Chennai-based deep-tech startup Quarkitech has raised ₹2 crore in a pre-seed funding round from Artha Access, a programme of Artha Venture Fund II, and Finvolve. The company has also secured a ₹1.5 crore grant from IITM-CDOT Samgnya Technologies Foundation under the National Quantum Mission, strengthening its efforts to develop advanced computing and data processing technologies.
The fresh capital and grant will be used to develop Quarkitech’s core technology for compressing sensor-generated data at the source before it is stored, processed, or transmitted.
What Is Quarkitech Building for Data-Heavy Systems?
Founded in January 2025 by Rajesh Narayanan, Sanyam Parashar, Shashikant Singh Kunwar, and Vishnu P.K., Quarkitech develops simulation and quantum-inspired algorithmic solutions for large-scale combinatorial optimisation.
Its technology is designed for industries and applications where massive amounts of sensor data are generated but available bandwidth, storage, processing capacity, or power remains limited.
The company’s core compression algorithms can reduce sensor data volumes by 10 to 100 times, depending on the type of sensor, while retaining information relevant to the intended application.
How Does Its Sensor Compression Technology Work?
Unlike conventional approaches that process or compress data after it has already been generated, Quarkitech’s technology works at the source.
Its software library runs on a platform’s existing onboard computing system and compresses data before transmission or storage. This approach can help systems transmit more useful information within existing bandwidth and power limitations without requiring additional hardware or communication infrastructure.
The technology can be customised for data generated by radar, LiDAR, hyperspectral, and electro-optical sensors.
Where Can Quarkitech’s Technology Be Used?
Quarkitech is targeting applications where the volume of sensor-generated data can exceed available communication capacity.
Potential use cases include unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), satellite earth-observation systems, surveillance platforms, radar and LiDAR mapping, and ground-segment data processing.
The company’s technology can also be deployed across satellite payloads and other bandwidth-constrained communication systems where transferring large datasets in real time can be challenging.
What Has Quarkitech Achieved in Early Testing?
According to the startup, laboratory testing demonstrated that its technology could reduce data volume by 26 times while retaining 98% of mission-critical information in images captured by drones.
Quarkitech is now working to validate these results under real-world operating conditions. These tests will include moving platforms and challenging environments involving heat, vibration, limited onboard power, and intermittent connectivity.
Successful validation could help the technology move from laboratory environments into mission-critical applications where reliable and efficient data transmission is essential.
How Will the Fresh Funding Support Its Growth?
The ₹2 crore pre-seed investment and ₹1.5 crore grant will primarily support the development of Quarkitech’s core compression algorithm library and further technology validation.
The startup plans to continue improving its algorithms while testing the technology across different sensor types and operating environments.
The funding will also help Quarkitech advance its work in simulation and quantum-inspired algorithms as it builds solutions for large-scale optimisation and data-intensive applications.
Why Is Efficient Sensor Data Processing Becoming Important?
The rapid adoption of drones, satellites, advanced surveillance systems, and industrial sensors is generating increasingly large volumes of data.
However, transmitting this data can be challenging when platforms operate with limited bandwidth, onboard computing resources, or power. This is particularly relevant for UAVs and satellite systems, where adding communication infrastructure can increase both complexity and cost.
Quarkitech’s approach focuses on making the data itself more efficient before transmission, potentially allowing existing systems to handle larger volumes of useful information without significant hardware upgrades.
With backing from Artha Access and Finvolve, along with support from the National Quantum Mission ecosystem, Quarkitech is looking to develop its technology for applications spanning deep science, finance, aerospace, defence, and other mission-critical sectors.
