TIH Foundation, IIT Bombay Backs Airbots Aerospace to Strengthen Indigenous Drone Ecosystem
"This investment and collaboration with TIH Foundation enable us to address gaps in India's drone ecosystem with innovative, locally developed solutions," said Danish Ghori, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Airbots Aerospace
You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media.
Airbots Aerospace, a domestic player in the agri-drone and unmanned aerial systems segment, has received a strategic investment from the Technology Innovation Hub (TIH) Foundation at IIT Bombay. The funding is intended to support the development of indigenous drone technologies as part of India's broader push towards self-reliance in advanced aerial systems.
The collaboration is expected to strengthen Airbots' R&D capabilities, with a focus on AI-driven drone platforms, integrated payload systems, and intelligent software solutions. The company aims to deploy these technologies across agriculture, infrastructure monitoring, and defence applications. Leveraging IIT Bombay's research capabilities, Airbots intends to create a robust ecosystem for Indian-made drone solutions, spanning core hardware to autonomous mission systems.
"This investment and collaboration with TIH Foundation enable us to address gaps in India's drone ecosystem with innovative, locally developed solutions," said Danish Ghori, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Airbots Aerospace. "We're dedicated to advancing precision farming, public safety, and more with technologies built in India."
Co-Founder and CEO Vishal Kapadia said the partnership will help scale their drone offerings to meet global standards. "With TIH Foundation's support and IIT Bombay's research excellence, we're ready to scale drone solutions that compete globally and are proudly Indian, designed to meet diverse sectoral needs."
Airbots has received Type Certification from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), holds four patents, and has secured contracts in the areas of precision agriculture and drone-as-a-service (DaaS) models. The new investment will be used to further develop AI-based agri-drones, sensor-integrated data platforms, and smart mission software, aligning with the goals of the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Bradford engineering firm managing director named in Manufacturing 100
Chris Hart, managing director of Bradford-based engineering firm Graham Hart Process Technology, has been featured in the Manufacturing 100 Awards 2025. The awards, organised by The Manufacturer magazine, celebrate individuals driving innovation and excellence across UK industry. Graham Hart Process Technology specialises in the design and manufacture of heat exchangers and pressure-containing equipment, with customers in industries including pharmaceuticals, energy recovery, chemical processing, and food and drink. Mr Hart said: "I'm incredibly honoured to be included in this year's Manufacturing 100. "This recognition reflects the dedication of our entire team, who work hard every day to deliver world-class engineering from our base here in Bradford. "We may be a relatively small company, but we have big ambitions and take great pride in solving some of the toughest challenges for our clients across the UK and beyond." Digital integration; expansion of production capabilities; and partnerships with universities, education providers, and the local community are among the recent initiatives of the firm under Mr Hart's leadership. Graham Hart Process Technology holds the industry accreditations Fit for Nuclear, Fit for Hydrogen, and Fit for Carbon Capture, Usage, and Storage. More information is available at
Entrepreneur
an hour ago
- Entrepreneur
From Charging Phones to Powering Homes: How Ambrane Became a INR 260 Cr Bootstrapped Electronics Brand
"One day, I was in the metro carrying a power bank. A man saw it and asked, 'What are you doing with this gadget?' I said, 'I'm charging my phone.' He asked, 'Will it charge mine too?' That's when it hit me that we were solving a real problem people hadn't even named yet," says Ashok Rajpal, Founder and Director, Ambrane Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. In 2012, when mobile phones were becoming smarter and India was just stepping into its digital journey, a young brand called Ambrane quietly took root. Its mission was simple—make smart technology accessible and affordable for every Indian household. "We saw a big shift happening," recalls Ashutosh Rajpal, Founder and Director, Ambrane. "Technology was moving fast from IT to mobility, and smartphone penetration was rising. That's when we realised the need for compact and convenient gadgets like power banks, tablets, and routers." That vision was soon translated into action. Long before the 'Make in India' initiative was officially launched in 2014, Ambrane had already set up its own manufacturing unit. "We wanted to try innovations in-house not just to build better products, but also to create more jobs and income for our country," Rajpal shares. Charging Ahead in a New Market Launching a new tech product in India wasn't easy. In 2012, the concept of a power bank was still foreign to most people. "One day, I was in the metro carrying a power bank. A man saw it and asked, 'What are you doing with this gadget?' I said, 'I'm charging my phone.' He replied, 'Will it charge mine too?' That's when it hit me that we were solving a real problem people hadn't even named yet." Rajpal remembers the biggest initial challenge for his company was distribution. "At that time, most businesses relied on traditional distribution channels, which were hard for a new brand like ours. But e-commerce gave us a lifeline, it allowed us to reach consumers directly and educate them about our products." Today, Ambrane is one of India's top-selling electronics brands, especially in the charging and mobility segment. With products across power banks, smart plugs, grooming tools, audio devices, and smart home appliances, the brand has grown far beyond