunar missions. Still in its early stages, Cosmochute plans to test development models in early 2027 and work towards flight qualification by 2028.
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CureMeAbroad | Simplifying Cross-Border Healthcare With AI
Medical tourism may not be as glamorous, but it is a booming industry. With patients increasingly travelling abroad for affordable treatment and shorter waiting times, the global market is projected to reach $286.1 Bn by 2030, with India accounting for $16.2 Bn, according to Fortune Business Insights.
However, navigating hospitals, treatment plans, travel arrangements and multiple agents can make seeking healthcare abroad a complicated affair.
Pune-based CureMeAbroad is looking to simplify this process through an AI-powered platform that helps patients discover and compare hospitals, obtain personalised treatment estimates and book consultations.
Founded in 2025 by Aditya Oza and Mikhail Bohra, the startup was inspired by their experience watching a pregnant family member struggle to navigate healthcare arrangements in North America.
Beyond hospital discovery, CureMeAbroad assists patients with clinical screening, visas, flights, accommodation and post-treatment follow-ups.
The startup claims to work with more than 400 hospital partners across nine treatment destinations and serve around 24,000 patients monthly. While its platform is free for patients, CureMeAbroad earns commissions from partner hospitals and margins on treatment packages.
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Cute Brains | Assistive Tech To Bridge Learning Gaps In Kids
Up to 15% of children worldwide struggle with learning disabilities like dyslexia and dysgraphia, making activities like reading, writing and spelling much more difficult. These issues often go unidentified in mainstream classrooms in India due to limited awareness and access to specialised assessment and learning support.
Delhi NCR-based Cute Brains is using technology to identify and support children with specific learning disabilities (SLD).
Founded in 2022 by Braj Bhushan, Manas Sinha and Gyan Prakash, Cute Brains is an IIT Kanpur-incubated startup working across behavioural and cognitive assessment, SLD screening and assistive learning tools. Its flagship product, the Assistive Application for Children with Dyslexia and Dysgraphia, is designed for schoolchildren in classes 1 to 5.
The touchscreen-based application combines visual and auditory feedback with haptic sensations and motor movements to help children learn and reproduce letters and words through tracing, puzzles and writing exercises.
The startup has already conducted pilots in partnership with government-run schools, and is planning for a commercial launch soon. It offers both individual subscriptions and bundled school services, which include teacher training and preliminary assessments.
Beyond its application, Cute Brains conducts awareness programmes, supports non-clinical school-based assessments and works with parents and teachers. It operates in India's special needs education market, projected to hit $5 Bn by 2030.
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dubdub | Turning The Endless Scroll Into A Game
Scrolling through endless videos and social media posts has become second nature for smartphone users. But what if the next swipe brought a puzzle to solve or a trivia question to answer instead? Bengaluru-based dubdub is betting that users will spend more time participating in content rather than simply watching it.
Founded in 2026 by Kaustubh Priye and Supan Shah, the startup offers bite-sized trivia, puzzles and mini-games through a swipe-based mobile app. Users can explore over 20 categories, including cricket, Bollywood, mythology and general knowledge.
AI-powered personalisation tailors challenges to individual interests, while social features allow users to compete with friends and compare scores. Dubdub claims to have crossed 20,000 downloads.
The startup is entering an Indian gaming market projected to grow from $1.5 Bn in 2025 to $3.2 Bn by 2030. However, in a crowded entertainment market, dubdub's challenge will be turning initial downloads into sustained engagement and finding a viable monetisation model.
Foundry | Rethinking India's Premium Home Appliance Market
India's home appliance market is crowded with established brands, but much of the competition still revolves around improving existing product categories through incremental upgrades. This is leaving a gap for those seeking more premium appliances that balance design and utility.
Beyond sleek designs and smart features, Gurugram-based Foundry is betting on proprietary technology and in-house engineering to carve out a space in this segment.
Founded by former Dyson India managing director Ankit Jain, Foundry is developing a range of premium home appliances that combines engineering expertise with industrial design and material innovation. The startup plans to begin with kitchen appliances before expanding into other categories across the home. Its first product range is scheduled to launch in 2027.
Jain brings over two decades of experience across consumer businesses, having previously worked at Nestlé, Walmart and 21st Century Fox before spending nine years at Dyson, which is a global leader in innovative home appliances.
