Young innovators from IIT Kanpur driving India’s self-reliant future

Sep 06, 2025

India’s start-up ecosystem is soaring, driven by young innovators reshaping the nation’s future. At the forefront is IIT Kanpur’s Start-up Incubation and Innovation Centre (SIIC), a launch pad providing funding, mentorship, and resources for bold ventures. Among its success stories is Aditya Pratap, founder of xTerra Robotics, whose team has built quadruped and humanoid robots for farms, factories, defence, and disaster sites. Designed to work alongside humans, these robots handle monotonous, risky, or messy tasks—making work safer, smarter, and more efficient. Balaji Sriram, a PhD graduate from IIT Kanpur, founded Simactricals with support from SIIC. The start-up is pioneering India’s first indigenous wireless charging technology for EVs, drones, and robots. Backed by government grants and investors, it has already secured international orders, driving India’s self-reliance in this critical sector. Rogith Srinivasan, Co-Founder of DREAM Aerospace Technologies, is developing green and reliable propulsion systems for satellites and space missions. Aligned with the Make in India vision, the start-up aims to make space exploration cleaner, safer, and more cost-effective—bringing India closer to a sustainable future in space. IIT Kanpur’s Startup Incubation and Innovation Centre is providing resources, guidance, and opportunities to many such startups. The aim here is not just to create companies but to contribute to the nation’s progress. At Connect 1.0, organizers stressed the urgent need for indigenous cybersecurity solutions, especially in today’s evolving security landscape. The Government of India is backing such innovations across sectors, and C3iHub start-ups are stepping up to the challenge. One such venture, Aerosys Aviation India, is developing cost-effective Kamikaze drones with GPS-denied navigation — designed to withstand anti-drone technologies and jamming systems. The Ministry of Defence itself posed this challenge, and the start-up responded with a breakthrough solution for the nation’s defence. From robotics to aerospace, wireless charging to cybersecurity, IIT Kanpur’s innovators are redefining self-reliance. With government support and bold ideas, these start-ups are not just building companies—they’re building India’s future as a global technology leader.