its early offerings. "We're present almost everywhere now, from D2C on our website, Amazon, Flipkart, Blinkit, and also in offline distribution and B2B channels," says Rajpal. "More than 60 per cent of our business comes from e-commerce and quick-commerce platforms." The focus of the brand is clear: reach more Indian households, especially in smaller cities. "We've built a strong base in major cities, but now we're expanding rapidly into tier 2, 3, and 4 markets. Our goal is to reach deep into India." Homes, AI & Global Play Ambrane isn't just sticking to its roots but evolving. The brand has already entered the smart home category with products like air purifiers and vacuum cleaners. "Yes, we've started launching smart home appliances, and the response has been great. We're planning to go big in that space," Rajpal confirms. While commenting on the AI integration, Rajpal says, "Right now, our focus is on appliances, but we know that technology is evolving fast. We've already worked on smart plugs years ago, and we're planning more AI-enabled products soon." With a strong domestic base and an annual turnover of INR 260 crore, Ambrane is now eyeing international markets. "Last year, we started working with some global partners. This year, we're focusing on Eastern markets and participating in events like GITEX in Dubai. Next year, we're heading to CES," says Rajpal. Despite this growth, Ambrane has stayed completely bootstrapped, with over 600 employees, including manufacturing staff. "We haven't raised any external funding yet. But now we're open—if the right opportunity comes, we'll consider it to help us grow faster." Lessons for the next-gen entrepreneurs When asked what advice he'd give to young entrepreneurs, Ashutosh keeps it real, "You have to listen, learn, and act. Understand the market deeply and know your consumers. Presentation matters, a good product alone is not enough if people don't know about it. And above all, quality is key." As for the future of D2C and AI, he believes data will lead the way. "In the age of AI, data is everything. If you understand it well, you can solve real problems. Use AI for smarter marketing, better systems, and even product innovation," he concludes. Quick Facts
Entrepreneur
2 hours ago
- Entrepreneur
Money Moves: Top Indian Startups That Raised Big This Week (May 31–June 06)
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. The Indian startup ecosystem continues to see a healthy flow of capital as investors bet on innovation across e-commerce, clean energy, fashion, fintech, and agri-tech. This week (May 31–June 06), several diverse ventures raised fresh rounds of funding, signaling investor confidence in scalable and future-facing business models. From battery-swapping infrastructure to furniture marketplaces and men's fashion, here's a snapshot of the week's most notable startup funding deals. Udaan Udaan was founded in 2016 by ex-Flipkart leaders Amod Malviya, Sujeet Kumar, and Vaibhav Gupta. Based in Bengaluru, the company operates as a B2B e-commerce platform connecting small and medium businesses with suppliers and customers across categories like electronics, fashion, and food. Udaan facilitates easy product discovery, secure payment processing, and logistics support to ensure timely delivery and streamlined business operations. Funding Amount: USD 114 Million Investors: M&G Investments, Lightspeed Venture Partners Snitch Snitch was launched in 2019 by Siddharth Dungarwal and started as a B2B apparel brand before pivoting to a direct-to-consumer (D2C) model in 2020. Headquartered in Bengaluru, Snitch offers trendy men's fashion through its website, mobile app, and brick-and-mortar stores. Its clothing line caters to modern urban men, with a focus on affordability, style, and frequent design drops to stay on-trend. Funding Amount: USD 40 Million Investors: 360 ONE Asset, IvyCap Ventures, SWC Global, Ravi Modi Family Office Battery Smart Founded in 2019 by Pulkit Khurana and Siddharth Sikka, Battery Smart is based in Gurugram and aims to transform EV adoption through its battery swapping network. The startup targets electric two- and three-wheelers, offering a quick-swap model that allows users to replace discharged batteries with fully charged ones within minutes, eliminating wait times and improving EV efficiency. Funding Amount: USD 29 Million Investors: Rising Tide Energy, responsAbility, Ecosystem Integrity Fund, LeapFrog Investments Stable Money Stable Money was established in 2022 by Saurabh Jain and Harish Reddy in Bengaluru. Initially offering digital fixed deposits for risk-averse investors, it has now expanded to include short-duration corporate bonds (2–6 months), mutual funds, and secured credit cards. Its platform appeals to first-time wealth-tech users with benefits like same-day liquidity and lifetime-free demat accounts. Funding Amount: USD 20 Million Investors: Fundamentum Partnership, Aditya Birla Ventures, Z47, RTP Global, Lightspeed Samunnati Chennai-based Samunnati was founded in 2014 by Anil Kumar SG. It focuses on financial inclusion in the agriculture sector, offering loans, advisory services, and non-financial solutions to smallholder farmers, agri-enterprises, and those within the agri value chain. The startup aims to empower rural India by addressing financing gaps in the agri-ecosystem. Funding Amount: USD 6 Million Pepperfry Established in January 2012 by Ambareesh Murty and Ashish Shah, Pepperfry has grown into a leading online and offline furniture marketplace. Headquartered in Mumbai, it provides a wide array of home furniture and décor solutions, including sofas, beds, lighting, and carpets. With a strong omnichannel presence, the brand caters to modern Indian households seeking stylish, functional furnishings. Funding Amount: USD 5 Million Investors: General Electric Pension Trust, Norwest Venture Partners, Panthera Growth Partners Diverse sectors such as e-commerce, fashion, EV infrastructure, and agriculture witnessed robust funding this week, reaffirming investor optimism in India's evolving startup landscape.
