Intel’s Vinod Dham Invests $1.6 Mn In AI Imaging Startup Orbo

Vinod Dham, the developer of Intel’s Pentium microprocessor and technology mentor, has invested $1.6 Mn (INR 11.4 Cr) in the Pre-Series A funding round of Orbo, a maker of AI-based image enhancement software. 

Dham told Economic Times, ‘Orbo has been developing cutting edge technology that has compelled firms like Intel and Cisco to partner with it. AI is evolving around improving visual intelligence. It’s all about object detection, image classification and segmentation.’

The investment is in Dham’s personal capacity. YourNest Venture Capital and Venture Catalysts led the fundraising round. Angel investor John Ason, who also invested in Jet.com that was later sold to Walmart, and existing investor Refex Capital also took part in this round.  Delhi-based CENSIE Capital Partners was the advisr for Orbo.ai for the fund raise.

Orbo has been working closely with Intel for its core AI technology and to jointly bring research-based vision products on their hardware to amplify their new push into the AI sector. This tie up has given the company unprecedented access to “companies’ distribution platforms, channels and essential data to develop an AI and computer vision-based systems with computing at the edge capabilities that it brings to the table,” reads the official statement. 

Orbo will use this investment to ramp up its AI-based research efforts to remain a step ahead of futuristic market demands and will hire new talent from across verticals such as R&D, engineering, product development, sales and marketing. The goal of the company is to further create a seamless and automated visual enhancement stack.

Orbo, founded in 2015 by Manoj Shinde, uses deep learning-powered technology to automatically improve images and enhance resolutions for pictures and videos. The company is currently in “advanced automation trials with a number of global brands, tech companies and partners and we hope to announce around 3-5 more deals in the display and eCommerce space, and enhance viewing experiences in a variety of ways for our end-consumers,” Shinde said.