Social Hardware, a Bengaluru-based startup that designs and develops innovative assistive devices, bionics, and field robotics, has secured INR 3.2 crore in a seed funding round. The round was led by Inflection Point Ventures, with Ivyleague Ventures and Soonicorn Ventures participating as co-investors. The funds will be directed towards growth and go-to-market (GTM) strategies, building a robust marketing and sales team, expanding R&D facilities, and enhancing in-house manufacturing capabilities.
About Social Hardware
Social Hardware specializes in teleoperated robotic systems designed for hazardous operations. The company’s technology serves various industries, including manufacturing, defense, aerospace, and infrastructure, by providing safer and more efficient solutions in challenging environments.
The startup was co-founded by Abhit Kumar (CEO), Cameron Norris (Chief Marketing/Management Officer), and Raghavendran Arunachalam (CTO). Abhit Kumar, with a background in Instrumentation and Biomedical Engineering, has been instrumental in developing assistive devices and robotic systems that impact underserved communities and high-risk sectors like defense and aerospace. Cameron Norris, an expert in social digital marketing, previously scaled Wevolver, an open-source hardware platform, to international prominence. Raghavendran Arunachalam, with expertise in electronics and embedded systems, drives the technical innovation behind Social Hardware’s robotic solutions.
Innovative Solutions for Hazardous Operations
The company’s teleoperated robots are designed to tackle hazardous environments, reducing the need for direct human involvement. Their AR-controlled robotic systems and gesture-based controls offer precise and safe remote operation, allowing workers to manage high-risk tasks from a safe distance.
Social Hardware’s CEO, Abhit Kumar, emphasized the importance of their technology in transforming industries:
“At Social Hardware, we are transforming how industries manage hazardous environments with teleoperated robots engineered to perform high-risk tasks with precision and safety, reducing the need for direct human involvement. Our technology doesn’t replace workers but enhances their capabilities—enabling them to control robots remotely and apply their expertise while staying safe.”
Teleoperation Market Growth
The global teleoperation and robotics market is projected to grow to USD 22.5 billion by 2026, driven by demand in aerospace, defense, and industrial sectors. In India, the robotics market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 13%, with increasing adoption in defense and hazardous industries contributing to its growth.
Vikram Ramasubramanian, Partner at Inflection Point Ventures, highlighted the importance of Social Hardware’s technology:
“Technology went far and beyond in many sectors but remained untouched in some like manufacturing, defense, and aerospace where it still needs human intervention. The challenge of hazardous operations in these sectors has posed a long threat to safety, often limiting innovation and progress. Social Hardware; with its teleoperated robotic system, addresses this critical issue by offering safer alternatives like robots that can be controlled remotely, removing the physical need of a human in a dangerous environment.”
Expansion and Future Plans
Currently operating from its corporate office in Hebbal and an R&D facility in Rajajinagar, Bengaluru, Social Hardware aims to scale production from 12 units in FY 2024-25 to 36 units by FY 2025-26. This expansion is expected to boost the company’s revenue capacity to INR 24.76 crore.
Recognized for its #MyFirstRakhi campaign, which provided children with limb differences custom prosthetics to participate in Raksha Bandhan, Social Hardware continues to innovate. Their recent launch of the Eclipse robot at the Bengaluru Space Expo 2024 showcases their commitment to advancing telerobotics in India.