His entry into the Indian household appliances market comes at a time when it is projected to reach $33.63 Bn by 2030. Foundry is targeting the premium end of this market, where consumers are increasingly looking for differentiated products and technology-led experiences.
In October 2026, Foundry raised ₹12 Cr. It plans to use the funds for technology development and product engineering. It will compete with new-age brands like Nush, Atomberg and Nester & Optimist, among others.
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Karta | AI Agents For Voice, Chat And WhatsApp
For banks and financial institutions, customer service calls rarely end with answering a question. A failed transaction, loan disbursal delay or foreclosure request can require an agent to verify details, retrieve information from multiple systems and complete several steps.
Bengaluru-based Karta AI is building voice agents to automate these complex interactions.
Founded in 2024 by Vijaypal Singh and Abhishek Kushwaha, Karta offers an omnichannel customer communication platform spanning voice, chat, email and WhatsApp. Its agents use a predictive context engine to understand customer intent, draw on institutional policies and previous interactions, and execute workflows across enterprise systems.
The startup claims to handle around 2 Mn customer conversations monthly across 25+ languages, with 10-12 paying customers, including PhonePe, Pine Labs, Bajaj and Aavas. Its agents resolve about 70% of borrower queries end-to-end, reducing the cost per query by nearly 50%, according to the company.
The startup is building its products in India's conversational AI market, estimated to grow to $3.7 Bn by 2033.
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Lorazzo | Bringing Design To Everyday Bathrooms And Kitchens
As Indian homes become increasingly Pinterest-inspired, kitchens and bathrooms are getting their share of the makeover. Yet, consumers still largely depend on contractors and offline retailers offering conventional fittings that prioritise utility and affordability over design.
Delhi-based Lorazzo is looking to change this with design-first, smart-tech-enabled kitchen and bathroom products.
Founded in 2024 by Jatin Luthra and Saurabh Gupta, the startup offers faucets, kitchen sinks, designer basins, sanitaryware and personal-hygiene products. Its portfolio includes Reflekt mirror cabinets, WOGO portable bidets and Lustr stainless steel sinks. It operates in India's bathroom and kitchen fittings market, projected to reach ₹48,300 Cr by FY29.
Lorazzo sells through its website and online marketplaces while building an offline network of distributors, retailers and experience centres. It is also exploring partnerships with builders and developers.
The startup claims to have tripled its business over three months, with over 100 dealers across NCR. Its recently launched sanitaryware range contributes 35% of revenue.
Having raised ₹15 Cr in a Sauce.vc-led round, Lorazzo plans to expand its portfolio and distribution network, targeting a ₹25 Cr revenue run rate in FY27. _________________________________________________________________
Lumov Health | Building An Indian Brand For Orthopaedic Recovery
Leaving the hospital doesn't always mean the end of treatment. For many patients, recovery continues for months, often requiring braces, compression supports and rehabilitation products. Yet, finding the right support can mean choosing between inexpensive generic products and costly imported alternatives.
Bengaluru-based Lumov Health wants to bridge this gap with orthopaedic support designed for Indian consumers. Founded in 2024 by Saumaric Dangwal and Ankit Gupta, the startup designs and manufactures products for post-surgical recovery, rehabilitation and everyday pain management.
Its portfolio includes knee and wrist braces, lumbar belts, compression stockings, insoles and hot-and-cold therapy products. Lumov works with orthopaedic specialists and physiotherapists to develop products suited to Indian anatomy and weather conditions. Its products have been developed in collaboration with specialists associated with hospitals such as Manipal, Apollo, Sakra and AIG.
The startup is targeting an Indian orthopaedic support market projected to reach $376.2 Mn by 2034. However, with established brands such as Tynor, Flamingo and Vissco already competing for customers, Lumov will need to build trust among doctors and patients to stand out.
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LW3 | Digital Passports For EV Batteries
An electric vehicle battery's journey doesn't end when it leaves the factory. From sourcing raw materials to recycling, tracking its lifecycle is becoming increasingly important for manufacturers, regulators and recyclers.
Guwahati-based LW3 wants to make this journey traceable through Digital Product Passports (DPPs), which maintain verifiable records of a product's lifecycle.
