Indian Startup Behind Nanorobotic Dental Care Gets $1.2M Seed Funding

The Technology Promises 10-Minute Solution for Dental Hypersensitivity

INDIA: Bengaluru-based deeptech startup Theranautilus has secured $1.2 million in seed funding, led by pi Ventures. The funding round, which also saw participation from Golden Sparrow Ventures and notable angel investors including Tracxn’s CEO Abhishek Goyal and Groww’s CEO Lalit Keshre, marks a pivotal moment in the evolution of dental treatment technologies.

Innovative Nanorobotic Approach

The IISc-incubated company has developed a groundbreaking approach to dental care using magnetically-controlled nanorobots. Professor Ambarish Ghosh, co-founder of Theranautilus, explains the technology: “We manipulate these tiny nanoscale objects, and we give them magnetic properties. Using these magnetic fields, we are able to move these things in a very controllable manner inside the organ.”

Transformative Treatment Method

The startup’s innovation represents a significant departure from conventional dental hypersensitivity treatments. Dr. Peddi Shanmukh Srinivas, one of the co-founders, highlights the efficiency of their approach: “In our case, we just need 10 minutes of use time and that’s it. The problem has been solved for a long period of time.” This contrasts sharply with traditional treatments that typically require ongoing use of specialised toothpaste.

Development and Future Plans

The technology, developed over 15 years at the Indian Institute of Science by the founding team, including Debayan Dasgupta, has already demonstrated promising results in animal trials. The startup plans to begin human trials in 2025, with market entry targeted for 2026. The treatment is expected to be competitively priced at under INR 2,500 per unit.

Investment Allocation and Market Strategy

Theranautilus plans to utilise the fresh capital for several key initiatives, including:

• Establishing an ISO-certified manufacturing facility
• Advancing clinical development
• Preparing for human trials
• Scaling up production from laboratory to commercial levels

Broader Applications and Market Potential

Professor Ghosh emphasises the versatility of their technology: “This is a platform technology. And this is the first big problem we are solving.” The company’s vision extends beyond dental applications, with plans to explore applications in cancer therapy and other medical conditions.

Industry Context and Market Outlook

The funding comes amid growing investor interest in dental care innovation in India. According to Insights10, India’s dental care market, valued at $653 million in 2022, is projected to reach $1.4 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 9.40%.