Ati Motors Secures $20M Funding Boost Amidst Booming Robotics Industry in India

Ati Motors, a pioneering startup in the field of autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), has successfully raised $20 million in funding. This significant investment will support the company as it embarks on a journey toward global expansion, aiming to meet the rising demand for domestic manufacturing across the U.S., India, and Southeast Asian countries, particularly as nations seek to reduce their reliance on China.

Robotics Growth in India: A Strategic Push

In 2023, the Indian government’s IT ministry unveiled the National Strategy for Robotics, a comprehensive policy aimed at transforming India into a global leader in robotics by 2030. Currently, India ranks as the seventh-largest robotics market worldwide, experiencing a remarkable 59% year-on-year growth in industrial robotics installations, with approximately 8,500 units deployed in 2023, according to the International Federation of Robotics. However, the country still has some catching up to do compared to giants like China, Japan, and the U.S.

Challenging the Status Quo

“Our competitor is always the status quo, not really another robot,” stated Saurabh Chandra, the founder and CEO of Ati Motors, during a recent interview. He emphasized that their primary challenge lies in displacing traditional manual operations.

Innovative Robotics Solutions

Founded in February 2017, Ati Motors operates a manufacturing and R&D facility in Bengaluru. The startup has developed seven different robot models, with two currently undergoing testing and set for release this quarter. These robots are designed to efficiently transport trolleys, bins, and pallets within factories and warehouses.

Advanced Technology for Robust Performance

Ati Motors’ robots are equipped with 3D lidar sensors that provide them with spatial awareness, allowing them to function effectively in challenging conditions, including adverse weather such as rain. These robots can navigate various flooring types and manage obstacles like gradients, cracks, and oil spills, as highlighted by Chandra in an interview with TechCrunch.

Chandra explained, “We do the full stack ourselves. That has been our USP – our ability to perform complete multi-disciplinary engineering.” The company designs both the software and hardware of its robots internally, including sophisticated sensor-fusion algorithms. Like many others in the robotics field, Ati Motors utilizes Nvidia’s Jetson platform for edge computing and offers dedicated fleet management software that ensures interoperability with other mobile robots.

Expanding Market Presence

“The future is such that millions of robots are going to go into factories. No one company is going to make all the millions of robots alone,” Chandra asserted. He emphasized the importance of collaboration from the outset.

Ati Motors has deployed “hundreds” of its Sherpa robots across a diverse customer base of 40 manufacturers, including industry leaders such as Airbus, Ceat Tyres, Forvia, Hyundai, Samsung, and TVS Motor. Notably, 80% of its clientele is situated in the automobile sector, with the U.S. being the primary source of revenue. Consequently, the startup plans to enhance its presence in Detroit, a major automotive hub.

Funding and Future Prospects

The recent all-equity Series B funding round was co-led by Walden Catalyst Ventures and NGP Capital, alongside existing investors such as True Ventures, Exfinity Venture Partners, Athera Venture Partners, and Blume Ventures.

Ati Motors is also exploring a robots-as-a-service (RaaS) model, allowing companies to lease its AMRs or purchase systems outright, thus adapting to various customer needs.

For more information about robotics in India, visit the Industry Week.