Marine robotics startup EyeROV (IROV Technologies) has secured ₹13 crore in a pre-Series A funding round, co-led by AWE Funds and Unicorn India Ventures.
The fresh capital will be deployed to accelerate research and development, drive new product innovation, and expand the company’s presence across India and international markets.
Founded in 2017, EyeROV operates at the cutting edge of marine robotics, infrastructure inspection, and defence technology. To date, the company has completed over 150 projects for more than 80 clients, including major corporates like Tata Power, NHPC, Adani, ONGC, BPCL, and Maersk, as well as defence and government organizations such as the Indian Navy, DRDO, and Indian Coast Guard, alongside leading research institutions like NCPOR and CSIR-SERC.
EyeROV designs and builds advanced Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) and Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs) for sophisticated underwater inspections. Its proprietary long-tunnel inspection capability of up to 10 km positions the company among a select few globally with this expertise. EyeROV integrates high-end NDT payloads, including ultrasonic testing, sonar imaging, and AI-driven defect detection, enabling precise inspections, real-time reporting, and digital twin creation.
The company serves industries such as power, oil & gas, ports, shipping, infrastructure, disaster management, marine research, and defence. Through both product sales and Robotics-as-a-Service (RaaS) models, EyeROV provides safer, more efficient, and cost-effective alternatives to traditional inspection methods, leveraging 24×7 autonomous operations and sustainable electric systems.
Commenting on the fund raise, Anil Joshi, Managing Partner, Unicorn India Ventures, says, “Over the last 3 years, underwater robotics has emerged as an area of interest in India with deep tech startups demonstrating their might. We have been a believer of this even before that and our funding in EyeROV over several rounds is proof of it. With the Indian Govt pushing for a strong innovation environment and grant led funding even awarding contracts to deep tech startups, the early stage funding for such companies has picked up momentum in the last 24 months. We will continue to double down on deep tech companies in our portfolio with Unicorn-backed companies dominating the space and the oceans.”
Noting EyeROV’s significant alignment with AWE Funds’ deeptech focus, Seema Chaturvedi, Founder & Managing Partner, AWE Funds, noted, “Some of the world’s most critical infrastructure such as energy pipelines, subsea cables, ports are offshore assets. They are all beneath the ocean’s surface and historically maintained through high-risk, manual, and expensive operations. We believe this is precisely where deep technology creates both outsized returns and meaningful impact. EyeROV’s ambitious vision and strong execution in marine robotics make them a standout in a globally nascent but strategically vital sector. Our investment reflects our fund’s commitment to backing deeptech and tech led innovation in sectors that positively impact climate action. We have full confidence in the team’s leadership and their ability to build globally competitive technology from India.”
Founder’s Comment:
“With our recent Rs 47 crore Indian Navy order and the surging demand for specialized inspections in the energy and infrastructure sectors, EyeROV has reached a clear inflection point. This funding will accelerate our trajectory as we scale our technology and expand our footprint internationally. This round serves as a strategic precursor to our $10 million Series A, for which we are already seeing strong preliminary interest from Indian and global investors” said Johns T. Mathai, Co-Founder & CEO, EyeROV
The company is addressing the global underwater infrastructure inspection market, driven by over USD 1 trillion worth of aging assets requiring regular maintenance and regulatory compliance. EyeROV estimates a total addressable market exceeding USD 13 billion globally, with the Indian market accounting for approximately USD 800 million. Prior investment rounds were led by GAIL (India) Ltd, followed by participation from the K Chittilappilly Trust, prominent angel investors, and the Venture Center Pune. Subsequent growth rounds saw backing from Unicorn India Ventures Fund III supporting the company’s scale-up and market expansion.
