NDT Robotics Startup Octobotics Raises ₹10 Crore in Series Seed Funding
NDT Robotics Startup Octobotics Raises ₹10 Crore in Series Seed Funding
Delhi-based deep technology startup Octobotics Tech Pvt. Ltd. has announced the successful closure of a ₹10 crore Series Seed funding round, marking a significant milestone in its mission to revolutionise industrial asset inspection using AI-driven robotics. The round was led by Navam Capital, with participation from BYT Capital, underlining strong investor confidence in Octobotics’ vision and technology.
A New Era for Industrial Inspection with AI-Enabled Robotics
Founded in 2020 by founders Ishan Bhatnagar and Gulshan Kumar, Octobotics has rapidly positioned itself at the intersection of robotics, artificial intelligence (AI), and non-destructive testing (NDT). Its core focus is on developing intelligent robotic platforms designed to perform precise and autonomous inspection tasks in environments that are hazardous, hard-to-access, or dangerous for human operators.
Traditional inspection methods in sectors such as oil and gas, chemicals, power, marine, and railways are often labour-intensive, subjective, and risky. Octobotics addresses these challenges through robotic systems that can conduct high-fidelity assessments, enhance worker safety, and deliver actionable insights derived from sensor and analytics data.
What the Funding Will Power: Product Development and Global Expansion
The ₹10 crore infusion will be strategically deployed across several key areas:
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Accelerating product development for enhanced autonomy and modular robotics capabilities.
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Strengthening field validation to ensure inspection performance in real-world industrial conditions.
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Pursuing important international certifications such as IECEx and ATEX, crucial for deployment in explosive and offshore environments.
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Supporting expansion beyond India, including targeted growth in Singapore and the Middle East, where demand for advanced inspection robotics is rising.
Octobotics’ leadership has emphasised that this investment will provide the runway to transition from prototype and early deployments to commercial-grade robotic solutions with global applicability.
Diverse Product Portfolio and Market Traction
Octobotics’ solutions integrate robotics with advanced sensing and analytics to convert raw inspection data into decision-ready insights that help operators improve safety, reduce unplanned downtime, and extend the life of critical infrastructure. Its product lineup includes robotic platforms designed for:
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Automated weld inspection
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Rail weld inspection using phased-array ultrasonic testing
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Mobile NDT tools for elevated and confined inspection zones
These systems automate traditional manual tasks and enable data-driven maintenance planning, reducing reliance on human inspectors in risky environments.
The company already serves a diverse roster of industrial customers, including large public-sector and private organisations such as the Indian Navy, Indian Oil Corporation (IOCL), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL), Aarti Industries, GSFC, and Saudi S-Chem.
Leadership Perspective and Strategic Vision
Commenting on the capital raise, the co-founders underscored that Octobotics is targeting a clear strategic path: scaling its technology stack, moving beyond manual and semi-automated inspection techniques, and unlocking new inspection paradigms through AI and robotics.
Dr Anjan Ray, Investment Partner at Navam Capital, highlighted that Octobotics’ combination of “vertically integrated technology and scalable deployment model” positions it well to address global industrial inspection challenges, where safety and reliability are paramount.
Why Octobotics’ Approach Matters
Industrial assets across sectors like energy, petrochemicals, and transportation require routine inspection to prevent failures, reduce risk, and ensure regulatory compliance. Traditional inspections often involve high operational costs and long downtimes. By embedding robotics, intelligent sensing, and AI analytics into this workflow, Octobotics aims to deliver:
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Enhanced safety by removing humans from dangerous environments
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Higher inspection resolution and repeatability
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Reduced downtime and maintenance costs
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Expansion of autonomous inspection capabilities via data analytics
This approach aligns closely with broader Industry 4.0 trends, where automation and AI are transforming how infrastructure is monitored and maintained.
Looking Ahead: Commercialisation and Impact
With Series Seed funding secured, Octobotics is poised to accelerate its journey toward large-scale deployments and global certification-ready products. The company’s growth trajectory not only reflects rising interest from global investors but also underscores the urgent demand for AI-enabled inspection solutions across asset-intensive industries.
