MachIntell
IIT Madras
MachIntell, a pioneering research team from IIT Madras, is dedicated to enhancing the reliability and performance of machine tools. Their innovative approach involves developing a factory-level cyber-physical system tailored for Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs). This comprehensive hardware and software ecosystem aims to elevate equipment reliability, streamline data collection, and automate critical reliability processes.
The team joined GDC I-NCUBATE cohort with the goal of transforming their academic research into a viable startup, When MachIntell began, they targeted a broad spectrum of manufacturing industries, particularly discrete manufacturing sectors such as machine tools, automobile part suppliers, and job shops. They identified three primary customer segments: industries with conventional reliability practices, industries willing to adopt new reliability practices, and industries unaware of or indifferent to reliability practices.
Engaging with industry leaders a part of customer discovery process provided invaluable feedback, helping them refine their solutions to address real-world challenges effectively and in the process negated some of their initial assumptions about the market as a whole and about the potential prospects and value propositions.
By the end of the GDC cohort, MachIntell had honed their focus to target early adopters in the machine tool OEM sector, particularly those serving medium to high-precision needs in the automotive and aerospace industries.
The GDC I-NCUBATE program facilitated a critical shift for MachIntell from a solution-driven to a capabilities-driven approach. Transitioning from laboratory settings to real industrial scenarios, the team gained confidence in interacting with industry professionals and evolved from a researcher mindset to an entrepreneurial mindset.
MachIntell is now poised to continue their customer discovery and product development with confidence, focusing on a well-defined market segment and equipped with the skills to succeed.
