Latest news with #FrinksAI
Hindustan Times
20-06-2025
- Automotive
- Hindustan Times
AI, EV, mobility tech dominate Maruti Suzuki Accelerator's latest startup picks. Check details
In 2021, Mobility Challenge was introduced by Maruti Suzuki, offering a platform for growth-stage startups to highlight advanced mobility solutions Notify me Maruti Suzuki India Limited has concluded the 9th edition of its Accelerator program, with international participation included for the first time ever. The new cohort was composed of an assortment of 26 startups, 19 from India and 7 from Germany, chosen to present innovative technologies applicable to the automotive as well as mobility industry. Nine Startups Selected Across India and Germany Of the participating ventures, nine were announced as winners. These include Indian startups Frinks AI, mistEO, Adagrad, Com Olho, ProSolvr, and Eligere, as well as three German firms: Caire AI, Syn2Core, and Talonic. This was the first time the program formally included a 'Global Startups" category. Also Read : Maruti Suzuki bets big on rail logistics to scale up green dispatch, cut emissions The selected companies presented a range of digital and mobility-related technologies, such as AI-driven cybersecurity tools, quality control systems, EV charging and battery solutions, and road safety applications. Their solutions are aimed at addressing operational challenges across manufacturing, mobility infrastructure, and customer experience. Technology-Focused Programs Built Around Startup Ecosystem Since the past six years, the company has built a portfolio of structured programs to partner with startups building emerging technologies. These programs are meant to leverage external innovation at different levels of startup maturity. The Accelerator Program, launched in 2019, revolves around open innovation in manufacturing and mobility technology. The Incubation Program was launched in 2020 for early-stage startups with scalable business models. In 2021, Mobility Challenge was introduced by the company, offering a platform for growth-stage startups to highlight advanced mobility solutions. Later, in 2023, the company introduced the Nurture program as a pre-incubation initiative for startups that are concept-stage. According to figures revealed by the company, over 5,000 startups have been filtered through these numerous ways, of which 150 are committed and 25 were integrated into business activities in some capacity. Also Read : Maruti Suzuki cuts near-term e-Vitara production plan amid rare earth magnet crisis Broader Trends in Corporate-Startup Collaboration Allowing global startups to participate in the accelerator program is a part of the bigger industry trend - where traditional manufacturers are choosing to work with agile, technology-led startups to pilot ideas and digital solutions. Things like EV charging infrastructure, AI-based diagnostics and new-age analytics are gaining momentum as automakers adapt to changes in the market and regulations. Get insights into Upcoming Cars In India, Electric Vehicles, Upcoming Bikes in India and cutting-edge technology transforming the automotive landscape. First Published Date: 20 Jun 2025, 13:48 PM IST
Time of India
19-06-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Maruti Suzuki names winners of 9th Accelerator programme cohort
Maruti Suzuki India Limited has announced the winners of the ninth cohort of its flagship Accelerator programme. The list includes six startups from India and three from Germany, marking the first cohort to feature international participation under the newly introduced Global Startups category. The selected Indian startups are Frinks AI , mistEO , Adagrad , Com Olho , ProSolvr , and Eligere . The three German startups named are Caire AI, Syn2Core, and Talonic. All nine startups will now enter a proof-of-concept (PoC) phase with Maruti Suzuki, during which they will work with internal teams to test their solutions in real-world environments. Focus on co-creation and government initiatives Hisashi Takeuchi , MD & CEO, Maruti Suzuki India Limited, said, 'Startups bring fresh thinking and new ideas. Through the Maruti Suzuki Accelerator programme , we have been working with them to co-create future ready solutions that enhance customer experience and drive operational efficiency in the automobile manufacturing and mobility space. The participation of global startups, this cohort onwards, marks a new milestone in this journey." "It further supports our efforts to contribute meaningfully to 'Make in India' and 'Startup India' initiatives of the Government. We welcome the winning startups to join us in our mission to offer 'Joy of Mobility' to as many people as possible,' he added. A total of 26 startups—19 from India and 7 from Germany—presented their solutions during the grand finale of the cohort. The innovations showcased included AI-powered technologies across fields such as cybersecurity, road safety, quality control, EV charging infrastructure, and battery swapping. Broader innovation efforts Maruti Suzuki has launched several innovation programmes over the past six years, screening more than 5,000 startups. Of these, 150 have been engaged and 25 have been onboarded as partners. The Maruti Suzuki Accelerator programme began in January 2019 to promote open innovation in automobile manufacturing and mobility. This was followed by the Incubation Programme in August 2020 to support technology-enabled startups in the mobility space. The Mobility Challenge was launched in June 2021 to engage with growth-stage startups, and the Nurture pre-incubation initiative started in 2023 for early-stage ventures.
