Experiential Learning, particularly Learning by doing enables students to grasp concepts clearly and also how they can be implemented in real life. This is especially helpful in today’s dynamic environment where technology acts as an enabler to learning and needs to be learnt as well. All one needs is a platform that gives freedom to experiment, make mistakes and learn.
Empowering people with the use of technologies, Robolab Technologies Pvt Ltd has been striving to develop an ecosystem which gives people access to technology, provides necessary resources, training and cultivates innovation by motivating them to solve real-life challenges.
First-generation entrepreneurs and Cofounders, Pratik Deshmukh, Amol Gulhane and Ajit B. Pawar share their experience.
Kindly take us through the journey of your company and its objectives.
Robolab Technologies came into existence out of our rigorous efforts as an attempt to transform the Educational facilities in the country, provide an innovative platform to the students to show their skills and implement their ideas and create employment for the youth. Instead of taking up lucrative jobs, we chose to start a company. Having worked in the Robotics field for four years of our Engineering and being associated with the Robotics and Automation Laboratory- Robot Study Circle in COEP, Robolab Technologies was bound to happen.
Having worked on a variety of projects, participating in various types of competitions, and securing laurels for the Alma Mater at all levels, we decided to continue with the same zeal and impart the knowledge to the newcomers and other students. The idea was finalized when we came across a survey which showed the laggardness in the “Research and Development Facilities and Centre of Excellences in India.”
Robolab Technologies is incubated under and supported and mentored by BHAU Institute of Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Leadership (BIEL). Robolab is your very own, on campus, Centre of Excellence in Robotics, Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Rapid Prototyping (RP) and Industrial Automation, tailor-made for you. It is an advanced, state of the art platform to explore, learn and build robots and related technologies. We provide innovative and interactive training by experts consistent with the latest curricula and the industry requirements.
Kindly share your professional journey and what factors made them choose the industry they are in?
Robolab was officially incorporated on Friday the 13th of September 2013; we had already started working on the business model and plan well before that somewhere in May. For almost 5 months, Robolab team met several institutions in and around the region but got rejected for not having prior business experience.
We did not lose hope, instead, left our comfort zone and started approaching early majority institutions all over India with the solutions. The pool was large, but it needed us to target somewhere and thus, we chose Andhra Pradesh and began approaching Professors and HoDs of top colleges. And within 2 months of starting this exercise, we succeeded in breaking the ice. We got our first order from the Guru Nanak Institutions Hyderabad.
What we needed was necessary momentum and that’s what the first order gave us. Within a short period of 5 years, Robolab has reached more than 50 key organizations spread across 13 states in India and has collaborations with Indian Armed Forces and various Industries.
Please share your flagship product/service that stands out and how?
For Colleges and Research and Development Centres:
- Centre of Excellence in Robotics (COE-R)
- Centre of Excellence in Internet of Things (COE-IoT)
- Centre of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence (COE-AI)
- Centre of Excellence in Mechatronics (COE-M)
- Centre of Excellence in Industry 4.0 (COE-I4.0)
- Centre of Excellence in Rapid Prototyping and Scanning (COERPS)
- Centre of Excellence in Pneumatics Technology (COE-PT)
- Centre of Excellence in Vacuum Technology (COE-VT)
- Centre of Excellence in Industrial Automation (COE-IA)
- Faculty Development Programs (FDP)
- Research and Development (R&D)
- Consulting, Guidance, Mentorship
For Schools:
- Atal Tinkering Lab
- Do it yourself (DIY) Lab.
- Robotics Lab
- Internet of Things (IoT) Lab
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) Lab
- Rapid Prototyping Lab
For Industries, Defence, and Research Organizations
- Research and Development Consulting
- Product Development
R&D is critical to the success of the company. What measures do you take to keep the focus on research and stay a step ahead of competition?
Robolab as an organisation acts as a perfect amalgamation for Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Internet of Things, Automation, and similar latest technologies in hardware and software. With the kind of talented workforce that we are having, we can disrupt any industry we put our eyes on. The team offers a diverse experience and skillsets to tackle the challenges. The team is highly motivated and great at executing things at super-fast pace keeping an eye for the details.
We have developed a complete package for the Centre of Excellence in Robolab consisting of various study robots, research robotic platform, tools & equipment, mechanical & electronics robot building material and experiment sets. With the kind of synergy and collaborations that we have with the technology leaders, we provide the best in class products and services for the technology needs.
What according to you is the one takeaway/lesson from the COVID-19 pandemic?
That, your business is entirely dependent on your team members. It helps to have standard operating processes and systems. Also, situations are rarely in our control. It’s always good to have a strong backup plan you can switch to in case of an emergency of this kind. Last but not the least, try to make the maxim of the opportunity which is disguised as an obstacle.
What are your views regarding the start-up business scenario in Maharashtra?
The entrepreneurial ecosystem is gradually building up. However, there’s still a long way to go. The implementation of various initiatives and programs are key to the spread of entrepreneurship. Also, the policies of the government should be more inclined towards “Ease of Doing Business.”
Awards Galore:
- National Entrepreneurship Award Winner 2018, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), Government of India
- Recipient of Young MSE Achiever Award by Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) and The Economic Times 2018
- Chosen for the Startup India Initiative, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Government of India
- Best ICT Start-Up in India by Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India, ASSOCHAM and ERICSSON
- Best Startup award in the field of Artificial Intelligence Innovation Domain in Education and Industry by MITSOT, ITU, The IET
- Winner of the HOT100 Startup Award by CORE
About the Co-Founders
Pratik Pravin Deshmukh (Co-Founder and Vice President-Sales):
Pratik’s right mix of technology and business skills come in as a great positive feature to the innovative company. He has earned experience in technology consulting and solutions in the area of business analytics, analysis, and consulting space. He is well versed in executing technology projects and has deep knowledge of various industry methodologies. His vision is integral in maintaining Robolab’s leadership in its key focus verticals and in making it one of India’s best and most recognized technology, services, and business solutions provider.
Amol Ashok Gulhane (Director and Chief Executive Officer)
Amol, a roboticist, has deep experience in designing and manufacturing complex and task-specific industrial robots. He has a profound knowledge of educational, and defence robots and is specialized in digital image processing, embedded programming, design analysis and optimization. Widely respected for integrity, innovation and dynamism, Amol has successfully established and grown partnerships with customers, partners, and industry bodies, setting benchmarks in governance, cooperation, and co-innovation. With his entrepreneurial, management and technical skills and being an accomplished sports-person, he implements his unique ways to motivate the entire team and get the best out of people.
Ajit Balaji Pawar (Chief Operating Officer)
Ajit is immensely passionate about Robotics right from his graduate studies earned expertise in design & development of robots. He took part in many national & international robotics events and has won laurels for his Alma Mater COEP. His knowledge in product design and his way of approach to product development is commendable. He has deep experience in 3D CAD modelling, simulation, animation, and analysis of the products.
His exceptional people skills and sincerity have been instrumental in building an innovative enterprise. His experience in management and business operations is an asset to our company.
