Peppermint, a robotics and deeptech startup, secures INR 34 crore in a bridge funding round led by Venture Catalysts, accompanied by participation from several marquee investors including Naveen Kshatriya (ex-CEO, Castrol), the Chennai Angels, and a consortium of angel investors from the UAE and Singapore. The funding round, which also saw existing investors reaffirm their commitment, marks a significant milestone for the Pune-headquartered startup.
The company plans to channel the funds towards expanding its team, boosting sales and marketing, and advancing its product pipeline. Founded by IIT Bombay and NIT Trichy alumni, Peppermint is known for building industrial-grade cleaning robots and Cobotics solutions. These machines are not just deployed in over 13 cities across India but have also made their mark in Southeast Asia and the Middle East. The startup’s robots clean over 5 million square feet daily and cater to clients in manufacturing, healthcare, and corporate sectors.
Since its inception, Peppermint has demonstrated consistent revenue growth, boasting a 4x increase since its seed round. The startup previously secured funding from major names like 100X.VC, Venture Catalysts, and the Malpani Group. As demand for automation continues to rise, Peppermint’s latest funding positions it well to tap into the expanding global cleaning robotics market. This aligns with global sustainability goals and the increasing emphasis on hygiene in post-pandemic operations.
The recent investment highlights confidence in Peppermint’s vision, technology, and operational capabilities. It also reflects a growing investor appetite for robotics and automation solutions with real-world industrial applications. Peppermint aims to strengthen its market presence further and build on its mission of ‘Making Robots Work’ across industries.
1. Peppermint Raises INR 34 Cr in Bridge Round
Peppermint successfully secures INR 34 crore funding in a bridge round led by early-stage investment powerhouse Venture Catalysts. The round included high-profile participants like ex-Castrol CEO Naveen Kshatriya and other key angel investors from the UAE, Singapore, and India. Existing investors also doubled down on their support, underlining confidence in Peppermint’s growth potential.
This bridge round serves as a strategic funding boost to scale operations before a larger Series A round. The funds will help the startup grow its team, expand its product offerings, and increase go-to-market efforts.
2. Focused Use of Funds for Strategic Growth
2.1 Scaling the Team and Tech Stack
Peppermint plans to use a substantial portion of the funds to expand its team across sales, tech, and support verticals. With robots deployed across 13+ Indian cities and international regions, scaling the team is crucial to sustain service quality and client onboarding.
Additionally, investment will go towards enhancing the product stack—particularly the intelligence layer of its robots, improving operational efficiency, and introducing new features based on customer feedback.
2.2 Expanding Global Presence
The startup already serves sectors like manufacturing, corporate parks, and healthcare in Southeast Asia and the Middle East. With fresh capital in hand, Peppermint aims to deepen its footprint in these regions and explore newer markets that have shown a surge in demand for robotic cleaning solutions.
3. The Team Behind the Tech
Peppermint was founded by IIT Bombay and NIT Trichy alumni with a mission to industrialize cleaning through robotics and Cobotics. Their in-house R&D and manufacturing setup in Pune plays a key role in maintaining end-to-end control over the hardware and software.
This integrated approach has enabled the startup to iterate quickly and stay ahead of the curve in a market that increasingly values automation, reliability, and cleanliness.
4. Market Trends and Strategic Positioning
Peppermint operates in a sector that is seeing strong tailwinds from post-COVID hygiene demands, labor shortages, and the global sustainability push. The global cleaning robots market is expected to reach USD 24 billion by 2030, and Peppermint is strategically positioned to capitalize on this growth.
Its ability to serve large facilities with reliable machines and real-time insights gives it a strong competitive edge in both domestic and international markets.
5. Learnings for Startups and Entrepreneurs
5.1 Deeptech with Real-World Application
Peppermint’s growth journey shows that deeptech startups can thrive when they solve genuine, large-scale problems. Automating industrial cleaning may sound niche, but the market is massive and growing. Entrepreneurs should look for under-served, high-friction areas ripe for innovation.
5.2 Importance of Iteration and Feedback Loops
By manufacturing in-house and working closely with enterprise clients, Peppermint has managed to quickly improve its product offerings. This direct feedback loop has helped them stay agile in a hardware-heavy segment—something other robotics startups can emulate.
5.3 Strategic Bridge Funding Works
Bridge rounds are often under-utilized, but this fundraise shows they can act as powerful stepping stones if aligned with short-term goals like market expansion or team strengthening. Timing and investor alignment matter significantly.
6. Conclusion: Robotics in Action
Peppermint secures latest funding round marks another step forward in India’s rapidly evolving robotics and automation ecosystem. By addressing tangible needs with solid tech and a capable team, the startup continues to stand out.
As global demand for automation in hygiene intensifies, Peppermint’s innovation-led, feedback-driven approach places it in a strong position to lead.
This story first appeared on The Startups News, your hub for verified, humanized, and SEO-optimized startup news. Stay tuned for more insights on startup funding, technology trends, and entrepreneurial breakthroughs shaping the future.
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