Mowito secures pre-seed funding led by Version One Ventures to accelerate its physical AI platform and scale deployments in US manufacturing.
Mowito Secures $3 Million to Propel Physical AI Robotics into US Manufacturing
Bengaluru-based Mowito has raised $3 million in pre-seed funding to expand its innovative physical AI robotics into critical US manufacturing sectors.
The deeptech startup is revolutionising industrial automation by enabling standard robot arms to learn complex tasks directly from human operators, bypassing traditional coding.
Mowito, a Bengaluru-based deeptech startup, was founded in 2024 by Puru Rastogi and Adityanag Nagesh. The company is building AI models that run standard industrial robot arms, aiming to bring more flexible and adaptable automation to manufacturing floors globally. What started as a small idea in India’s tech capital has rapidly evolved into a pioneering force in Physical AI. Puru Rastogi, Mowito’s CEO, and co-founder Adityanag Nagesh set out to build sophisticated AI models capable of running standard industrial robot arms, fundamentally altering how these machines interact with their environment and tasks. Their core innovation lies in empowering robots to learn new operations directly from human operators on the factory floor, a stark contrast to the laborious, traditional coding methods that often demand specialised expertise and extensive downtime. This 'learning by observation and repetition' paradigm is not just an incremental improvement; it represents a generational leap in automation, making advanced robotics accessible and adaptable for a wider array of manufacturing challenges. The nascent stages of Mowito were dedicated to rigorous research and development, building a robust platform that could translate complex human movements and task understanding into actionable intelligence for machines. This building phase involved deep dives into machine learning, computer vision, and robotic control systems, all while keeping the end-user – the factory operator – at the heart of their design. Their solution addresses a critical bottleneck in modern manufacturing: the inflexibility of automation in dynamic environments or for low-volume, high-mix production. By simplifying the programming process, Mowito significantly reduces deployment times and costs, making advanced automation a viable option even for tasks previously considered too complex or variable for robots. Today, Mowito’s innovative approach has garnered substantial investor confidence, culminating in a successful pre-seed funding round where the company secured $3 million, approximately ₹28.6 crore. This pivotal investment was spearheaded by Version One Ventures, with notable contributions from All In Capital, Unisol, and iSeed. The round also saw participation from a diverse group of angel investors, including industry luminaries like Soumith Chintala, CTO of Thinking Machines Lab; Adarsh Kulkarni, founder and CEO of Foundry Robotics; Ashish Kulkarni, co-founder and CEO of Coformer.ai; and Vaibhav Domkundwar, founder and CEO of Better Capital. This strong backing underscores the growing belief in Mowito’s disruptive potential and the broader shift towards intelligent automation. The fresh capital is earmarked for several strategic initiatives designed to accelerate Mowito’s growth and deepen its market penetration. A significant portion will fuel the startup's ambitious expansion into the United States, a critical market for advanced manufacturing, particularly in the automotive and electronics sectors. Mowito plans to strengthen its engineering capabilities, pushing the boundaries of its physical AI platform, and simultaneously scale its go-to-market teams to support wider deployments. This dual focus on technological advancement and market expansion is crucial for establishing Mowito as a global leader in industrial AI robotics. “We believe robots should learn the same way people do: by observing and repeating. This funding allows us to accelerate that vision, expand globally, and bring Physical AI to more manufacturing environments,” Mowio cofounder and CEO Puru Rastog said. Mowito's physical AI-powered robots are already making a tangible impact, operating on manufacturing lines at a Fortune 500 automotive company and at one of the world’s largest electronics contract manufacturers. These early deployments in high-stakes environments demonstrate the robustness and effectiveness of their technology. The company’s presence across Bengaluru and Detroit strategically positions it at the nexus of India’s burgeoning deeptech ecosystem and the US’s established industrial heartland. This geographical footprint allows Mowito to tap into diverse talent pools and serve key manufacturing hubs directly. The success of Mowito is not an isolated event but rather a clear indicator of a broader trend gaining momentum across India: the deep integration of AI for efficient manufacturing use cases. This regional push is aligning India with rapidly growing global technology trends and positioning it as a significant player in independent, advanced production. The manufacturing sector globally is undergoing a significant transformation, driven by the need for higher efficiency, quality, and resilience in supply chains. Automation, particularly intelligent automation, is at the forefront of this shift. Mowito's focus on "Physical AI" represents a crucial evolution. Traditional industrial robots excel at repetitive, precisely defined tasks. However, they struggle with variability, require extensive reprogramming for minor changes, and lack the adaptability for tasks involving complex perception or dexterity. Physical AI, by enabling robots to learn from demonstrations, observe subtle cues, and adapt to unstructured environments, unlocks new frontiers for automation. This technology is vital for sectors like electronics assembly, where product cycles are short and tasks change frequently, or in automotive manufacturing, where customization and complex part handling are common. The Indian deeptech landscape, in particular, is witnessing significant investor traction, with numerous startups leveraging AI to enhance manufacturing processes. For instance, deeptech manufacturing startup Ethereal Machines recently raised $28.5 million (about ₹272 crore) in its Series B funding round in June, with plans to expand its presence in the US and Europe. This parallel investment activity highlights the growing confidence in Indian innovation driving global manufacturing solutions. Furthermore, the Indian government's "Make in India" initiative and various Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes are actively encouraging domestic manufacturing and attracting global players to establish production bases in the country. This supportive policy environment creates fertile ground for deeptech startups like Mowito to thrive.