Founded in 2022 by Abhijit Pegu and Marungsha Swrang Brahma, the startup combines blockchain, AI, IoT integrations and post-quantum security to capture and authenticate supply-chain data.
Its flagship platform, BattMan, helps battery manufacturers track material origins, generate digital passports and manage regulatory compliance. LW3 is also targeting green hydrogen and e-fuel supply chains, where verifying product origins and carbon emissions is becoming important.
The startup has secured a three-year contract with an undisclosed two-wheeler manufacturer and operates two hydrogen pilot sites. It has also received backing from the Algorand Foundation and Numaligarh Refinery's innovation ecosystem.
With EU regulations set to mandate digital passports for specified batteries from February 2027, LW3 is targeting a battery passport market projected to reach $904.2 Mn by 2032.
Maasi | Bringing Structure To India's Informal Nanny Market
For working parents, finding a trustworthy nanny could be difficult. Neighbourhood referrals and WhatsApp recommendations offer little assurance about a caregiver's training, reliability or availability. Bengaluru-based Maasi wants to bring greater trust and convenience to this largely informal market.
Founded by Aashu Manchali, Gargi Pandey and Reshov Roy, the startup connects families with verified, trained caregivers, offering on-demand nannies from ₹199 an hour and monthly subscriptions starting at ₹5,999.
Its caregivers undergo training led by preschool directors, nurses and former airline cabin crew trainers. Maasi also offers English-speaking governesses trained in screen-free childcare activities.
The idea emerged from Urban Parents Club, a Bengaluru community of over 8,000 parents, where childcare concerns frequently surfaced. Maasi claims to have served over 1,200 parents through 500-plus caregivers. Its October 2026 public launch reportedly attracted a waitlist of over 4,000 parents within five days.
Having raised ₹6 Cr from Better Capital and Antler India in October, the startup plans to expand caregiver recruitment, training and Bengaluru operations.
NeuralMiles | Developing Retrofit Kits And Software Stacks For Heavy Industries
Construction and mining are among the world's most equipment-intensive industries, yet much of their machinery still relies on human operators working long hours in hazardous conditions. What if these machines could operate remotely or even drive themselves?
San Francisco-based NeuralMiles is looking to make this possible without requiring companies to replace their existing fleets.
Founded in 2026 by Nakul Agarwal and Deep Boliya, who previously worked together on IIT Bombay Racing Driverless team's autonomous electric race car, the startup develops retrofit kits that enable remote operation and eventually autonomy in excavators.
Its modular hardware connects to existing machine controls, including mechanical hydraulic systems, allowing operators to control equipment remotely. NeuralMiles has already demonstrated remote operation on a decade-old excavator.
The startup operates on a teleoperation- and autonomy-as-a-service model, charging customers per excavator. Having raised $250K from Entrepreneurs First, NeuralMiles has secured contracts for real-site pilots and is targeting five deployments and over $1 Mn in contracted annual recurring revenue.
However, scaling will depend on proving its technology can operate reliably across different machines, challenging worksites and varying connectivity conditions.
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Nova Spectral | Making Infrared Vision More Affordable
Conventional cameras struggle to capture clear images in darkness or through smoke, haze and dust. Short-wave infrared (SWIR) imaging can overcome some of these limitations, but the technology remains expensive, restricting its use largely to specialised defence and industrial applications.
Bengaluru-based Nova Spectral AI wants to make this capability more accessible by developing lower-cost SWIR image sensor chips.
Founded in 2026 by Anish Priyadarshi and Sanjeev Kumar, the startup is using lead-free indium arsenide colloidal quantum dots integrated with standard silicon CMOS technology. With this, the startup claims to make sensors up to 100 times cheaper than existing alternatives.
Its initial focus is defence, drones and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), with longer-term applications in robotics, autonomous vehicles, industrial inspection and consumer electronics.
The opportunity extends beyond defence as autonomous machines increasingly require reliable vision in challenging environments. Consequently, the global SWIR cameras and sensors market is projected to reach $620.2 Mn by 2030.
However, Nova Spectral is still at the R&D stage, and its cost reduction claims are yet to be proven through a demonstrated commercial outcome. It has outlined a roadmap towards a sensor-chip prototype in 2028 and field pilots in 2029.
