Bengaluru-based deep-tech startup AquaAirX has raised INR 12.5 crore in a seed funding round led by Rainmatter, the investment arm of Zerodha founded by Nithin Kamath.

The round also saw participation from Prime Venture Partners, Wyser, and India Accelerator.

The funds will be used to enhance AquaAirX’s core technology, including system autonomy, air-to-water transition reliability, sensing, and communication capabilities.

The startup will also expand its engineering and research teams across robotics, autonomy, controls, and embedded systems. Efforts will focus on testing, validation, and certification to defence-grade standards, while preparing for pilot deployments with strategic customers.

Gouthami T S, Co-founder and CEO of AquaAirX, said, “The future of maritime intelligence and surveillance will be defined by platforms that can seamlessly operate across domains. This funding allows us to accelerate our vision of building indigenous, mission-ready amphibious and underwater autonomous systems that fundamentally change how maritime operations are conducted, for both defence and critical commercial applications.”

Founded by Gouthami T S and Jitendra Kumar Purnmal Saini, the startup is developing next-generation amphibious drones capable of transitioning smoothly between aerial flight and underwater operations. These platforms are designed to perform intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions more efficiently by eliminating the need for separate aerial and underwater drones.

Alongside its amphibious drone, AquaAirX is also building a Hovering Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (HAUV) for precise underwater inspection, monitoring, and intervention in defence and high-value commercial applications.

Jitendra Kumar Purnmal Saini, Co-founder and CTO, added, “Today’s maritime operations are constrained by siloed platforms that operate either in the air or underwater, creating gaps in intelligence, response time, and operational continuity. Our vision is to eliminate this fragmentation by building autonomous systems that can seamlessly transition across domains while remaining reliable, covert, and mission-ready.”

Over the past year, AquaAirX claims to have reached Technology Readiness Level 6 for its flagship amphibious platform, been selected for the Israel Aerospace Industries NeuSPHERE program, and cleared multiple milestones under India’s iDEX initiative.

Looking ahead, the startup aims to scale trials, deepen collaborations with defence partners, and prepare for manufacturing, targeting entry into defence and commercial markets by 2027.