Time of India
28-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Frinks AI, a manufacturing AI startup by IIT Hyderabad alumni, raises $5.4m led by Prime Ventures
Bangalore, 27th May 2025 — Frinks AI , a deep-tech startup founded by IIT Hyderabad alumni, has raised $5.4 million in a Pre-Series A round led by Prime Venture Partners , bringing its total funding to $6.25 million. The company is building next-generation Vision AI systems that help manufacturers automate and elevate quality control on their production lines. The round also saw participation from existing investor Chiratae Ventures, along with Navam Capital and Ashok Atluri, Founder of Zen Technologies. Frinks AI is additionally backed by prominent industry leaders including Mr. S Ramadorai (former MD & CEO, TCS), Dr. V Sumantran (former Executive Director, Tata Motors), Dr. Tarun Ramadorai (Prof Imperial College of London), and Dr. Gopichand Katragadda (former Group CTO, Tata Sons), who continue to support the company as strategic investors and advisors. What began as an ambitious idea in the research labs of IIT Hyderabad is now a transformative force in industrial AI. Founded by Aditya Agrawal, Dharmgya Sharma, and Subhra S. Bhattacherjee, Frinks AI is developing foundational vision models — highly generalizable AI systems purpose-built for visual inspection and quality control in manufacturing. ' With ongoing supply chain disruptions and rising global trade tensions, we're seeing a strong push toward localized manufacturing as countries prioritize internal consumption ,' said Aditya Agrawal, CEO and Co-founder of Frinks AI. ' This marks the beginning of a new industrial revolution—one powered by advanced technologies that drive higher productivity and cost efficiency. Frinks AI is at the forefront of this transformation, helping manufacturers worldwide become more competitive, resilient, and future-ready. ' Frinks AI's Vision AI platform is already in use by leading manufacturers across automobile, consumer goods, building materials, and medical devices sectors. Customers have reported measurable improvements in product quality, fewer defects, and major efficiency gains on the factory floor. With the latest funding, Frinks AI aims to scale its platform across global markets, invest aggressively in R&D, and expand its presence in the US which is a key market for such technologies. To accelerate growth, the company is actively exploring partnerships with automation companies and OEM's for a joint go-to-market initiative. These foundational models are designed to overcome long-standing reliability and generalisation challenges in industrial machine vision, by offering superior intelligence and greater adaptability. 'Visual inspection in manufacturing has been around for 50 years but owing to rule-based approach its applicability has been limited to ' said Brij Bhushan, Partner at Prime factories embrace AI-led production, Frinks AI is enabling them to achieve higher quality, lower costs, and faster turnaround. Powered by five years of deep research, its foundational vision models automate the cognitive layer of manufacturing, starting with visual inspection and quality a no-code platform, manufacturers can easily customize workflows, integrate with existing systems, and scale across lines. Today, Frinks AI's intelligence runs on over 1,000 production lines globally across automotive, consumer goods, medical devices, cement, and steel boosting throughput, reducing defects, and ensuring consistent quality.
Business Standard
28-05-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Frinks AI, a manufacturing AI startup by IIT Hyderabad alumni, raises $5.4m led by Prime Ventures
PRNewswire Bangalore (Karnataka) [India], May 28: Frinks AI, a deep-tech startup founded by IIT Hyderabad alumni, has raised $5.4 million in a Pre-Series A round led by Prime Venture Partners, bringing its total funding to $6.25 million. The company is building next-generation Vision AI systems that help manufacturers automate and elevate quality control on their production lines. The round also saw participation from existing investor Chiratae Ventures, along with Navam Capital and Ashok Atluri, Founder of Zen Technologies. Frinks AI is additionally backed by prominent industry leaders including Mr. S Ramadorai (former MD & CEO, TCS), Dr. V Sumantran (former Executive Director, Tata Motors), Dr. Tarun Ramadorai (Prof Imperial College of London), and Dr. Gopichand Katragadda (former Group CTO, Tata Sons), who continue to support the company as strategic investors and advisors. What began as an ambitious idea in the research labs of IIT Hyderabad is now a transformative force in industrial AI. Founded by Aditya Agrawal, Dharmgya Sharma, and Subhra S. Bhattacherjee, Frinks AI is developing foundational vision models -- highly generalizable AI systems purpose-built for visual inspection and quality control in manufacturing. "With ongoing supply chain disruptions and rising global trade tensions, we're seeing a strong push toward localized manufacturing as countries prioritize internal consumption," said Aditya Agrawal, CEO and Co-founder of Frinks AI. "This marks the beginning of a new industrial revolution--one powered