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Onto | Turning Hotel Price Drops Into Refunds
Coupon hunting, price drop alerts, or platform hopping. Travellers employ several strategies to bag the lowest possible price for hotel bookings. More often than not, these prices tend to drop further once the booking has been made, with little to no avenue for users to revisit their bookings and claim the difference if rates fall.
Bengaluru-based Onto is looking to address this gap with a travel platform that continues working for customers even after they have paid. Founded in 2026 by Jagdeep Singh and Shubham Goyal, Onto's first offering, Price Drop Refund, tracks hotel rates after a reservation.
If the same hotel, room and dates become available at a lower price, the platform rebooks the stay and refunds the difference. The feature also covers eligible bookings made through other travel platforms, which users can add to Onto for monitoring.
The offering comes as India's online accommodation market is projected to reach $15.94 Bn by 2031. Onto, however, is targeting a specific gap within this market: post-booking price protection.
It now plans to expand beyond hotel reservations and build AI-led personalisation features across the travel journey. Its challenge will be maintaining price accuracy and securing lower rates across multiple booking platforms while scaling a model that depends on hotel inventory and cancellation policies.
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OXG Space | Building The Network Layer For Satellites
Demand for data from Earth-observation satellites is growing rapidly, driven by their ability to capture images of remote locations and provide continuous surveillance. However, the large volumes of data they collect can take hours to reach the ground, delaying the insights that defence, intelligence and commercial operators need to act on.
Bengaluru-based OXG Space is looking to cut this delay by building a network of communication and computing infrastructure in orbit, allowing satellites to exchange and process data before it reaches Earth.
Founded by former ISRO engineers Akash Shetty and Sanjay Gorur, who have previously worked on spacecraft systems for Chandrayaan 2 and 3 missions, OXG Space combines 5G non-terrestrial network-inspired connectivity with in-orbit computing.
Its shared orbital nodes are designed to maintain persistent contact with EO satellites, relay data and fuse inputs from multiple satellites. This could help defence and intelligence operators coordinate optical, radar and signals-intelligence assets in near real time.
As demand for satellite imagery and analytics rises, the global Earth-observation market is projected to reach $7.2 Bn by 2030, according to Grand View Research.
The opportunity is also drawing Indian spacetech startups towards in-orbit data processing. Hyderabad-based TakeMe2Space, for instance, is developing satellite-based computing infrastructure to process data in space. OXG Space, however, is looking to go a step further by combining in-orbit computing with persistent connectivity between satellites.
OXG is now planning to launch Mission Synapse, a 12-month programme to demonstrate its antenna, ground-link and in-orbit computing technologies. Its next challenge will be proving these systems in orbit and converting the technology into commercial deployments.
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Patang | Bringing Regional Indian Flavours To Your Doorstep
Not long ago, anyone craving authentic chana jor garam from Bikaner or tapioca chips from Karnataka would have had to travel there or rely on a relative bringing some back. Local alternatives were available, but they rarely matched the taste of the originals.
Cut to 2026, brands like Patang are making it easier for consumers to enjoy regional delicacies without travelling across the country.
Founded in 2025 by Shoury Gupta, the Delhi NCR-based startup partners with local makers across more than 20 manufacturing kitchens in India to bring regional favourites such as Ratlami Sev, Jamnagari Chiwda, Jaipur Hing Chana and Kollam Puli Inji to a wider audience.
Rather than relying on a central industrial kitchen, Patang follows a decentralised manufacturing model, sourcing ingredients regionally and preparing products in small batches to preserve traditional recipes and flavours.
The startup has expanded its portfolio from 14 to 22 SKUs in recent months and claims to have served more than 15,000 customers. It reported gross margins of around 70% in FY26 and monthly revenue growth of 43%.
Patang sells through its own website and quick commerce platforms, alongside offering gifting packages. It now plans to expand into spices and condiments, strengthen institutional sales and eventually tap international markets with large Indian diaspora populations.
However, its premium pricing could pose a challenge as it scales. With players such as Snackible, Farmley, Sweet Karam Coffee and Open Secret competing for consumers, Patang will need to convince buyers that its regional authenticity justifies the higher price tag.
Permea | Absorption Focused Skincare
The Indian skincare market, which is projected to reach a 18.4 Bn valuation by 2034 according to IMARC, is flooded with products promising results through popular active ingredients, including hyaluronic acid, salicylic acid, glycolic acid, niacinamide or Vitamin C. However, the presence of these ingredients does not always guarantee their effectiveness.
