Pragati Robotics Secures $25M Series A to Democratize Humanoid Automation for Indian SMEs - RobotWale News

Pragati Robotics Raises $25 Million Series A

Bangalore-based humanoid robot developer Pragati Robotics has announced the closure of a $25 million Series A funding round. The round was led by Matrix Partners India, with additional participation from existing backers, including Blume Ventures and AngelList. The funding comes at a critical juncture for India's robotics sector, as domestic startups race to build affordable automation solutions for the manufacturing and logistics industries. Pragati Robotics plans to utilize the capital to expand its manufacturing facility in Hosur, Tamil Nadu, and accelerate the commercial rollout of its flagship humanoid model. Pragati Robotics was founded in 2022 by IIT Madras alumni Arjun Mehta and Dr. Sneha Rao. The team brings over 50 years of combined experience in mechatronics and artificial intelligence. The startup has also partnered with a domestic semiconductor foundry to develop custom motion controllers, furthering the 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' initiative in hardware manufacturing. The Series A valuation places Pragati Robotics at a post-money valuation of $120 million, marking one of the largest funding rounds for an Indian robotics startup this quarter.

Sahaj Humanoid: Pricing and Specifications

Alongside the funding announcement, Pragati Robotics unveiled the commercial pricing and technical specifications of the Sahaj humanoid robot. The Sahaj is priced at ₹15 lakh (approximately $18,000), positioning it as one of the most cost-effective general-purpose humanoids available for the Indian market. The robot features a 28-degree-of-freedom actuation system, a payload capacity of 15 kg, and an autonomy range of 8 hours on a single charge. Equipped with advanced computer vision and force-torque sensors, Sahaj is designed for repetitive tasks in assembly lines, warehouse sorting, and quality inspection. The company confirmed that the first batch of Sahaj units will be available for deployment in Q3 2024, with pre-orders opening immediately for early adopters in the automotive and electronics sectors.

Strategic Focus on Indian SMEs

Pragati Robotics targets the underserved small and medium enterprise (SME) segment, which accounts for a significant portion of India's industrial output but lacks access to high-cost automation. The startup's business model includes a "Robot-as-a-Service" option, allowing SMEs to lease Sahaj for ₹45,000 per month, reducing upfront capital expenditure. The company has already secured letters of intent from three major Tier-2 manufacturing hubs in Gujarat and Maharashtra. This development aligns with the Indian government's Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for advanced chemistry cell batteries and electronics manufacturing, which encourages the adoption of domestic robotics. Pragati Robotics joins a growing cohort of Indian deep-tech startups receiving institutional backing to localize humanoid technology and reduce reliance on imports.