In a significant boost for India's deep-tech manufacturing ecosystem, Pune-based startup Quintrans has successfully raised a pre-seed funding round of $750,000. The investment, led by early-stage venture capital fund Capital-A and supported by startup platform SanchiConnect, validates the vision of four young engineers fresh out of college.
From College Dream to Funded Reality
The foundation of Quintrans was laid not in a boardroom, but in the hostel rooms and corridors of the Maharashtra Institute of Technology World Peace University (MIT-WPU) in Pune. The four founders—Pranay Luniya, Kartik Kulkarni, Aniruddha Atigre, and Prasanna Kadambi—were part of a research team working on magnetic propulsion for a Hyperloop project. Their post-graduation conversations in a rental hostel crystallized into a bold ambition: to build India's most advanced indigenous linear electromagnetic systems.
Officially founded in 2021, the company spent the next year and a half developing a market-ready prototype. "It feels like the validation of a dream," says co-founder Pranay Luniya. "Till now, it was just our team of nine people working on a product we were selling. When someone as significant as Capital-A invests, it massively boosts your confidence and vision." For the founders, all engineers who graduated less than five years ago, this funding is nothing short of oxygen for their venture.
Powering Automation with 'Made-in-India' Linear Motors
Quintrans operates in the niche but critical domain of direct-drive linear motion systems. These systems are essential for industrial automation, robotics, and high-precision equipment manufacturing. While traditional rotary motors (like those in fans or washing machines) create circular motion, linear motors produce a back-and-forth motion along a straight path.
"Our systems convert electric energy directly into kinetic energy using electromagnetism, bypassing the need for mechanical conversion parts," explains Luniya. This direct conversion minimizes energy loss due to friction, leading to higher efficiency and lower electricity costs for industries. The startup's core mission is to offer a superior, locally manufactured alternative to imported linear motion solutions, enhancing the output and efficiency of Indian manufacturing.
Capital Injection to Accelerate Growth in a Booming Market
The global linear motor market is valued at a staggering $75 billion, with the Indian segment estimated at $5 billion and growing at a healthy 10% CAGR. "As manufacturing and automation become central to India's growth story, the demand for critical components like linear motors will surge," Luniya states, highlighting the vast opportunity ahead.
The freshly acquired capital will be strategically deployed across three key areas:
- Research & Development (R&D): To refine their technology and develop new applications.
- Business Development: To explore new industry verticals and expand their customer base.
- Team Expansion: The company is actively hiring and aims to grow its team from 9 to 15 members by January 2026.
"The funding enables us to move faster and target newer industries," Luniya concludes, signaling an aggressive growth phase for the Pune-born deep-tech innovator. This funding round marks a promising start for a homegrown engineering venture aiming to make a substantial impact on the nation's automation landscape.