Permea is looking to address this gap by focusing on how effectively skincare formulations deliver active ingredients into the skin.
Founded in 2025 by Manan Sahai and Bhavya Kothary, who previously cofounded Ayurvedic haircare brand Beyond Veda, Permea uses pharmaceutical-inspired technologies such as liposomes and specialised encapsulation to improve ingredient delivery.
Its portfolio includes Re, a retinoid-based treatment, and Hyperfade, which targets pigmentation and post-acne marks. With 8,000 claimed customers, Permea currently sells through its website and plans to expand onto Nykaa and Purplle while introducing more products.
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Quansys AI | Full-Stack Voice AI Stack For Enterprises
Building an AI voice agent isn't as simple as getting a chatbot to talk. Businesses often need to piece together speech recognition, language models, voice generation and other tools to automate customer conversations.
Delhi NCR-based Quansys AI wants to simplify this with a full-stack voice AI platform that businesses can deploy on their own infrastructure. Founded in 2025 by Vaibhav Vats Shukla and Shiv Singh, the startup builds voice agents that handle customer conversations and execute tasks across enterprise systems. With India's conversational AI market projected to reach $2.33 Bn by 2030, Quansys is betting on demand for cost-efficient, privately deployed voice AI.
Its platform combines speech models, orchestration tools and databases, allowing enterprises to retain control over their models and customer data. Its proprietary data engine, Sangrah AI, generates speech data across eight Indian languages and fine-tunes models using client call data. Quansys has also developed Atlas-v1, a speech-to-speech model for real-time conversations.
The startup claims its system can operate at around $0.01 per minute on consumer GPUs. It is supported by Microsoft for Startups, NVIDIA Inception and AWS Activate.
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Qucev | Leading India's Transition To Electric Logistics
India's electric vehicle revolution is gathering pace, but heavy-duty trucks have largely missed the bus. The challenge? Electrifying trucks means dealing with heavy loads, long operating hours and limited charging infrastructure.
Hyderabad-based Qucev wants to bridge this gap with electric commercial vehicles ranging from delivery vans to heavy-duty trucks. Founded in 2022 by Naresh Kumar Rawal and Anil Bhan, the startup designs and assembles vehicles for logistics, manufacturing, construction and cold-chain operations.
Its portfolio includes QC3 delivery and refrigerated vans, Q28 haulage trucks, Q55 electric tractors and QM7 electric transit mixers. Qucev also offers charging support, financing partnerships, fleet tracking and after-sales services.
The startup claims its vehicles have clocked over 1.3 Mn kms across 20-plus enterprise customers, including DHL, Blue Dart, Mondelez and Godrej. Its service network spans 20 cities. However, it faces competition from established automakers such as Tata Motors and newer EV players like Euler Motors.
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QwikBuild | Building Enterprise-Grade Applications In Days
Businesses may be eager to deploy AI agents, but getting them to work within existing systems is another challenge. Much of an organisation's operational knowledge remains scattered across employees, legacy software and manual processes.
Bengaluru-based QwikBuild wants to bridge this gap by helping enterprises build custom applications and integrate AI agents into everyday workflows. Founded in 2025 by Pradeep Ayyagari, the startup is developing an agentic AI platform that claims to build enterprise-grade applications in days rather than months.
Businesses can use it to replace legacy software, build custom layers over platforms such as SAP and Salesforce, or develop applications from scratch. AI agents can then automate tasks within these applications.
QwikBuild follows a B2B model, charging usage-based credits for software development and additional fees for engineering support.
With India's enterprise agentic AI market projected to reach $1.73 Bn by 2030, QwikBuild is betting on enterprises moving from AI experiments to operational deployment.
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Redapto | Applied AI For The Physical World
AI agents have become indispensable to many business workflows today, but their impact has not been the same in industries such as manufacturing, logistics and energy, as decisions there must also account for live operational data, fragmented systems and real-world constraints.
Bengaluru-based Redapto is building an agentic AI platform to address this gap. Founded in 2025 by Anirudh Pupneja and Cheril Shah, it is developing Redapto OS, which connects data from sensors, documents, enterprise systems and frontline teams to create a shared operational view.
