Indian Robotics Startup Unibose Raises $640K to Scale current Operation

Indian Robotics Startup Unibose Raises $640K to Scale current Operation

Originally announced in July 2025, this development is being covered as part of our continued tracking of high-growth robotics and industrial automation companies emerging from India and expanding across Asia-Pacific and GCC markets.

Chennai-based industrial robotics startup Unibose has raised INR 55 million (approximately USD 640,000) in a Pre-Series A funding round to expand its hazardous-environment robotics operations across India and international markets. The round was led by O2 Angels, with participation from IN44 Capital, Coimbatore Innovation and Business Incubator, along with strategic angel investors.

The latest capital infusion follows an earlier INR 25 million (USD 290,000) raise, bringing total disclosed funding to approximately INR 80 million (~USD 930,000). The new funds will support geographic expansion, advanced AI-based inspection and compliance R&D, and the development of an OEM and industrial partner ecosystem.

Unibose develops robotics systems engineered for hazardous and explosive industrial environments, targeting sectors such as oil and gas, chemicals, fertilisers, and heavy process industries. The company’s mission centers on eliminating manual human entry into high-risk confined spaces during industrial cleaning and inspection workflows.

Also Read : Robotics Startup Botsync Secures Additional Series A Funding from SGInnovate

Engineering Focus: Robotics for Explosive Atmospheres

Unibose operates in a highly specialized vertical of industrial automation — ATEX-certified robotics for explosive atmospheres. The company has developed what it describes as Asia’s first ATEX-certified robotic solution for industrial cleaning.

ATEX (Atmosphères Explosibles) compliance is mandatory for equipment operating in environments containing flammable gases, vapors, or combustible dust. Certification requirements include:

• Intrinsically safe electrical systems
• Spark-proof and flameproof enclosures
• Strict thermal surface temperature control
• Zone classification validation
• Hazard-specific risk assessment compliance

This certification framework creates a substantial regulatory and engineering barrier to entry, differentiating Unibose from general-purpose industrial robotics vendors.

Product Architecture and Capabilities

Hazardous Industrial Cleaning

• Robotic tank and storage vessel cleaning
• Reactor and confined-space residue removal
• High-pressure industrial surface preparation
• Remote-controlled deployment in explosive zones

Robotic Inspection

• Internal structural assessment
• Corrosion mapping and defect detection
• Surface anomaly identification
• High-resolution visual and sensor data capture

AI-Based Inspection & Compliance Tools

• Computer vision–driven defect recognition
• Automated documentation for regulatory audits
• Digital inspection logs
• Data aggregation for predictive maintenance modeling

Rather than functioning solely as mechanical cleaning units, the robots operate as data acquisition systems capable of integrating into broader industrial asset management frameworks.

Industrial Challenge: High-Risk Manual Entry

In traditional refinery and chemical plant environments, cleaning and inspection require:

• Full or partial plant shutdowns
• Gas purging cycles
• Confined-space entry permits
• On-site safety supervisors and rescue teams
• Extended operational downtime

These processes introduce production losses, elevated insurance costs, and significant human safety risk.

Unibose’s robotics platform seeks to:

• Eliminate or reduce human entry into hazardous zones
• Shorten shutdown windows
• Improve worker safety metrics
• Digitize compliance and maintenance reporting

Geographic Expansion Strategy

Founder and CEO Manikandan Dakshinamoorthy indicated that the new capital will support expansion across India, GCC countries, and Southeast Asia — regions aligned with ATEX-certified automation due to high oil and petrochemical concentration and increasingly stringent regulatory enforcement.

Also Read : Indian Robotics Company GreyOrange Plans $600 Million US IPO

Investor Perspective

Investors highlighted technical depth and scalability as key drivers of the funding decision. O2 Angels cited the scalability of the robotics platform and engineering capability, while IN44 Capital emphasized the development of Asia’s first ATEX-certified industrial cleaning robot and the size of the underserved industrial automation market.

The investment thesis appears centered on regulatory defensibility through ATEX certification, structural growth in industrial automation adoption, export scalability potential, and platform expansion into AI-based compliance systems.

Platform Evolution and OEM Ecosystem

With the Pre-Series A funding, Unibose is transitioning from product-level deployments toward a broader platform strategy that includes modular robotic chassis architecture, configurable inspection and cleaning toolheads, AI-driven compliance software integration, and OEM partnerships.

Market Context

Automation in hazardous industrial environments has historically lagged behind factory-floor robotics due to certification complexity and high engineering thresholds. However, tightening regulatory standards and increased emphasis on operational safety are accelerating demand for remote inspection systems, hazard-rated robotic cleaning solutions, digitized compliance documentation, and predictive maintenance integration.

Outlook

With approximately USD 930,000 raised to date, Unibose is entering a structured scale-up phase. Key execution priorities will include manufacturing scalability, enterprise sales cycle management, multi-jurisdiction certification portability, and integration with legacy industrial control systems.

If successfully executed, the company could emerge as a leading Asia-origin hazardous-environment robotics platform and position itself for institutional Series A funding within the next 12–24 months.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What does Unibose specialize in?

Unibose develops ATEX-certified robotic systems designed for hazardous industrial environments. The company focuses on robotic cleaning and inspection solutions for oil & gas, petrochemical, fertiliser, and heavy process industries.

2. How much funding has Unibose raised?

In July 2025, Unibose raised INR 55 million (~USD 640,000) in a Pre-Series A funding round. Previously, the company raised INR 25 million (~USD 290,000), bringing total disclosed funding to approximately INR 80 million (~USD 930,000).

3. What is ATEX certification?

ATEX (Atmosphères Explosibles) certification ensures equipment can safely operate in environments containing explosive gases, vapors, or combustible dust. It requires intrinsic safety design, spark-proof enclosures, temperature control, and compliance with hazardous zone classifications.

4. Which industries does Unibose serve?

The company serves high-risk industrial sectors including oil & gas, petrochemicals, chemicals, fertilisers, and heavy manufacturing facilities.

5. What problems does Unibose’s robotics platform address?

Traditional industrial cleaning and inspection require plant shutdowns, gas purging, confined-space entry permits, and high safety supervision costs. Unibose’s robotics reduce human exposure to hazardous zones, minimize downtime, improve safety metrics, and digitize compliance reporting.

6. Does Unibose use artificial intelligence?

Yes. The platform integrates AI-based inspection tools including computer vision for defect detection, automated compliance documentation, digital inspection logs, and predictive maintenance data analysis.

7. What markets is Unibose expanding into?

Following its latest funding round, the company plans to expand across India, GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries, and Southeast Asia.

8. What differentiates Unibose from other robotics companies?

Key differentiators include Asia’s first ATEX-certified robotic cleaning solution, focus on hazardous process industries, integration of AI-driven inspection tools, and strong regulatory compliance positioning.

9. Who founded Unibose?

Unibose was founded by Manikandan Dakshinamoorthy and is headquartered in Chennai, India.

10. What is Unibose’s long-term strategy?

The company is evolving toward a modular robotics platform architecture, developing OEM partnerships, expanding internationally, and strengthening AI-based compliance systems.