NEW DELHI: Infrastructure engineering firm Rodic Consultants is committing Rs 100 crore to back startups and researchers developing artificial intelligence and deep-tech solutions for India’s infrastructure sector. The company plans to raise another Rs 100 crore from external investors, taking the proposed venture initiative to Rs 200 crore.
The initiative will support founders, startups, academic teams and researchers working on technologies for infrastructure and allied sectors. Beyond funding, Rodic plans to offer access to live project environments, engineering expertise and potential pathways to public and private sector customers, helping innovators move from prototypes and pilots towards commercial deployment.
The company’s investment focus will cover artificial intelligence and machine learning, physical AI, drones, computer vision, sensors and internet of things, robotics, autonomous systems, digital twins, geospatial technologies, engineering software, advanced materials and climate technology.
The programme will span roads and highways, bridges, tunnels, metros, railways, power and energy, healthcare infrastructure, mining, agriculture and water. It will consider startups at different stages as well as academic and research teams with technologies that can be tested and applied to physical infrastructure.
Rodic chairman and managing director Raj Kumar said the initiative aims to address a gap between technological innovation and its adoption in infrastructure projects. Innovators often need more than capital, including access to project sites, engineering knowledge, data and potential users, he said.
The company will work with selected innovators to test solutions in relevant project environments, understand implementation and procurement requirements, and refine products for possible adoption by infrastructure stakeholders. It also plans to collaborate with universities and research institutions to translate applied research into deployable technologies.
The initiative builds on Rodic’s 26 years of experience in infrastructure engineering across highways, bridges, tunnels, railways, metros, urban infrastructure, water, hydropower and mining.
Rodic said the proposed investment pool would operate under a governance framework. Startups can submit pitches to connect@rodicinfra.ai for evaluation.
The company is also planning the Rodic InfraAI Conclave 2027 on 22 January, bringing together government representatives, industry leaders, investors and innovators to discuss the role of AI and technology in India’s infrastructure development.
The initiative comes as infrastructure developers increasingly explore AI-enabled design, predictive maintenance, real-time asset monitoring and automation to improve project execution, safety and asset management.