Chennai-based deep-tech startup Quarkitech has raised Rs. 2 crore in pre-seed funding from Artha Access and Finvolve, and secured a Rs. 1.5-crore grant under the National Quantum Mission.
The company is developing algorithms that compress sensor-generated data at the source. The aim is to reduce the volume of data that needs to be stored, processed, or transmitted.
Founded in January 2025, Quarkitech is based at IIT Madras Research Park, and its founding team includes Rajesh Narayanan, Sanyam Parashar, Shashikant Singh Kunwar and Vishnu P.K.
Quarkitech claims its algorithms can cut sensor data by 10 to 100 times, depending on the sensor and application. The company says the technology can preserve information that matters for the intended use. The system is designed to work on existing CPUs and GPUs, and does not require specialized hardware for deployment.
That could make the technology useful for UAVs, satellites and ground systems where communication bandwidth is limited. The company is also targeting radar, LiDAR, hyperspectral and electro-optical imaging systems.
For defence and aerospace platforms, the value proposition is straightforward. Less data to transmit can ease pressure on bandwidth and onboard computing resources.
Quarkitech said laboratory tests on drone images achieved a 26x reduction in data volume. The company reported that 98% of mission-critical information was retained in those tests.
The bigger test will come outside the laboratory. Quarkitech plans to evaluate the technology on moving platforms and under demanding operating conditions.
Heat, vibration, limited power and intermittent connectivity can affect onboard systems. These conditions will show whether the claimed compression gains translate into practical deployments.
The funding and grant will support further development of Quarkitech’s compression algorithm library. The company is also working on quantum-inspired and simulation-based algorithms for large-scale optimisation problems.
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