Held on June 24 and 25, 2026, at AGI Greenpac’s manufacturing facilities, the programme brought together eight carefully selected deep-tech start-up founders, investors, industry leaders, and manufacturing experts to strengthen collaboration between emerging technology companies and the manufacturing sector. The initiative combined an immersive factory-floor experience with structured workshops, enabling founders to gain first-hand exposure to real operational challenges while creating practical, deployment-ready solutions.
Unlike conventional start-up showcase events, the programme followed a structured, outcome-driven model that moved beyond presentation-based engagement. Founders were given direct access to the manufacturing shop floor, where they observed live production processes, interacted with department heads, identified operational bottlenecks, and co-developed technology solutions alongside manufacturing teams. The proposed solutions were subsequently presented before the senior leadership of AGI Greenpac and SIG Tattva, followed by detailed technical discussions to assess feasibility, implementation readiness, and commercial potential.
The programme concluded with the evaluation of all proposals based on merit, milestone readiness, and scalability, resulting in the award of PoC pilot engagements worth ₹75 lakh to five deep-tech start-ups. The selected projects covered key industrial technology segments, including Autonomous Mobile Robots, computer vision, industrial emission control, predictive maintenance, and logistics.
The eight participating start-ups were shortlisted from a pool of more than 20 companies selected from Pontaq’s portfolio of nearly 180 start-ups. The final selection was based on alignment with AGI Greenpac’s manufacturing technology priorities, including artificial intelligence and machine learning, industrial automation, robotics, energy management, quality inspection, emission control, supply chain traceability, and cybersecurity.
The participating companies included Novorbis Itus, represented by Founder and Chief Executive Officer Harsh Neekhra, which develops patented industrial emission control and pollution reduction systems for manufacturing environments. Kredily, represented by Founder and Chief Executive Officer Devendra Khandegar, showcased its artificial intelligence-driven Human Resource Management System platform while bringing expertise in financial technology and operational efficiency.
Cairovision, founded by Vedpal Singh, also known as VP Singh, presented artificial intelligence and computer vision-powered video analytics solutions designed for manufacturing, energy, and logistics sectors. mSense AI, represented by Co-founder and Chief Business Officer Surekha Gupta and Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Shiv Shankar Maurya, demonstrated artificial intelligence-powered quality inspection through computer vision and acoustic intelligence for manufacturing lines.
Maxbyte Technologies, led by Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Ramshankar C.S., showcased Industry 4.0 and digital transformation solutions focused on industrial automation, robotics, and decarbonisation. Presage Insights, represented by Co-founder Atul Sharma, presented artificial intelligence and Internet of Things-powered predictive maintenance and asset performance management technologies designed to minimise industrial downtime.
Goat Robotics, represented by Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Muthu Vangaliappan and Co-founder and Managing Director Mugesh S, demonstrated Autonomous Mobile Robots developed for industrial operations and intralogistics. Borlaug Web Services, led by Founder and Chief Executive Officer Ayon Hazra, presented blockchain-based supply chain transparency, carbon accounting, and sustainability traceability solutions.
The first day of the programme featured introductory sessions involving leadership teams from AGI Greenpac, SIG Tattva, and Pontaq, followed by guided factory visits led by department heads who explained real-time operational challenges. Founders then independently and collaboratively developed technology-driven solutions before presenting their proposals to the corporate leadership for evaluation.
Shashvat Somany, Founder of SIG Tattva, said the future of innovation depends on eliminating barriers between start-ups and industry. He stated that founders have traditionally been expected to solve industrial problems without direct access to the environments where those challenges exist. According to him, the vision behind the initiative is to democratise access to manufacturing shop floors and create a platform where entrepreneurs, operational teams, and business leaders collaborate to accelerate successful pilot projects and long-term value creation. He added that the initiative, titled “Floor to Future,” is designed to bridge this gap by opening SIG’s manufacturing ecosystem to entrepreneurs.
Sriharsha Bandaluppi, Head of SIG Tattva, said the organisation remains focused on creating practical pathways from innovation to implementation. He stated that the initiative represents a shift away from presentation-driven engagement towards genuine problem-solving, pilot execution, and measurable outcomes. He added that the collaboration with Pontaq enabled founders to understand operational bottlenecks directly through interactions with manufacturing teams, allowing solutions to be developed based on real industrial requirements rather than theoretical assumptions.
Rajesh Khosla, Chief Executive Officer of AGI Greenpac Limited, said operational excellence and continuous innovation remain central to the company’s long-term growth strategy. He stated that as India’s leading glass packaging manufacturer, AGI Greenpac recognises the value of integrating external innovation into its manufacturing ecosystem. According to him, the workshop allowed company teams to engage with entrepreneurs introducing emerging technologies capable of addressing real business challenges, creating opportunities for long-term operational and customer value.
Prem Barthasarathy, Founder and Managing Partner of Pontaq VC, said major industrial companies seek integrated technology solutions capable of improving quality, productivity, revenue generation, and cost efficiency throughout the value chain. He noted that start-ups typically require between eight and eighteen months to secure pilot opportunities with large enterprises. According to him, the “Floor to Future” initiative significantly shortens this timeline by allowing founders to work directly alongside operational and business leaders. He added that the emergence of multiple Proof-of-Concept opportunities within just 48 hours demonstrates how structured collaboration can rapidly transform industrial innovation into implementation.
AGI Greenpac Limited is India’s largest manufacturer of container glass and also produces a comprehensive portfolio of polyethylene terephthalate bottles and anti-counterfeiting security closures. The company operates seven strategically located manufacturing facilities across India and serves more than 500 globally recognised institutional clients.
SIG Tattva is the Corporate Venture Capital arm of Somany Impresa Group and focuses on supporting early-stage ventures in deep-tech manufacturing, enterprise Software as a Service, clean technologies, next-generation electronic commerce, and disruptive product innovation. The organisation provides strategic guidance, industrial access, and operational expertise to help entrepreneurs accelerate commercial adoption of advanced technologies.
Established in 2015 as the first India-United Kingdom venture capital fund, Pontaq operates from its India headquarters in Chennai and invests in scalable, sustainable, and impact-driven technologies with global potential. The firm has completed more than 190 investments across 23 Indian states and two regions of the United Kingdom. Its portfolio includes operations in more than 15 multinational markets, holds nearly 100 patents, has created more than 3,000 jobs across India and the United Kingdom, with over 10 per cent of those positions occupied by women, while nearly 30 per cent of its portfolio companies are led by women founders.
The successful completion of the Founder Immersion and Start-up Workshop marks the beginning of an ongoing open innovation programme jointly envisioned by AGI Greenpac and SIG Tattva. The initiative is expected to expand beyond Pontaq and include collaborations with additional venture capital firms, creating a repeatable model for accelerating industrial innovation through direct engagement between manufacturing companies and deep-tech start-ups.
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