WATER Secures $2.5 Million for Innovative Adaptive Surfaces
WATER has successfully raised $2.5 million in a seed funding round, spearheaded by Endiya Partners, a prominent early-stage venture capital firm. This round also included contributions from notable investors such as Pullela Gopichand, Rohit Chennamaneni, Nandan Reddy, along with several angel investors.
Investment for Technical Advancement
The investment will be directed towards technical validation as WATER strives to create an intelligence layer focused on adaptive surfaces. These advancements hold promising prospects in sectors like automotive and aviation, as indicated in their recent press release.
Company Foundation and Innovations
Founded in 2024 by Teja Vinukollu and Haneesh Mourya Desu, WATER is at the forefront of developing adaptive surfaces, exemplified by products such as the FLOW chair and CAMA bed. These innovations are powered by VORTEX, a foundational model that studies human interactions with the physical environment. The Hyderabad-based startup integrates sensing, decision-making, and physical actuation to create real-time responses to human activity.
Focus on Health and Well-being
The FLOW chair is designed to enhance posture, movement, and load during seated interactions. Meanwhile, the CAMA bed targets aspects related to sleep, recovery, and respiration. WATER’s ambition extends beyond just chairs and beds, aiming to tailor technology across various environments, allowing surfaces and systems to adjust according to individual needs.
Growing Market for Adaptive Intelligent Surfaces
In India, the adaptive intelligent surfaces sector is still emerging, yet there is an increasing investor interest in the broader Physical AI and deep tech space. Recently, several companies have garnered attention: Invisel raised Rs 4 crore led by IAN Angel Fund, Mowito secured $3 million in pre-seed funding to develop Physical AI models for industrial robots, Flo Mobility raised $2.5 million in a pre-Series A round for its Physical AI-driven autonomous solutions in construction, and Yaanendriya obtained Rs 15 crore for developing technologies related to sensing, navigation, and autonomous control in robotics and aerospace.