Specialised AI agents can then coordinate workflows across procurement, production, logistics and field service, while human operators retain control over policies and exceptions.
Redapto's shift towards physical-world operations marks a change from its earlier focus on AI-led customer support and engagement workflows.
Its pivot comes as manufacturers increasingly look to automate production, maintenance and supply-chain workflows. According to BCC Research, the global AI-in-manufacturing market is projected to grow to $35.8 Bn by 2030, at a CAGR of 38.7%. Already, global platforms such as Cognite and C3 AI are bringing AI agents into industrial workflows.
Redapto's key challenge will be moving from pilots to dependable deployments in industries where errors can affect safety, uptime and costs.
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Regenerix | Turning Farm Waste Into Industrial Fuel
India generates hundreds of millions of tonnes of agricultural residue every year, much of which remains underutilised or is burnt in fields, contributing to seasonal air pollution. At the same time, industries and thermal power plants are under pressure to reduce coal consumption, creating a potential market for crop waste as an alternative fuel.
Delhi-based Regenerix is building a farm-to-factory biomass supply chain to connect these two problems. The idea was personal for founder Aanchal Jain, who grew up in Delhi and saw the impact of stubble burning on air quality every winter. Her son's asthma and atopic dermatitis worsened during the October-January pollution season, prompting her to explore solutions to crop-residue burning.
Founded in February 2025, Regenerix onboards village-level entrepreneurs (VLEs) who lease its patented Stubble Removal Machine (SRM) to clear farmers' fields after harvest. The company buys back the collected residue, processes it into pellets and briquettes, and supplies it to industrial buyers as a coal substitute. Its machine can clear and chop one acre in around 90 minutes, compared with five to seven days through conventional methods.
The opportunity is backed by India's estimated 230 Mn tonnes of surplus agricultural biomass annually and a government mandate requiring coal-based thermal power plants to use biomass blends. Regenerix has touched ₹2.3 Cr in revenue and plans to expand its machine network and pelletising capacity.
Ressl AI | Testing AI Agents Before Deployment
AI agents may look impressive in demos, but getting them to work reliably in real-world business environments is another story. Customised software, incomplete data and unexpected scenarios can throw even sophisticated agents off track.
Bengaluru-based Ressl AI is looking to address this challenge by putting AI agents through realistic tests before they are deployed.
Founded in 2025 by Arushi Gandhi and Abhishek Eswaran, the Y Combinator Winter 2026 startup builds simulated enterprise environments that replicate business software, data, policies and potential failure scenarios.
Its platform allows developers to test agents across different workflows, compare AI models, identify weaknesses and evaluate performance without exposing live business systems to potential errors. It also offers customised benchmarks and evaluation services to enterprises and AI developers.
Ressl AI is tapping into a global AI agent testing and validation market projected to reach $2.58 Bn by 2031. However, with established players such as LangSmith, Braintrust and Patronus AI already operating in the space, the startup will need to demonstrate how its simulated environments deliver more reliable results.
SCRUB Robotics | Building Robots To Keep India's Lakes Clean
Cleaning a lake is one thing. Keeping it clean is another. Across Indian cities, floating waste keeps returning to urban water bodies, forcing authorities to rely on repeated, labour-intensive cleanup drives.
Bengaluru-based SCRUB Robotics wants to make lake maintenance less dependent on manual labour by deploying autonomous robots to collect waste and monitor water quality.
Founded by Krishna Purwar and Atharva Agarwal, the startup is developing a range of marine robots for different cleaning and monitoring needs. Its flagship product, V1, is a solar-assisted, twin-hull robot equipped with a conveyor to collect floating waste and aquatic vegetation. The V2 uses a simpler intake mechanism, while V4 focuses on water-quality monitoring and mapping. SCRUB is also developing a system to intercept waste in rivers and canals.
Its prototypes have undergone trials at Bengaluru's Kengeri and Madiwala lakes, with an early version collecting up to 5 kg of waste per cycle. Operating in India's clean technology market, projected to reach $152.5 Bn by 2030, the startup targets municipalities, campuses and industrial clients. It plans to generate revenue through robot sales, managed deployments and cleaning-as-a-service contracts.
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SpectraGaze | Building India's Eyes In Space
From monitoring Earth's surface to tracking objects in space, satellites depend on advanced imaging sensors to see what the human eye cannot. Yet, India continues to rely on imports for several critical optical and infrared components.
