Gati Drives, a deep-tech startup building next-generation electric motors that deliver BLDC-class efficiency without rare-earth materials, has raised a pre-seed investment from Campus Fund. The funding will be used to accelerate product engineering, expand manufacturing capacity, and build partnerships with HVAC and appliance OEMs across India.
The company has been co-founded by Suyash Mishra (B.Tech Electrical Engineering, IITRAM, 2022) and Gajendra Jain. Gati Drives is addressing a major gap in India’s appliance and industrial ecosystem—where more than 90% of appliances still operate on traditional induction motors, a mature technology that sacrifices significant efficiency. At the same time, the Indian market remains heavily dependent on imported BLDC motors, which are often expensive due to rare-earth components and supply-chain constraints.
Both founders previously worked as early engineering leaders at Naxatra Labs and Motorama, where they were involved in the development of rare-earth-free BLDC motors for e-mobility applications. Their combined R&D and product experience has shaped Gati’s focus on delivering energy-efficient motors suitable for cost-sensitive, high-volume Indian markets.
“Gati Drives is bringing meaningful innovation to a segment that has seen limited change for decades,” said Richa Bajpai, Founder and CEO, Campus Fund. “We are supporting a team with strong technical depth in motor design and development, working on a large market opportunity where efficiency, affordability, and supply independence converge. Their SSPM platform offers BLDC-level efficiency at close to induction-motor pricing—an outcome the industry has struggled to achieve.”
At the core of Gati’s approach is its proprietary Slip Synchronous Permanent Magnet (SSPM) motor technology. The company says its SSPM motors deliver around 90% efficiency, comparable to premium BLDC motors, while being 40–50% lower in cost. The technology is designed to support 100% local sourcing, using ferrite magnets manufactured in India along with indigenous RISC-V microcontrollers, reducing dependence on imported components and Chinese rare-earth supply chains. In addition, SSPM motors are designed for component-level servicing, unlike conventional BLDC motors that often require complete replacement when damaged.
The market potential is significant. India’s sub-1kW motor segment is estimated at $4.7 billion, with growth expected at around 8.5% CAGR. Demand is expected to strengthen further with rising adoption of energy-efficient appliances. The HVAC segment alone is projected to reach $29.4 billion by 2030, supported by hotter climate conditions, rising incomes, and stricter efficiency mandates. In parallel, tightening global supply conditions—particularly restrictions around rare-earth exports—are pushing Indian manufacturers to look for domestic alternatives.
“Electric motors have powered appliances for generations, but manufacturers still face a difficult compromise—either buy costly imported BLDC motors or use inefficient induction motors that waste 30–50% of power as heat,” said Suyash Mishra, Co-founder and CEO, Gati Drives. “SSPM technology removes that compromise. Campus Fund’s support strengthens our mission to build advanced motor technology in India and deliver real electricity savings at scale.”
Gati Drives said it is already seeing traction from industry participants, with pilot initiatives underway with established companies in India. The funding will support manufacturing scale-up, hiring, and completion of certifications required for commercial rollout.
The startup is targeting pilot production of 1,000–2,000 units per month by early 2026, with plans to expand into adjacent segments including fans and pumps, and eventually into electric vehicle motor applications. With this investment, Gati Drives becomes part of Campus Fund’s growing portfolio of student-led ventures focused on industrial and deep-tech innovation, building locally developed solutions that address major cost and capability gaps in India’s manufacturing ecosystem.