As inspection robotics continues to gain traction, Octobotics’ work could play a foundational role in reducing operational risk, lowering maintenance costs, and improving overall asset integrity — ultimately empowering industries to operate smarter and safer well into the future.
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Q1. What is Octobotics and what does the company do?
Octobotics Tech Pvt. Ltd. is an Indian deep-tech robotics startup that develops AI-enabled Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) robotics platforms for industrial inspection in high-risk and hard-to-access environments. The company combines robotics, advanced sensing, and predictive analytics to automate and enhance inspection tasks in sectors such as oil & gas, chemicals, power, marine, fertilisers, and railways.
Q2. When was Octobotics founded and who are its founders?
Octobotics was founded in 2020 by Ishan Bhatnagar and Gulshan Kumar. The founders met during their professional careers—Bhatnagar with maritime robotics and automation experience and Kumar with engineering experience in operations and maintenance—and were inspired by the “Make in India” mission to create advanced inspection solutions.
Q3. Where is Octobotics headquartered?
The company is headquartered in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India, and focuses on industrial robotics solutions that can be deployed both within India and internationally.
Q4. What industries does Octobotics serve?
Octobotics serves asset-intensive industries where inspection and maintenance are critical but often risky, including:
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Oil & Gas
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Chemicals & Petrochemicals
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Power & Energy
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Marine & Offshore
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Railways
These sectors benefit from automated inspection due to hazardous environments and complex infrastructure.
Q5. What are Octobotics’ core products and technologies?
Octobotics’ portfolio includes multiple robotics platforms designed for specific NDT tasks:
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PA RailScan – A phased-array ultrasonic testing (PAUT) system for consistent and repeatable rail track weld inspection.
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Weld Sensei – An automated inspection platform for precision data acquisition in hazardous industrial environments.
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Reach Master – A specialised NDT tool built to operate in confined, elevated, or hard-to-access zones.
Their solutions integrate robotics with thermal and sensor-based inspection, converting measurement data into actionable asset health intelligence that can improve maintenance planning and reduce unplanned downtime.
Q6. How do Octobotics’ robotics platforms improve traditional inspection methods?
Traditional inspection methods rely heavily on manual labor or basic tools, which are slow, risky, and subjective—especially in hazardous zones. Octobotics’ robot platforms automate these tasks, allowing teams to collect high-fidelity data safely and efficiently. Their systems reduce human exposure to dangerous environments, generate repeatable and accurate inspection data, and use AI analytics to help operators prioritise maintenance.
Q7. Who are some of Octobotics’ customers and clients?
Octobotics already counts several major organisations among its customers, including:
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Indian Navy
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Indian Oil Corporation (IOCL)
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Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL)
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Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL)
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Aarti Industries
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GSFC (Gujarat State Fertilizers & Chemicals)
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Saudi S-Chem
The company reported ₹2 crore in revenue in the last financial year, demonstrating early commercial traction.
Q8. What recent funding has Octobotics secured?
In early February 2026, Octobotics raised approximately ₹10 crore in a Series Seed funding round led by Navam Capital, with participation from BYT Capital. The investment will be used to accelerate product development, strengthen field validation, pursue international certifications like IECEx and ATEX, and support expansion into markets such as Singapore and the Middle East.
Q9. What are the company’s future plans and strategic focus?
With the seed funding, Octobotics aims to:
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Enhance R&D and vertical integration of its robotics platforms.
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Obtain critical international certifications for deployment in explosive and offshore environments.
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Scale operations globally, especially in regions with high demand for autonomous inspection.
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Continue building solutions that reduce manual intervention and improve asset uptime and safety across industries.
Q10. Why is Octobotics significant for the industrial inspection landscape?
Octobotics represents a new wave of AI-driven industrial automation that transforms how asset-intensive industries monitor complex infrastructure. By integrating robotics with advanced sensing and analytics, the company helps organisations:
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Reduce operational risk
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Minimise unplanned downtime
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Improve data quality and decision-making
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Enhance workplace safety
This approach aligns with broader trends in Industry 4.0 and digital transformation where intelligent automation and robotics are reshaping core industrial processes.
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