Ahmedabad-based SpectraGaze Systems wants to reduce this dependence by developing indigenous imaging technologies for space, defence and scientific applications. Founded in 2023 by former ISRO scientist Arup Banerjee, the startup develops optical sensors and electro-optical payloads, including hyperspectral, multispectral, panchromatic and thermal imaging systems.
SpectraGaze has worked with ISRO, the Physical Research Laboratory and Kaynes Technology. Its early projects include delivering an infrared detector to ISRO and securing an image-sensor development contract for the space agency's next-generation HRSAT programme alongside AMETEK.
The startup is also developing an indigenous infrared detector assembly. Separately, it is developing a hyperspectral camera for a 3U satellite for Kaynes. However, building space-grade sensors is only half the battle. SpectraGaze must now demonstrate consistent reliability and performance while converting its early institutional projects into repeat orders.
Tecnod8.ai | Helping Industries Harness The Power Of GenAI
When factory machinery breaks down, or production lines grind to a halt, finding the right technical expertise can be a challenge. As manufacturers increasingly embrace automation, access to specialised engineering knowledge is becoming more crucial than ever.
Mandi-based Tecnod8.ai is looking to bridge this gap with a generative AI copilot that helps engineering, maintenance and production teams troubleshoot problems and develop automation solutions.
Founded in 2024 by Ravinder Kumar and Akshar Singh, the startup aims to make industrial engineering as accessible as a DIY workflow.
Its platform combines a customised LLM, AI-powered assistance, voice interaction and 3D simulations to help engineers diagnose machinery issues, access technical information and design automation systems. It is also exploring multilingual capabilities to make technical knowledge accessible to a wider workforce.
Tecnod8.ai is entering a global AI-in-manufacturing market projected to grow from $7 Bn in 2025 to $35.8 Bn by 2030. However, the startup will need to demonstrate the accuracy of its AI-generated guidance, compatibility with diverse industrial systems and ability to convert initial pilots into recurring enterprise customers.
TensrAI | Designing Self Learning Robots
Robots may be transforming factory floors and warehouses, but making machines autonomous remains expensive. For many businesses, adopting automation means replacing existing equipment with costly new robots.
Hyderabad-based TensrAI wants to change that by bringing autonomous capabilities to machines already in use.
Founded in 2025 by Sai Nikhil Rao Gona, Venkata Sai Charan Chalamalasetty, Harshith Uppalapati and Vivek Datta, the startup is building an AI-powered autonomy platform for industrial and commercial equipment.
Its technology combines computer vision, AI-based localisation and robotic manipulation to help machines navigate their surroundings and perform tasks with limited human intervention.
TensrAI's retrofit-first approach aims to automate existing machines rather than replace them. Its potential applications span material handling and cleaning across factories, warehouses, airports and hospitals.
The startup is also developing a mobile manipulator that combines autonomous movement with robotic arms.
With India's robotics market projected to reach $4.6 Bn by 2030, TensrAI is entering a growing but competitive sector. As players such as Ati Motors, Addverb and Peppermint Robotics expand their offerings, TensrAI's challenge will be proving that retrofitting can make automation more accessible.
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ULOOK | Mapping Radio Signals From Space
Ships, aircraft and communication systems constantly emit radio-frequency (RF) signals that can reveal their location and activity.
However, tracking these emissions across vast maritime and remote regions remains challenging, particularly when vessels switch off or manipulate conventional tracking systems.
Bengaluru-based ULOOK is building a satellite-based intelligence network to detect and interpret these otherwise invisible signals.
Founded in 2024 by Siddhesh Naik and Adheesh Boratkar, ULOOK is developing autonomous satellite swarms for RF sensing and spectrum awareness.
Unlike conventional Earth-observation satellites that capture optical images, its technology picks up radio signals emitted by ships, aircraft and ground-based systems.
Its proprietary PulseTrack payload suite is designed to identify, classify and geolocate these signals, with applications in maritime surveillance, defence intelligence and monitoring suspicious vessel movements.
ULOOK aspires to capture a slice of India's space economy, projected to reach $44 Bn by 2033. In November 2025, ULOOK raised ₹19 Cr, which it plans to use for hardware validation, payload development and its first satellite swarm.