by advanced technologies that drive higher productivity and cost efficiency. Frinks AI is at the forefront of this transformation, helping manufacturers worldwide become more competitive, resilient, and future-ready." Frinks AI's Vision AI platform is already in use by leading manufacturers across automobile, consumer goods, building materials, and medical devices sectors. Customers have reported measurable improvements in product quality, fewer defects, and major efficiency gains on the factory floor. With the latest funding, Frinks AI aims to scale its platform across global markets, invest aggressively in R & D, and expand its presence in the US which is a key market for such technologies. To accelerate growth, the company is actively exploring partnerships with automation companies and OEM's for a joint go-to-market initiative. These foundational models are designed to overcome long-standing reliability and generalisation challenges in industrial machine vision, by offering superior intelligence and greater adaptability. "Visual inspection in manufacturing has been around for 50 years but owing to rule-based approach, its applicability has been limited to
Malaysian Reserve
27-05-2025
- Business
- Malaysian Reserve
Frinks AI, a manufacturing AI startup by IIT Hyderabad alumni, raises $5.4m led by Prime Ventures
BANGALORE, India, May 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Frinks AI, a deep-tech startup founded by IIT Hyderabad alumni, has raised $5.4 million in a Pre-Series A round led by Prime Venture Partners, bringing its total funding to $6.25 million. The company is building next-generation Vision AI systems that help manufacturers automate and elevate quality control on their production lines. The round also saw participation from existing investor Chiratae Ventures, along with Navam Capital and Ashok Atluri, Founder of Zen Technologies. Frinks AI is additionally backed by prominent industry leaders including Mr. S Ramadorai (former MD & CEO, TCS), Dr. V Sumantran (former Executive Director, Tata Motors), Dr. Tarun Ramadorai (Prof Imperial College of London), and Dr. Gopichand Katragadda (former Group CTO, Tata Sons), who continue to support the company as strategic investors and advisors. What began as an ambitious idea in the research labs of IIT Hyderabad is now a transformative force in industrial AI. Founded by Aditya Agrawal, Dharmgya Sharma, and Subhra S. Bhattacherjee, Frinks AI is developing foundational vision models — highly generalizable AI systems purpose-built for visual inspection and quality control in manufacturing. 'With ongoing supply chain disruptions and rising global trade tensions, we're seeing a strong push toward localized manufacturing as countries prioritize internal consumption,' said Aditya Agrawal, CEO and Co-founder of Frinks AI. 'This marks the beginning of a new industrial revolution—one powered by advanced technologies that drive higher productivity and cost efficiency. Frinks AI is at the forefront of this transformation, helping manufacturers worldwide become more competitive, resilient, and future-ready.' Frinks AI's Vision AI platform is already in use by leading manufacturers across automobile, consumer goods, building materials, and medical devices sectors. Customers have reported measurable improvements in product quality, fewer defects, and major efficiency gains on the factory floor. With the latest funding, Frinks AI aims to scale its platform across global markets, invest aggressively in R&D, and expand its presence in the US which is a key market for such technologies. To accelerate growth, the company is actively exploring partnerships with automation companies and OEM's for a joint go-to-market initiative. These foundational models are designed to overcome long-standing reliability and generalisation challenges in industrial machine vision, by offering superior intelligence and greater adaptability. 'Visual inspection in manufacturing has been around for 50 years but owing to rule-based approach, its applicability has been limited to <15% scenarios typical on the assembly line. Frinks has leveraged advancements in image processing, AI compute to develop manufacturing specific machine vision models. By combining foundational models with in-house fine-tuning using a small set of images, Frinks is able to guarantee 99.99% accuracy to its customers. It is our pleasure to partner with Aditya, Dharmagya and Subhra in expanding this 10x product to India as well as taking it global,' said Brij Bhushan, Partner at Prime VP. As factories embrace AI-led production, Frinks AI is enabling them to achieve higher quality, lower costs, and faster turnaround. Powered by five years of deep research, its foundational vision models automate the cognitive layer of manufacturing, starting with visual inspection and quality control. With a no-code platform, manufacturers can easily customize workflows, integrate with existing systems, and scale across lines. Today, Frinks AI's intelligence runs on over 1,000 production lines globally across automotive, consumer goods, medical devices, cement, and steel boosting throughput, reducing defects, and ensuring consistent quality. Photo: View original content:
