Cautio Nets Pre Seed Funding To Offer Video Telematics Products For Mitigating Safety Issues

Visual telematics startup Cautio has secured pre-seed funding of INR 6.5 Cr co-led by Antler, 8i Ventures and AU Small Finance Bank in a mix of equity and debt infusion.

The round also saw participation from Cautio’s early customers and angel investors, including Rahul Mathur from DeVC, Shan MS from Namma Yatri and Agoda’s Pranjal Kalra, among others.

“We would be utilising most of our funds towards research and hiring people,” Cautio’s chief executive Ankit Acharya told Inc42.

“Telematics in India has rapidly advanced from GPS, bluetooth and portable navigation to embedded connectivity. Initially focused on passive road safety measures, the emphasis is now shifting towards active real-time responsiveness due to high accident rates,” Acharya said in a statement.

“Video telematics and dash cams, driven by demand from the commercial vehicle sector, will be crucial in eliminating hearsay and enhancing road safety,” he added.

Founded by Acharya and Pranjal Nadhani in 2023, Cautio is working on an affordable AI powered dash-cam and operating system (OS) as a solution for fleet operators and commercial vehicles in India to enhance safety for drivers and riders, while also improving fleet productivity, fleet ancillary costs and shrink on-road accidents toll.

“With the support of our friends at Antler, 8i and AU, we are primed to escalate our efforts in deploying cutting-edge safety solutions across the country,” said Nadhani, CTO at Cautio.

Ranjan Agarawal, national business manager at AU Bank said, “By supporting Cautio, we are investing in our belief of a future where technology seamlessly enhances safety and efficiency for all in every sector whether it be banking or mobility.”

The company claims that its unwavering dedication to safety has attracted widespread interest from cab, auto and fleet owners and drivers.

“The enthusiastic support from operators highlights the critical need for proactive safety measures within our transportation networks,” the Bengaluru-based company said in a statement.

A year ago, LightMetrics, a peer startup, also from Bengaluru, raised $8.5 Mn (INR 70.92 Cr) in a Series A funding round from Sequoia Capital India.

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