UrbanMatrix: Rishabh Verma on Revolutionizing Industrial Drones in India
When most people think of drones, they imagine hobbyist photography or wedding videos. But for Rishabh Verma, Co-founder and CEO of UrbanMatrix Technologies, drones are the next frontier of industrial efficiency. From inspecting high-voltage power lines to delivering life-saving medical supplies in rural India, UrbanMatrix is building the industrial-grade hardware and software required to make drone technology a reliable tool for the global economy.
Rishabh's journey began in the vibrant labs of IIT Madras. As a first-year student, he attended a talk by a senior who had started a company right out of college. That spark ignited a four-year obsession with aerial robotics. "I didn't want to just follow the 9-to-5 path," Rishabh recalls. "I spent my college years at the Center for Innovation (CFI), learning everything from material science to computer vision. We were lucky to have an ecosystem that encouraged us to fail early and often."
The Industrial Shift
While consumer drones became mainstream years ago, industrial drones are a different beast. They require higher reliability, longer flight times, and specialized sensors. "A photography drone failing is a nuisance; an inspection drone failing over a power plant is a disaster," Rishabh explains. "We focused on building redundant systems and robust communication protocols that allow our drones to operate in the harshest environments."
Building a Hardware Startup in India
Building a hardware company is notoriously difficult, especially in India where the manufacturing supply chain is still maturing. Rishabh and his team bootstrapped UrbanMatrix initially through service contracts, using the revenue to fund their R&D. "In the beginning, manufacturers don't take you seriously," he admits. "You have to stand on top of their heads to get the quality you need. But being based in a tech hub like Chennai allowed us to tap into a rich network of engineers and manufacturers who eventually became partners."
The team leveraged the IIT Madras incubation cell, which provided not just space, but a stamp of credibility that helped them land their first few industrial pilots. This "ground-up" approach ensured that every feature they built was a direct response to a real-world customer problem, rather than a lab hypothesis.
The Customer-First Pivot
One of the most critical lessons Rishabh learned was the importance of talking to customers before writing code. "Our first drone was a marvel of engineering, but nobody wanted to buy it because it didn't solve their specific operational pain point," he reflects. "We realized we weren't just selling drones; we were selling data and efficiency. Once we understood that, we pivoted to building an integrated ecosystem—drones, cloud software, and AI analytics."
This holistic approach has made UrbanMatrix a preferred partner for sectors like agriculture, where drones are used for precision spraying, and defense, where reliable intelligence-gathering is paramount. By focusing on the "full stack" of drone operations, they've removed the friction that usually prevents large industries from adopting aerial technology.
Rishabh's Roadmap for Hardware Founders
- Start with the Problem: Don't fall in love with your tech. Fall in love with the customer's problem. Talk to 100 potential users before you build your prototype.
- Leverage Ecosystems: If you're a student, use your college's innovation centers. The network and resources available there are invaluable.
- Trust is Everything: In hardware, your team is your biggest asset. Hire people who are genuinely interested in the tech and whom you can trust completely.
- Persistence Over Perfection: You will face setbacks every week. Stay balanced, stay positive, and don't give up when your manufacturing partner misses a deadline.
The Global Vision
Looking ahead, UrbanMatrix isn't content with just being an Indian leader. The company is already eyeing markets in Southeast Asia and Africa, where industrial needs mirror India's challenges. Rishabh envisions a future where drones are as common as trucks in logistics and as essential as tractors in farming. "We are building for the next 10 to 15 years," he says. "The drone revolution is just getting started, and India has the talent to lead it globally."
UrbanMatrix Progress
- Sectors Served: Agriculture, Defense, and Industrial Inspection.
- Technology: Full-stack ecosystem including proprietary hardware and cloud analytics.
- Ambition: Expanding from India to Southeast Asia and African markets.
About the Guest
Rishabh Verma is the Co-founder and CEO of UrbanMatrix Technologies. A graduate of IIT Madras, Rishabh is a passionate roboticist who has dedicated his career to advancing drone technology in India. Under his leadership, UrbanMatrix has grown from a college project to a leading industrial drone manufacturer. He is an active member of the Indian startup community and a frequent speaker on the intersection of hardware and AI. Rishabh is committed to proving that India can be a global hub for high-end aerospace engineering.
UrbanMatrix Technologies is a Bengaluru-based startup specializing in industrial-grade drone systems. By providing reliable, high-performance hardware integrated with sophisticated cloud-based management tools, UrbanMatrix enables industries to harness the power of aerial data for safer and more efficient operations.