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Unibose

Category: Robotics / Embodied AI

A deep-tech robotics startup developing ATEX Zone-0 certified autonomous robots designed for 'No-Man Entry' cleaning and inspection of hazardous industrial environments like oil and gas storage tanks. Unibose was founded in 2016. The company is led by Manikandan Dakshinamoorthy. Based in Chennai, India. Team size: 11-50. Total funding raised: $930.0K. Latest round: Pre-Series A (Dec 2024). Key investors include ["O2 Angels","IN44 Capital","StartupTN","Coimbatore Innovation and Business Incubator (CIBI)"].

Founded
2016
Headquarters
Chennai, India
Team size
11-50
Total funding
$930.0K

Value proposition

Eliminates human risk in explosive and toxic environments by replacing manual labor with certified robotic systems, reducing operational downtime and ensuring 100% safety compliance.

Products and solutions

["N-MER (No-Man Entry Robot): Asia's first ATEX Zone-0 certified tank cleaning robot with onboard pumping (10-12 m³/hr).","Zone-0 Vision & Lighting Systems: ATEX Zone-0 certified low-light cameras with PAN-TILT and self-cleaning capability.","Sewer & Pipeline Robots: Specialized systems for cleaning clogged manholes and industrial pipelines.","Chemical Rail Car Cleaning Robots: Automated solutions for cleaning acid and chemical carrying rail cars."]

Unique value

Unibose is the only company in Asia and the third globally to achieve ATEX Zone-0 certification for its robots, allowing them to operate continuously inside live, explosive petroleum and gas tanks.

Target customer

Oil & gas refineries, petrochemical plants, chemical manufacturers, fertilizer industries, and industrial waste management firms.

Industries served

["Oil & Gas","Petrochemicals & Chemicals","Fertilizers","Waste Management","Heavy Manufacturing"]

Technology advantage

Utilizes a Robotics-as-a-Service (RaaS) model to lower adoption barriers for heavy industries, combined with proprietary AI-powered navigation and vision systems that function in zero-visibility, high-hazard confined spaces.

How they differentiate

Unibose differentiates through its ATEX Zone-0 certification, making it the first in Asia and third globally to offer robots capable of 'live' cleaning in explosive environments without tank decommissioning.

Main competitors

["Gerotto Federico S.r.l","Square Robot","Diakont","Solinas Integrity"]

Key partnerships

["StartupTN (Government of Tamil Nadu)","O2 Angels & IN44 Capital (Investment partners)","BITS Pilani (Alumni-led R&D and talent pipeline)","Coimbatore Innovation and Business Incubator (CIBI)"]

Notable customers

["Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL)","Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL)","Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL)"]

Major milestones

["Developed Asia's first ATEX Zone-0 certified robot for hazardous environments.","Successfully transitioned from R&D to commercial deployment with major Indian PSUs.","Secured $640K Pre-Series A funding in Jul 2025 to fuel global expansion.","Launched world's first ATEX Zone-0 certified onboard pumping system at India Energy Week, Jan 2026."]

Growth metrics

Scaling operations from domestic Indian markets to international oil and gas hubs in the GCC and Southeast Asia.

Market positioning

Specialized deep-tech industrial robotics provider for high-hazard 'No-Man Entry' environments.

Geographic focus

India, Middle East (GCC), and Southeast Asia.

Patents and IP

Protected by 7 patents for ATEX Zone-0 compliant robotic locomotion, onboard pumping, and vision systems.

About Manikandan Dakshinamoorthy

Manikandan Dakshinamoorthy is the Founder and CEO of Unibose. He is an alumnus of the Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), Pilani. With over 9 years of specialized experience in robotics and industrial automation, he has led the development of Asia's first ATEX Zone-0 certified robots designed for hazardous environments, specifically targeting the oil and gas sector.

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