Deeptech startup Theranautilus raises $1.2 million in funding to transform dental care

Theranautilus, a Bengaluru-based deeptech startup, has raised $1.2 million in seed funding led by Pi Ventures.

The round also saw participation from Golden Sparrow Ventures and angel investors, including Abhishek Goyal, CEO of Tracxn, and Lalit Keshre, CEO of Groww.  

The funding aims to propel Theranautilus toward becoming the first global startup to commercialize nanorobotics-based medical devices, focusing initially on addressing dental hypersensitivity.

Innovating dental care with nanotechnology

Founded in 2020 by Professor Ambarish Ghosh, Dr. Debayan Dasgupta, and Dr. Peddi Shanmukh Srinivas, Theranautilus was incubated at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc).

The startup has developed cutting-edge nanorobotic solutions capable of navigating dental tissues and delivering biocompatible materials to repair damaged tissue. This approach offers a long-term solution compared to traditional treatments, such as specialized toothpastes.  

The precision-manufactured nanorobots can be externally triggered to form bio-mimetic structures, providing lasting relief through a 10-minute procedure.

This innovation marks a significant leap in minimally invasive dental therapies, with potential applications extending into cancer therapy and other diseases.  

"Nanorobots are currently made at a lab scale," said Srinivas, co-founder and CEO of Theranautilus. "For clinical trials, we need to scale up production and develop devices to control these robots inside the human body."  

Establishing an ISO-certified manufacturing facility 

Theranautilus plans to establish an ISO-certified manufacturing facility to support its go-to-market strategy. The facility will enable industrial-scale nanorobot production and pave the way for human trials, expected to begin in 2025.

The startup also aims to file new international patents to file new intellectual property rights.

According to Sohil Bhagat, principal at Pi Ventures, "Theranautilus’s revolutionary treatment for dental hypersensitivity could transform the multi-billion-dollar global industry and set new healthcare standards. Their adaptable nanotechnology platform promises to open avenues across multiple medical sectors."