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Exclusive: Niqo Robotics raises $9 Mn in a new round

EntrackrEntrackr · 1y ago
Exclusive: Niqo Robotics raises $9 Mn in a new round
Medial

Agritech robotics firm Niqo Robotics (formerly TartanSense) has raised Rs 74.7 crore or $9 million in a new round led by Brida Innovation Ventures. The fresh funding comes after a hiatus of three years for the Bengaluru-based company. The board of Niqo Robotics has passed a special resolution to issue 8,577 preference shares at a price of Rs 87,090 each to raise Rs 74.7 crore, its regulatory filing accessed from the Registrar of Companies shows. Bidra Innovation Ventures pumped in Rs 41.5 crore while exiting investor Omnivore Partners also subscribed to the round with Rs 33.2 crore. As per startup data intelligence platform TheKredible, the company has been valued at around Rs 290 crore or $35 million (post-money) Following the fresh proceeds, Omnivore Partners emerged as the largest external stakeholder with 25.7% followed by Brida Innovation and Blume Ventures which commanded 18% and 10.7%, respectively. Its sole founder Jaisimha Rao holds more than a quarter of the company. See TheKredible for the complete shareholding pattern. Founded in 2015 by Jaisimha Rao, Niqo Robotics specializes in crafting compact agricultural robots empowered with AI-driven computer vision technology which claims to reduce costs and increase profitability. The company announced its rebranding to Niqo Robotics in March last year. Niqo Robotics has raised $16 million to date including its $5 million in Series A round from FMC, Omnivore, and Blume Ventures in August 2021. The firm also scored a $2 million Seed round in 2019. While the company would disclose its FY24 numbers later this year, the nine-year-old firm’s Indian entity largely remained in pre-revenue stage with a revenue of only Rs 1.3 crore during FY23. At the same time, its losses spiked twofolds to Rs 9.8 crore in the fiscal year ending March 2023.

Niqo Robotics raises $13 Mn in Series B round to scale globally

EntrackrEntrackr · 1y ago
Niqo Robotics raises $13 Mn in Series B round to scale globally
Medial

Agritech robotics firm Niqo Robotics (formerly TartanSense) on Tuesday announced that it has raised $13 million in a Series B round led by Brida Innovation Ventures. The round also saw significant investments from new investor Fulcrum Global Capital and existing investor Omnivore. This brings Niqo’s total fundraising to $21 million including a $5 million in Series A round from FMC, Omnivore, and Blume Ventures in August 2021 and a $2 million Seed round in 2019. Entrackr exclusively reported about the deal on May 1. Niqo will expand to new markets and accelerate the commercial adoption of spot spray, globally, according to Jaisimha Rao, founder and CEO of the company. Niqo Robotics specializes in crafting compact agricultural robots empowered with AI-driven computer vision technology which claims to reduce costs and increase profitability. It uses a proprietary AI camera with deep learning models to identify and selectively spray on target plants, reducing chemical usage by up to 90%. In 2023-24, Niqo claims to commercialize over 90,000 acres of land and benefiting over 1,800 farmers. While the company is yet to disclose audited FY24 numbers, the nine-year-old firm’s Indian entity largely remained in pre-revenue stage with a revenue of only Rs 1.3 crore during FY23. At the same time, its losses surged 2X to Rs 9.8 crore. As of the latest tranche, Omnivore Partners was the largest external stakeholder in Niqo with 25.7% followed by Brida Innovation and Blume Ventures which commanded 18% and 10.7%, respectively. Check TheKredible for more details. It competes with Zenrobotics, SwarmFarm, and Ecorobotis, among others.

iHub Robotics raises Rs 4.3 Cr in pre-Seed round

EntrackrEntrackr · 7m ago
iHub Robotics raises Rs 4.3 Cr in pre-Seed round
Medial

iHub Robotics raises Rs 4.3 Cr in pre-Seed round Humanoid robotics startup iHub Robotics has raised Rs 4.3 crore (about $520K) in a pre-seed funding round from U.S. investors. The company had previously raised $20 million in the same round in Oct. 2023. The fresh capital will be utilized to establish humanoid robotics manufacturing facilities in Kerala, reinforcing its vision to make India a global leader in robotics and AI-driven automation, iHub Robotics said in a press release. Co-founded in 2021 by Athil Krishna, Akhil K Haridasan, and Sarath S, iHub Robotics provides intelligent robotics solutions that are revolutionizing the way businesses operate. It aims to transform industries with cutting-edge technology, enabling them to enhance productivity, reduce costs, and improve efficiency. iHub Robotics states that it has already made a significant international impact, exporting its semi-humanoid robot, Tara Gen-1, to the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Tara Gen-1 is the most advanced semi-humanoid robot in India, built with cutting-edge AI and robotics technology. It is designed to operate in hospitality, healthcare, airports, railway stations, and various customer service roles, enhancing efficiency and automation in these industries. Tara Gen-1 leverages advanced human behavior intelligence, allowing it to recognize and respond to human emotions, engage in natural conversations using AI-powered speech recognition, and adapt to different environments with real-time decision-making. It assists customers with navigation, inquiries, and personalized service, functioning seamlessly in multi-language settings. According to the Kerala-based company, it is also committed to empowering the next generation of AI and robotics innovators. The company has launched the iHub School of Learning, a platform dedicated to educating and training students in AI and robotics, with a mission to empower 100,000 students with future-ready skills in deep-tech. iHub Robotics also expects to create over 150 jobs in the next two years, contributing to India’s deep-tech ecosystem.

Fragaria Fruits raises $2 Mn in seed round led by WEH Ventures

EntrackrEntrackr · 11d ago
Fragaria Fruits raises $2 Mn in seed round led by WEH Ventures
Medial

Fragaria Fruits raises $2 Mn in seed round led by WEH Ventures Farming company Fragaria Fruits has raised $2 million in a seed funding round led by WEH Ventures, along with participation from Rainmatter, Spiral Ventures, and angel investors such as Sashi Kumar. The startup had previously raised Rs 1.5 crore in a pre-seed funding round. The fresh funds will be utilized to scale its operations in Bengaluru, expand its premium fruit portfolio to include blueberries and raspberries, and provide a year-round supply of high-quality, sustainable produce to the Indian market, Fragaria said in a press release. Co-founded in 2024 by Harish Varadharajan, Timothy Chad Van Niekerk, and Damian López-Salazar, Fragaria Fruits aspires to address a critical gap in India’s fruit industry: the lack of consistently high-quality, fresh fruit available year-round. It aims to redefine the fruit-eating experience for Indian consumers by delivering premium, sustainably grown produce using world-class farming techniques. According to the Chennai-based startup, its flagship brand, Oh! Fruits, offers European strawberries grown in Chennai using advanced vertical farming technology, which are twice as sweet as conventional Indian varieties, pesticide-free, and have a shelf life up to three times longer than typical market options. The company’s commitment to sustainability is reflected in its water recycling systems, solar power integration, and efforts to reduce the environmental footprint of farming while maintaining affordability. By using Controlled Environmental Agriculture (CEA) and vertical farming, Fragaria has built a sustainable and scalable model to grow premium strawberries year-round. It plans to expand production in Bengaluru, increasing daily output from 2–3 kg to 120–150 kg. The startup doesn't have any local brands to compete with for fruits, but there are limited imported fruit brands in India, such as Driscoll’s (berries), Zespri (kiwi), and Rockit (apples).

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