ABB India, in collaboration with Microsoft and SynerLeap, has named Cloudworx as the winner of the ABB Startup Challenge India 2025, recognizing its contribution toward transforming industrial automation and boosting energy efficiency through artificial intelligence. As part of the collaboration, ABB experts will work closely with Cloudworx—known for its AI-based 3D visualization capabilities—to co-develop a market-ready solution, with plans to scale it globally across ABB’s customer and partner ecosystem.
Headquartered in Bengaluru, the winning startup presented an AI-powered platform that builds interactive digital replicas of industrial processes, enabling real-time monitoring, simulation, and optimization. This innovation simplifies the process of selecting and commissioning ABB motors and drives, while improving maintenance efficiency through data-driven insights. Cloudworx received a $30,000 project grant, along with mentorship from Microsoft, ABB, and SynerLeap advisors, and a six-month SynerLeap membership to help refine and expand its solution.
Themed “Advancing Smart Drive Technology with AI Innovation,” this year’s competition encouraged startups to harness artificial intelligence for analyzing drive and application data to help original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) identify the ideal ABB motor-drive configurations tailored to their operational needs.
“Startups are pivotal in shaping the next phase of industrial transformation,” said AR Madhusudan, President and Local Division Manager, Drive Products, ABB India. “As India’s industries increasingly prioritize energy efficiency, enabling intelligent drive systems is essential. The creativity and technical depth showcased in this year’s challenge highlight the strength of India’s innovation ecosystem, and we look forward to developing transformative solutions together.”
The challenge, held in India for the first time, attracted over 100 entries, with seven finalists presenting their concepts in Bengaluru. Now in its sixth edition, the ABB Startup Challenge has previously been hosted across Europe and the United States, fostering global collaboration between ABB and emerging tech innovators.
The 2025 edition also coincides with ABB’s 50th anniversary of low-voltage (LV) drives globally and 20 years of drive manufacturing excellence in India, underscoring ABB’s ongoing commitment to open innovation, sustainability, and localized technology development for global impact.
ABB is a worldwide leader in electrification and automation, driving progress toward a smarter and more sustainable future. Through its expertise in engineering and digitalization, ABB enables industries to achieve higher performance, efficiency, and productivity. With a 140-year legacy and approximately 110,000 employees in over 100 countries, ABB continues to pioneer innovations under its philosophy—“Engineered to Outrun.” Its shares are traded on the SIX Swiss Exchange (ABBN) and Nasdaq Stockholm (ABB).
ABB Motion is a global frontrunner in motors and drives, dedicated to delivering energy-efficient, low-carbon, and circular solutions. By combining advanced digital technologies with decades of domain expertise, ABB Motion helps customers enhance productivity, safety, and sustainability across industries. With over 23,000 employees worldwide, the division continues to drive progress in electric powertrain systems for a cleaner, more efficient industrial future.
