Bengaluru-based deeptech startup Yaanendriya has raised Rs. 15 crore in its first institutional funding round led by Piper Serica. The startup is working on a very specific but important part of the robotics and drone world – sensors and navigation systems.

This may not sound as flashy as an AI chatbot or a consumer app. But without reliable sensors, drones cannot fly safely, robots cannot move accurately, and autonomous machines cannot understand their position properly.

That is why this funding matters. Yaanendriya is trying to build core hardware technology in India for sectors like drones, robotics, aerospace, defence, industrial automation and autonomous vehicles. In simple words, it wants to help machines know where they are, how they are moving, and how to stay stable even in difficult conditions.

What Yaanendriya does

Yaanendriya builds sensor and navigation products for autonomous systems. These products are used in drones, ground robots, industrial machines, unmanned platforms and other hardware systems that need accurate motion and position data.

Its product range includes IMU modules, AHRS modules, navigation controllers and industrial wireless communication products.

An IMU, or Inertial Measurement Unit, is a sensor system that measures movement, tilt and rotation. It usually combines sensors like accelerometers and gyroscopes. An AHRS, or Attitude and Heading Reference System, goes a step further and helps calculate direction, roll, pitch and heading.

That may sound technical, so here is a simple example.

When a drone is flying, it needs to know if it is tilting left, rising, falling, turning or drifting. If the sensor data is poor, the drone may shake, lose balance or fail to hold its path. A good navigation system helps the drone stay steady and follow instructions more accurately.

Yaanendriya is building these “inside the machine” technologies that most users never see, but every serious autonomous system depends on.

Founders and founding year

Yaanendriya was founded in 2023 and is headquartered in Bengaluru. The company has links to ARTPARK and its early work reportedly began around the IISc Biomechanics Lab.

Yaanendriya’s was founded by Vamshi Bharadwaj M V, Vyshak Y and Vijay H P.

Why Piper Serica invested

Piper Serica has been increasing its focus on deeptech, defence technology, spacetech, semiconductors, AI and engineering-led startups. The firm also launched its Bharat Tech Fund in 2026 with a target corpus of Rs. 600 crore and a greenshoe option of Rs. 200 crore.

Yaanendriya fits that investment theme well. It is not building a software wrapper. It is building hardware, sensors and control systems that can become useful for India’s defence, aerospace and industrial robotics ecosystem.

The startup had earlier received grant support from government-linked bodies, including the Ministry of Heavy Industries and the Department of Science and Technology, according to reports. This new Rs. 15 crore round helps it move from research and early pilots toward commercial scale.

Purpose of the funding

Yaanendriya plans to use the money to speed up development of its navigation controllers, inertial measurement units, GNSS-based systems and precision sensors.

GNSS means Global Navigation Satellite System. It includes satellite navigation systems used for positioning. But in real-world use, machines cannot depend only on satellite signals. In cities, tunnels, defence zones, forests, mines or industrial sites, satellite signals may be weak or blocked.

That is where inertial sensors become useful. They help machines continue estimating movement even when satellite signals are not perfect.

The startup also wants to expand product development, support customer contracts, and convert its existing MoUs into larger commercial orders. Reports say Yaanendriya has over 20 customers and more than 10 MoUs, including an engagement with the 515 Army Base Workshop in Bengaluru.

What is Yaanendriya’s aim

Yaanendriya’s larger aim is to build reliable Indian sensor technology for the machines of the future.

Today, many advanced sensors and navigation systems come from global suppliers. For sensitive sectors like defence, aerospace and drones, depending too much on imported components can become risky. Costs can be high, supply chains can be uncertain, and customisation may be difficult.

Yaanendriya wants to solve this gap by building local technology that can be used in Indian and global products.

Its purpose is not just to sell one sensor board. The startup wants to create an electronics and navigation ecosystem for robots, drones and autonomous machines. That includes hardware, firmware, sensor fusion algorithms and integration support.

Sensor fusion simply means combining data from different sensors to get a more accurate picture. For example, a drone may use a gyroscope, accelerometer, magnetometer, barometer and satellite signal together. One sensor alone may not be enough, but together they can give better stability and direction.

Why this technology is important for India

India is pushing harder into drones, defence manufacturing, robotics, spacetech, industrial automation and electric mobility. All these sectors need strong electronics and sensing systems.

A delivery drone, a defence UAV, an underwater robot, an automated factory vehicle or a mining robot all need accurate movement data. If Indian companies can build these core components locally, the whole ecosystem becomes stronger.

This also supports India’s “make in India” push in strategic technology. Instead of only assembling products using imported parts, startups like Yaanendriya can help build intellectual property within the country.

That is why this funding round is bigger than the amount suggests. Rs. 15 crore is not a huge number compared with late-stage startup rounds, but for a deeptech hardware startup, it can fund meaningful product development, testing and customer validation.

Competitors and market landscape

Yaanendriya operates in a technically demanding market. Globally, companies such as VectorNav, SBG Systems, Advanced Navigation, Xsens, Honeywell and Bosch Sensortec offer inertial sensing and navigation solutions. Open autopilot ecosystems such as Pixhawk, PX4 and ArduPilot are also widely used in drone development.

In India, the competitive landscape is more spread out. Some drone and robotics companies build parts of their navigation stack internally, while others rely on imported modules. Yaanendriya’s opportunity is to become a trusted supplier for companies that want reliable, locally built sensor and navigation systems.

Its challenge will be quality. Hardware customers care about accuracy, durability, temperature performance, vibration handling, calibration and long-term reliability. A sensor may look small, but proving it in the field takes time.

Conclusion with key takeaways

Yaanendriya’s Rs. 15 crore funding from Piper Serica is an important early step for India’s deeptech hardware ecosystem. The startup is working on sensor and navigation products that can support drones, robots, defence systems, aerospace platforms and industrial machines.

Its aim is clear – build reliable, India-made sensing and navigation technology for autonomous systems. If it can turn pilots and MoUs into large customer orders, Yaanendriya could become a valuable deeptech company to watch.

Key takeaways

• Yaanendriya raised Rs. 15 crore from Piper Serica in its first institutional funding round.
• The startup works on IMUs, AHRS modules, navigation controllers and precision sensor systems.
• Leadership includes Vamshi Bharadwaj M V, Vyshak Y and Vijay H P.
• The funds will support product development, customer expansion and commercialization.
• Its technology can be useful for drones, robotics, aerospace, defence and industrial automation.

Facts Input- WhalesBook