Niobia takes the guesswork out of some of tech’s most expensive mistakes

San Francisco-based tech startup Niobia is addressing the complex issue of pinpointing production defects in battery and chip manufacturing. The company's AI software flags these defects, providing engineers with the ability to ask a chatbot for explanations and solutions, streamlining the process from days to mere minutes. Niobia's agents are mounted directly on manufacturing equipment, akin to sensors, and can detect minute flaws such as scratches.

Their AI system compiles all data into one place, enabling engineers to delve deeper into the root causes of product failures. This is crucial as chips and batteries are vital products with growing demand and supply constraints. Mistakes during research and development can lead to significant financial losses and production delays, often costing millions.

Co-founders Gaurav Jha and Harveen Kaur, both PhDs in chemistry, have firsthand experience with the industry's challenges. Jha emphasized that while Niobia's service is niche, it underpins numerous everyday products. The company's AI agents operate on open-source models, trained specifically with data from batteries and semiconductors to identify defects as small as pinholes.

This data is kept secure on customers' premises due to concerns over proprietary information not being exposed to public AI clouds. Niobia also prioritizes cybersecurity, ensuring customers retain their own encryption keys. The company currently focuses on film coating, electroplating, and fluidized bed reactions, with plans for its technology to evolve towards fully autonomous manufacturing systems.

Niobia will showcase its technology at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, competing in the Startup Battlefield alongside 19 other startups.