AI Enabled Computer Vision Startup ORBO Comes Out Of Stealth Mode, Raises Funding From Bollywood Duo

Artificial Intelligence (AI) enabled facial technology and computer vision startup ORBO came out of stealth mode and has raised an undisclosed amount of funding from Bollywood singers The Meet Brothers (Harmeet Singh & Manmeet Singh) and AJ Ventures.

The startup unveiled a list of computational photographic products that promise to enhance photo quality and automate the tedious manual task for users by using computer vision and deep learning. Part of the funding has gone into maintaining and hiring computer vision scientists and deep learning experts.

The computer vision and deep facial technology company founded in 2015 by Manoj Shinde focusses on blurring the lines between a camera and a human eye by bringing visual perception and transformations to any device. For this, ORBO relies on research and development in deep learning technology, so as to provide unique solutions for computational photography applications using artificial intelligence (AI).

CEO Manoj Shinde stated that smart imaging and computer vision are becoming essential and fundamental ingredients for camera-enabled applications from mobile devices to autonomous drones, to surveillance equipment to automotive safety systems, to intelligent image retouching to digital signages. He added, “The number of smartphone manufacturers referring to their phone as ‘camera phone’ has grown higher than ever but, at the same time, it will be difficult to stay on top of the game just by upgrading hardware.”

It’s becoming harder to squeeze more performance out of one’s phone camera hardware especially when customer demand for the best phone camera and quality of image is becoming crucial. Images suffer from low quality, despite advancements in phone hardware. ORBO aims to employ mathematically heavy algorithms to overcome these camera produced deformities or hardware limitations. It will focus on bringing AI automation to eliminate redundant tasks and low-power computational photography to all camera-enabled devices and applications.

The Bollywood duo of Meet Brothers invested in the startup given the product’s B2B application to the industry as the movie industry is all about visuals.

ORBO is already working with a few big clients on embedded vision and smart imaging solutions and will provide scalable imaging solutions using computer vision and deep learning.

Manoj told Inc42 that ORBO is working with the largest OEM in mobile phone manufacturing to bring the best camera and photo quality in their stock camera.

Also, it is working with ecommerce marketplaces, where most of the vendors have a tough time dealing with image specifications and quality requirements. The startup is working with these marketplaces to bring automation in product photography as well as in product retouching. Also in its target list are consumer apps and ecommerce outfits who are extremely keen on bringing features such as virtual makeup on their apps.

AI driven startups like ORBO have been receiving continuing investor interest this year as well. Just last week, Bengaluru-based AI driven healthtech platform Mfine raised $1.5 Mn funding led by Stellaris Venture Partners. Prior to that in May 2017, AI-based chatbot Niki.ai has raised $2 Mn Series A funding from the global leader in business management software SAP and existing investor Ronnie Screwvala’s Unilazer Ventures. In April 2017, Delhi-based artificial intelligence startup Innefu Labs raised $2 Mn Series A funding from IndiaNivesh Venture Capital Fund.