Cautio acquires Nikhil Kamath’s WTFund-backed BYTES; founder says, 'The ecosystem needs to come together'

Cautio, an Indian video telematics and safety intelligence company, has acquired BYTES, a deeptech startup backed by Nikhil Kamath’s WTFund, IIT Mandi Catalyst, NSRCEL-IIM Bengaluru and Startup Karnataka.

With the acquisition, Cautio will integrate the BYTES team into its research and engineering operations.

BYTES has been working on safety systems designed specifically for two-wheelers, a segment that presents distinct challenges such as limited mounting space, constrained power availability, unpredictable rider behaviour, dense traffic conditions and strict cost requirements. Riders also face far greater physical vulnerability compared with occupants of enclosed vehicles.]

Cautio currently provides safety solutions for autos, cabs, buses, logistics fleets and enterprise mobility services. Its platform analyses millions of kilometres of video data through a 24×7 command centre, offers real-time visibility across more than 50 cities, and helps fleet operators prevent incidents, respond faster and better understand driving behaviour.

The company said extending similar intelligence to two-wheelers is now essential as they form the backbone of everyday mobility in India. BYTES’ early work focused on a vision-based, proprietary AI-powered safety system with real-time risk detection and edge optimisation, built around a detailed understanding of rider behaviour on Indian roads.

Cautio said the startup’s technology stack and engineering approach align with its belief that safety systems must be designed from first principles rather than added as an afterthought.

“Every incident we see reminds us that safety in India cannot remain limited to three- and four-wheelers and commercial fleets,” said Ankit Acharya, co-founder and chief executive officer of Cautio.

“Two-wheelers are at the heart of Indian mobility, and they deserve the same attention, intelligence, and care that larger fleets receive today. BYTES shares this belief deeply. By bringing their team into Cautio, we are accelerating our mission to build an India-first safety infrastructure that protects everyone on the road, not just a select few.”

Following the integration, the founders and team members of BYTES will join Cautio’s R&D team. The company plans to increase investment in two-wheeler safety by expanding research, committing long-term engineering resources and deploying capital toward solutions tailored to the speed and vulnerability of two-wheeler movement.

“Our mission at BYTES has always been to make riding safer without adding friction,” said Aayush and Prakhar, co-founders of BYTES.

“We have believed from day one that safety must be democratised across all segments, especially two-wheelers. This ecosystem needs to come together to truly move the needle on safety and as Cautio has already shown how video intelligence can reshape mobility safety in India, we are excited to scale our work within a platform that understands both the urgency and the responsibility of what we are building.”