[Funding Alert] Company Which Made the Robot That Greeted PM Modi and Ivanka Trump Raises Funding Invento Makerspaces, maker of the humanoid robot Mitra, will use the new funds for research and development in building new robot variants, as well as business expansion.

By Debroop Roy

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media.

Shutterstock

Invento Makerspaces, which built the robot Mitra (meaning friend), that greeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump's daughter Ivanka Trump, has raised INR 2 crore in a seed funding round led by Mumbai-based ITI Growth Opportunities Fund. Windrose Capital also participated in the round.

The robot greeted PM Modi and Ivanka at the Global Entrepreneurship Summit 2017 in Hyderabad.

Mitra is a humanoid which helps companies across sectors to improve their physical customer experience and access. Currently, it is deployed in varying capacities at more than 50 companies including HDFC, Accenture, Suzuki and Morris Garages.

"Companies like Invento which practice a culture of innovation, will spearhead India's economic transformation," said Rohit Goyal, managing partner at Pune-based Windrose.

Using the Funds

The company said it plans to use the new funds for research and development in building new robot variants, as well as business expansion into new industries and verticals.

Invento recently unveiled "Mitra 3' at the consumer electronics show in Las Vegas. The robot can interact with humans using facial and speech recognition. It is capable of autonomous movement and obstacle detection, along with speech synthesis in regional Asian languages such as Hindi, Tamil and Sinhalese.

"It is very essential that start-ups of our size not only look for money, but also the right expertise and connections from the prospective investors. We are lucky to have found the right grouping," said Balaji Viswanathan, founder of Invento.

The upcoming Robot variants would also enable the robotizing of manufacturing operations, human resource processes and other roles.

Explaining their thesis of investing in the company, Windrose's Goyal said, "Invento has officially brought the dawn of the autonomous age in India and we are excited to be a part of their journey. It's thrilling for us to see how quickly, banks, event management companies, hotels, malls, airports, cinema halls and hospitals are befriending this robot."

Debroop Roy

Former Correspondent

Covering the start-up ecosystem in and around Bangalore. Formerly an energy reporter at Reuters. A film, cricket buff who also writes fiction on weekends.
Business News

JPMorgan Shuts Down Internal Message Board Comments After Employees React to Return-to-Office Mandate

Employees were given the option to leave comments about the RTO mandate with their first and last names on display — and they did not hold back.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Business News

'I Want the Best People on Our Teams': Meta Is Laying Off More Than 3,000, CEO Mark Zuckerberg Calls for 'Extensive Performance-Based Cuts' — Read the Memo

In an internal memo shared on Tuesday, Zuckerberg said it's "going to be an intense year" at the company.

Growing a Business

How Meta Generated $32 Billion in Ad Revenue Last Quarter — and How You Can Create Million-Dollar Weekends Using the Same Strategies

Meta's staggering $32 billion quarterly ad revenue isn't just about size; it's about strategy, systems and execution as well.

Growing a Business

5 Risk-Taking Lessons From Founders Who Bet Big and Won

Discover the bold moves and strategic risks that catapulted these entrepreneurs to success. Learn how their fearless decisions can inspire your own path to growth.

Technology

Why 2025 Will Be a Breakthrough Year for MSMEs in India's Digital Revolution

With the convergence of AI, cloud ecosystems, enhanced connectivity, and ethical data practices, 2025 represents a pivotal year for MSMEs in the digital sector. To remain competitive, MSMEs must embrace these technologies while fostering innovation and strategically aligning their operations with emerging trends.