Chennai-based propulsion startup Viridian Ingni secures ₹1.47 crore in pre-seed funding led by Inflection Point Ventures

CHENNAI — Viridian Ingni Propulsion, a Chennai-based propulsion technology startup, has raised ₹1.47 crore in a pre-seed funding round led by Inflection Point Ventures.

The company specializes in developing complete electric propulsion systems for applications across electric vehicles, drones, robotics, and industrial machinery. Its product offerings include motor, controller, and firmware design and validation, all built in-house. While many suppliers in India focus on individual components, Viridian delivers the motor, controller, and firmware as a single validated unit.

According to the company, the newly raised capital will be deployed to move from validated prototypes into pilot production. Specific allocations include developing motor stamping tooling and dies, setting up a pilot production line and a small manufacturing facility, and completing ARAI and ICAT certification and homologation.

Funds will also be directed toward validating motor controller firmware, expanding key engineering and business teams, and supporting working capital requirements for initial customer deliveries against existing letters of intent.

In addition to the equity funding, Viridian has secured ₹53.75 lakh in grants from various government and institutional bodies. These include SIPCOT under the Tamil Nadu Government, MEITY Start-up Hub, NIDHI PRAYAS under the Department of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Heavy Industries, the IIT Madras Research Park’s RTBI programme, and Cummins CSR.

Sriram G, Founder & CEO of The Propulsion Company, noted that India currently designs very few of its own propulsion systems end-to-end. He stated that the company builds the motor, controller, and firmware together, selecting the appropriate magnet technology for each specific application rather than relying on a uniform solution. He added that Inflection Point Ventures backed this approach early, utilizing their network to facilitate connections.

"The pre-seed funding secured by Viridian Ingni Propulsion highlights the growing investor interest in core hardware and deep-tech manufacturing within the Indian startup ecosystem. By focusing on an integrated in-house stack—comprising motors, controllers, and firmware—the company is addressing a critical gap in domestic propulsion technology. Transitioning from validated prototypes to pilot production and securing regulatory certifications will be crucial operational milestones as they work toward fulfilling their existing customer commitments and scaling their manufacturing capabilities." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes