Planys Technologies, the deep-tech start-up specialising in underwater robotics and advanced non-destructive testing (NDT), has raised ₹100 crore in primary funding led by investors Ashish Kacholia and Lashit Sanghvi. The round also saw participation from existing investors including Pratithi Investment, Samarthya Investment Advisors, 3i Partners, Letsventure and a network of angel investors. The fundraise facilitated exits for the company’s earliest backers.
The investment marks a major milestone in Planys’ journey to scale its industrial inspection business globally while accelerating its defence technology programme through its new subsidiary, Planys Ark.
Founded in 2015 by IIT Madras graduates Tanuj Jhunjhunwala and Vineet Upadhyay, along with professors Prabhu Rajagopal and Krishnan Balasubramaniam, Planys has built a strong innovation portfolio—holding 21 granted patents and another 15 filed. Its underwater robots are engineered to operate in extreme environments, and its deep expertise in NDT enables precision inspection of critical underwater infrastructure where human access is limited or impossible.
Planys' technology stack includes hybrid ROVs, robotic crawlers, and an AI-powered 3D Inspection Twin designed for advanced diagnostics of submerged assets. According to the company, “Planys is currently the only company globally with the technology for underwater concrete testing using submersible robotic vehicles, specifically for infrastructure.”
Accelerating Global NDT and Defence Capabilities
Commenting on the fundraise, Tanuj Jhunjhunwala, CEO & Co-Founder, said, “This enables us to enhance our solutions for some of the world’s largest organisations, while concurrently developing India’s next generation of unmanned underwater systems. Through our defence arm - Planys Ark, we are intensifying our focus on high impact defence opportunities.”
Planys Ark will spearhead cutting-edge defence-focused underwater systems aimed at boosting India’s maritime capabilities. Explaining the vision, Vineet Upadhyay, CTO & Co-Founder, said, “With Planys Ark, we are fast-tracking a new generation of indigenous underwater systems designed to elevate India’s defence capability to global standards. Our fully India-built technologies enable mission-ready, customisable UUV solutions for complex and evolving operational scenarios.”
UUV Production Facility Planned
To support its expansion and rising demand for underwater inspection systems, Planys will establish a dedicated unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) production facility in South Chennai. The centre will house advanced fabrication capabilities and a comprehensive underwater testing environment, strengthening India’s indigenous robotics manufacturing ecosystem.
Global and Domestic Presence
Planys has executed inspection projects across more than 500 sites in over 10 countries for 150+ clients. International markets include Singapore, Brunei, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Oman and the Netherlands. Its client roster features large industrial and energy companies such as Reliance Industries, IOCL, BPCL, MSRDC, Indian Railways, ExxonMobil, Shell, Saudi Aramco and SABIC.
With fresh capital and a sharpened focus on both industrial NDT and defence applications, Planys Technologies is positioning itself as a global leader in underwater inspection robotics—strengthening India’s emerging footprint in deep-tech engineering.