Mowito’s $3 million pre-seed funding round signifies a critical inflection point where Indian deeptech transitions from regional software innovation to a global hardware disruptor. At StartupNews.fyi, we see this cross-border expansion into Detroit and the broader U.S. manufacturing sector as validation of "Physical AI" as a foundational technology layer. By utilizing foundational AI models that allow standard robotic arms to learn through direct human demonstration rather than legacy programming code, Mowito is addressing a notorious bottleneck: high-mix, low-volume operational inflexibility. For early-stage deeptech founders, this milestone proves that the global supply chain reshuffle—driven by reshoring and acute labor shortages—is a massive commercial catalyst. Companies capable of deploying adaptive, fixture-free automation straight out of Bengaluru onto Fortune 500 factory floors will dominate the next generation of industrial intelligence.
The global trend of "reshoring" or "nearshoring" manufacturing operations, driven by geopolitical shifts, supply chain vulnerabilities exposed during the pandemic, and the desire for greater control over production, further amplifies the demand for advanced automation. As countries aim to bring manufacturing closer to home, the ability to automate complex tasks efficiently becomes paramount. India, with its vast talent pool, burgeoning innovation ecosystem, and strategic location, is uniquely positioned to capitalize on this trend, not just as a manufacturing hub, but as a developer of the technologies that power this new era of production. The interest from global tech giants like Google in manufacturing AI servers in India, as revealed by IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw at the CII Annual Business Summit 2026, alongside HP’s commenced production, underscores the country's growing stature in advanced hardware and AI infrastructure. Mowito’s expansion into the US, especially targeting key automotive and electronics manufacturers, places it directly in the heart of these global trends. By demonstrating the efficacy of its physical AI platform in established industrial settings, the company is not only securing its market position but also championing a new paradigm for industrial automation. This is a story about India’s ingenuity reaching global shores, proving that innovation born in Bengaluru can reshape manufacturing processes worldwide. This investment in Mowito signifies more than just capital inflow; it’s a validation of India’s burgeoning deeptech ecosystem and its capacity to produce world-class innovation. For India, this means a stronger position in the global manufacturing value chain, moving beyond traditional production to become a hub for intelligent automation solutions. For aspiring entrepreneurs, Mowito’s journey serves as a powerful testament to the potential of solving real-world, complex problems with deep technological expertise, proving that big ideas, especially those focused on enabling the future of work, can attract significant backing and achieve global impact. ```
Frequently asked questions
What is Mowito's recent funding amount and who led the round?
Mowito, a Bengaluru-based robotics startup, recently secured $3 million (approximately ₹28.6 Cr) in a pre-seed funding round. The investment was led by Version One Ventures.
What does Mowito plan to do with the new capital?
The fresh capital will be used to expand into the United States, strengthen its engineering and go-to-market teams, scale deployments across automotive and electronics manufacturers, and advance its physical AI platform.
What technology does Mowito develop?
Mowito builds AI models that run standard industrial robot arms. Their physical AI platform enables these robots to learn new tasks from operators directly on the factory floor, bypassing traditional coding methods.
Who founded Mowito and when?
Mowito was founded in 2024 by Puru Rastogi and Adityanag Nagesh.
Where does Mowito currently operate and what industries does it serve?
Mowito currently operates across Bengaluru and Detroit, supporting customers primarily in the automotive and electronics manufacturing sectors.
Which other investors participated in Mowito's funding round?
Besides Version One Ventures, other participants included All In Capital, Unisol, iSeed, and angel investors such as Soumith Chintala, Adarsh Kulkarni, Ashish Kulkarni, and Vaibhav Domkundwar.
