“It is incumbent upon startups to remain audacious in taking calculated risks and unafraid to pivot and adapt as circumstances warrant, in order to maintain a competitive edge in the dynamic and ever-evolving tech landscape.”
April 2023 : In this exclusive interaction with Niranjan Mudholkar, Editorial Director, Pro MFG Media, Kishan Tiwari, Co-Founder and CEO, TSAW (Technit Space and Aero Works) Drones, advises all aspiring tech startups to focus on creating a strong product or service that solves a real problem for customers.
Tell us what motivated you to launch a drone tech startup.
The motivation to launch our drone technology startup was predicated upon the rising demand for pioneering and effective solutions across a multitude of industries. We espied the possibility of drones transforming industries, including but not limited to agriculture, construction, and logistics, and thus sought to establish a corporate entity capable of delivering cutting-edge drone technology. This ambition has culminated in the establishment of our recently launched subsidiary brand, DRONECO, which seeks to spearhead the logistics revolution.
The drone startup industry requires a robust and viable ecosystem for prototyping, testing and making the product market ready. What are the challenges in achieving the same in India?
In India, one of the foremost impediments that pose a challenge to the advancement of the drone industry is the paucity of infrastructure and regulations for drone operations. This lack of a regulatory framework makes it difficult to test and invent novel technology, and it raises concerns about legality and safety. Furthermore, there is a clear need for increased investment in R&D, with the ultimate goal of cultivating a healthy and thriving environment for drone entrepreneurs.
Startups are known for their innovative disruptions. What would you name as the defining disruption from TSAW Drones?
The hallmark of TSAW Drones lies in our strategic emphasis on advancing the frontiers of artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms, which imbue our drones with the capability to undertake intricate operations with unparalleled precision and accuracy. This technological advantage confers upon us a competitive edge, enabling us to provide our clients with solutions that are distinguished by their novelty and bespoke design.
Tell us something about your manufacturing footprint.
At present, we are in the process of laying the groundwork for our manufacturing facility, which we hope to inaugurate in the near future. While we cannot yet speak to the specifics of our manufacturing footprint, we remain fully committed to ensuring that our operations are conducted in a manner that is sustainable, efficient, and in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. We look forward to sharing further details regarding our manufacturing footprint as our plans continue to evolve.
What’s your take on the PLI schemes of the Government of India that are aimed at providing an impetus to indigenous companies in various sectors?
The Government of India’s Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes represent a salutary advancement for domestic companies across a spectrum of industries. These schemes proffer financial incentives to companies that engage in localized production, thereby stimulating the growth of the Indian economy and fostering a climate of enterprise and innovation. The PLI schemes, therefore, hold immense promise for enhancing the competitiveness of Indian businesses and fostering the long-term development of the Indian economy.
Recently, the Union Civil Aviation Ministry has disbursed ₹ 30 Crore under the PLI Scheme for drones and drone components to boost the Indian drone Industry. It is an extraordinary fillip for the burgeoning Indian Drone Industry. This strategic move is anticipated to furnish a much-needed impetus to the sector, which holds immense potential for exponential expansion in the years ahead. The primary objective of this scheme is to incentivize indigenous drone manufacturers to produce top-notch and cost-efficient drones, thereby diminishing India’s reliance on imports. This, in turn, will foster the development of a robust domestic drone manufacturing ecosystem and pave the way for the creation of lucrative employment opportunities for skilled professionals. Moreover, this visionary initiative will galvanize innovation and augment research and development activities in the drone industry, thereby enabling the creation of cutting-edge and sophisticated technologies that can be leveraged for the benefit of the country’s defence and security sectors. In addition to that, it will generate an upswing in the agriculture and infrastructure sectors, where drones can be employed to oversee crop health, survey land, and scrutinize infrastructure.
What was the highlight of your participation at Aero India 2023?
The crowning achievement of our participation at Aero India 2023 was the opportunity to showcase our latest and most cutting-edge drone technologies, whilst concurrently forging valuable connections with other industry luminaries. Our innovative products garnered a favourable reception, eliciting positive feedback, and generating new business leads, which aligns well with our future prospects. Additionally, we are pleased to announce that we have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with DE Drone Solutions, thereby consolidating our standing as a prominent and influential player in the drone industry.
TSAW Drones recently launched its logistics service division DRONECO. Tell us something about this development.
DRONECO is our logistics service division, which harnesses our cutting-edge drone technology to furnish our clients with delivery solutions that are characterized by enhanced efficiency and cost-effectiveness. This drone logistics support has been able to reduce the average delivery time on many routes from hours to minutes only. This has ensured the faster delivery of medical and other equipment. This milestone marks a significant watershed moment in our operations, allowing us to broaden our portfolio of offerings and endow our clients with even greater value.
TSAW Drones has recently announced that it intends to hire 350+ new employees by the end of calendar year 2023. What is driving this growth?
Our growth is driven by the increasing demand for drone technologies in various industries, as well as our focus on innovation and expanding our product offerings. We are elated at the prospect of persevering along our growth trajectory and augmenting our workforce with new talent in order to bolster our strategic vision.
What is your advice to all the tech startups that are just getting started?
Our advice to all aspiring tech startups is to focus on creating a strong product or service that solves a real problem for customers. Additionally, it is imperative to meticulously craft a comprehensive and well-defined business plan, supported by a high-calibre team possessing the requisite skills and expertise to execute that plan. Lastly, it is incumbent upon startups to remain audacious in taking calculated risks and unafraid to pivot and adapt as circumstances warrant, in order to maintain a competitive edge in the dynamic and ever-evolving tech landscape.
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