Chennai-based robotic automation startup Vividobots has raised Rs 1.47 crore in a Seed funding round led by Inflection Point Ventures (IPV), a Gurugram-based angel investment firm. With this new capital infusion, the company aims to accelerate product innovation and deploy its AI-powered robots across vertical-specific applications, particularly in high-rise building maintenance.
Founded in 2021 by engineers Dhinesh B (CEO), Velmurugan B (CPO), and Kesavaraj S (CTO), Vividobots was born from a tragic yet defining moment—a painter’s fall from a building during routine maintenance. That single incident pushed the three founders, each with strong professional backgrounds at Flipkart, Air Defence Agency, and TCS, to solve a real-world challenge with technology. Their mission: make high-rise exterior maintenance safer, faster, and more sustainable.
Solving a Critical Urban Problem with Robotics
Urban India has witnessed a boom in high-rise construction, but the systems supporting building maintenance have not kept pace. Painting and cleaning tall structures still rely heavily on manual labor, exposing workers to life-threatening risks and inefficiencies.
Vividobots aims to fix this problem by replacing traditional scaffolding and rope-based systems with AI-powered robotic solutions. These autonomous machines carry out tasks such as exterior painting, facade cleaning, and inspection, delivering results with unmatched precision and speed.
“Our mission focuses on redefining how robotics interacts with real-world environments,” said CEO Dhinesh B. “Inspired by the balance of human effort and resilience, we strive to build a future centered around safety, speed, and sustainability. The backing from IPV strengthens our commitment to push boundaries in robotic innovation.”
What Sets Vividobots Apart
Vividobots stands out by integrating artificial intelligence, mechatronics, and computer vision into a fully autonomous robotic platform. These robots can analyze surfaces, adapt to the structural nuances of different buildings, and execute tasks with surgical precision. The result? A consistent finish with minimal material wastage.
According to the startup, its robotic systems deliver:
- Up to 70% time savings
- 50% cost reduction
- 15% lower material wastage
Unlike legacy methods, which involve days of preparation and pose serious safety hazards, Vividobots deploys its systems within hours. It ensures minimal disruption to residents while maintaining superior quality control. In sectors like real estate, where timelines and aesthetics matter, this represents a game-changing shift.
Strategic Use of Capital
With the newly raised Rs 1.47 crore, Vividobots plans to strengthen its core R&D efforts, enhance the autonomy of its robots, and expand its product applications beyond painting and cleaning. The team also intends to recruit engineering talent and establish pilot projects in other metro cities where high-rise construction is growing rapidly.
Currently operational in Chennai, Vividobots plans to enter metros like Bengaluru, Mumbai, Delhi-NCR, and Hyderabad. These cities represent high-potential markets due to the accelerating growth in real estate and infrastructure, along with increased awareness around workplace safety and environmental impact.
Backing from Inflection Point Ventures
Inflection Point Ventures, the lead investor in this round, has a portfolio of over 210 startups and a focus on tech-enabled, scalable solutions that solve real-world problems. IPV’s participation in this round shows its confidence in the team, the technology, and the total addressable market.
“As real estate in India continues to boom, so does the need for safer, more efficient building maintenance solutions,” said Vikram Ramasubramanian, Partner & CIO at IPV. “Vividobots addresses a high-risk, labor-intensive problem with innovative robotic solutions. At IPV, we support startups that don’t just keep pace with urban growth but actively shape its future through technology.”
A Market Ripe for Disruption
The market opportunity for robotic automation in building maintenance is massive. In India alone:
- The Serviceable Obtainable Market (SOM) for painting and cleaning services stands at $4.46 billion
- The Total Addressable Market (TAM) in India reaches $178.7 billion
Globally, the figures grow even larger:
- SOM: $45 billion
- TAM: $1.56 trillion
These numbers reflect the scale of the problem and the potential for disruption. As urbanization intensifies and building heights increase, demand for safe, scalable, and eco-friendly maintenance solutions will continue to rise.
Vividobots has timed its entry perfectly. With early traction in Chennai, it is now well-positioned to scale rapidly into other major metros and eventually tap global opportunities.
Strong Founding Team with Technical and Domain Expertise
The three co-founders of Vividobots each bring distinct strengths:
- Dhinesh B (CEO) previously worked at Flipkart, where he gained experience in product development and operations.
- Velmurugan B (CPO) served in the Air Defence Agency, bringing military-grade precision and system design expertise to the team.
- Kesavaraj S (CTO) comes from TCS and contributes deep knowledge in software engineering, machine learning, and system architecture.
This blend of expertise allows the team to develop robust, field-ready robotics solutions that meet both commercial and industrial standards. Their passion stems not just from professional aspirations but also a deeply personal mission rooted in safety and impact.
Vision for the Future
Vividobots doesn’t intend to stop at painting or cleaning. The team envisions a modular robotic system capable of handling multiple vertical-specific use cases. Future versions could address:
- Structural inspections
- Thermal imaging
- Leak detection
- Facade repairs
By integrating data analytics and cloud-based monitoring, the company aims to offer clients real-time dashboards for maintenance management. This level of automation will help building managers and contractors make better decisions, reduce long-term costs, and improve asset longevity.
The startup also plans to align its products with sustainability goals. By minimizing material usage and energy consumption, Vividobots contributes to greener urban operations—a key consideration as smart cities and green building certifications gain traction.
Conclusion
Vividobots has positioned itself as a pioneering force in robotic automation for high-rise maintenance. With Rs 1.47 crore in fresh funding from Inflection Point Ventures, the Chennai-based startup now holds the resources and confidence to expand its reach, refine its technology, and redefine industry standards.
Through its AI-powered robotic systems, Vividobots offers a compelling value proposition: safer jobs, faster operations, and more sustainable practices. As urban India continues to build upward, Vividobots is making sure innovation rises with it—one facade at a time.