ET Startup Awards 2026 | Top Innovator: Deeptech startup Theranautilus’ micro robots score big win
Deeptech startup Theranautilus has won the Top Innovator award at the ET Startup Awards 2026 for its work on microscopic robots that can navigate the human body for targeted treatments. Founded in 2020, the Bengaluru-based startup is developing the technology for dental care, with human trials planned for September 2026.
The ET Startup Awards 2026 announced Theranautilus as the Top Innovator, lauding its microscopic robots designed to navigate the human body for targeted, minimally invasive treatments. This recognition reflects a broader trend of Indian entrepreneurs tackling intricate scientific and technological challenges. Jury members faced the dilemma of weighing innovative technology against evidence of commercial success.
Mukesh Bansal, a jury member and CEO of Myntra, Curefit, and Nurix, highlighted Theranautilus' patience in enduring years of research and development before focusing on commercialisation. Abhiraj Singh Bhal, another jury member and CEO of Urban Company, emphasised the company's global uniqueness rooted in fundamental research, which is nearing commercialisation.
Founded in Bengaluru in 2020 by Ambarish Ghosh, Peddi Shanmukh Srinivas, and Debayan Dasgupta, Theranautilus aims to develop magnetically controlled nanorobots capable of executing precise therapeutic interventions, initially targeting oral healthcare for conditions like dental sensitivity. Their preclinical studies in mice have progressed toward human trials by September 2026, with plans to expand into oncology, drug delivery, ophthalmology, and neuromodulation by 2028.
Srinivas, Theranautilus' CEO, sees their work as a pathway to making Feynman's vision of a "swallowed surgeon" a reality, transforming theoretical concepts into life-saving treatments. The company plans to commercialise its technology through licensing agreements with pharmaceutical, healthcare, and medical-device firms rather than producing individual products for each application.
Theranautilus has raised Rs 65 crore in funding, including equity-free grants, from investors such as pi Ventures, Pravega Ventures, Golden Sparrow, and Angel investor Abhishek Goyal. Other notable contenders included Ethereal Exploration Guild for space technology, 4baseCare for precision oncology, QNu Labs for cybersecurity, and Agrani Labs for high-performance AI GPUs.
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