ABB Motion Invests in AI Startup UptimeAI to Advance Asset Management in Heavy Industries

ABB and UptimeAI join forces to advance Asset Health and Performance Management

* The investment combines machine learning (ML) and expert systems to provide actionable insights into the health and performance of rotating equipment, boosting failure prediction, health forecasting, and maintenance optimization. * The partnership brings together advanced artificial intelligence (AI)/ ML-based algorithms and industry expertise, addressing over 1000 failure modes to enhance asset management capabilities. * The collaboration will focus on the heavy asset industries, starting with Cement, Metals and Water Pipes industry segments for implementation, in India. ABB Motion has announced a strategic investment through ABB Motion Ventures in the AI start-up UptimeAI, aiming to transform how industrial customers manage the health and performance of motors, drives, and related assets. The transaction consists of ABB taking a minority stake in UptimeAI. Financial details of the investment were not disclosed. The collaboration leverages machine learning and expert systems to provide customers with deep insights into asset performance, failure predictability, and reduction of maintenance costs and risks. With over 1,000 failure modes covered by advanced AI/ML algorithms, the partnership is set to deliver outstanding reliability and efficiency. It does so by leveraging next-generation asset performance management services driven by AI/ML predictive maintenance and proven industry expertise. The initiative will initially focus on heavy asset industries, starting with addressing the needs of Cement, Metals, and Water Pipes sectors in India. By introducing tailored solutions for these critical industries, the partnership seeks to enable companies to achieve operational excellence, reduce unplanned downtime, and enhance overall productivity. "Through this investment, we reaffirm our commitment to delivering innovative solutions that empower industrial customers to manage their assets effectively and sustainably", said Soenke Kock, ABB Motion Services R&D Manager and Head of Development IoT and Analytics. "By joining forces with UptimeAI, we are applying advanced technology and expert knowledge to strengthen asset health and performance management. With reliable data insights, decision-makers are equipped to identify gaps, optimize energy efficiency, and exercise tighter control over operations, ultimately increasing asset availability and improving profit potential." "We are thrilled to partner with ABB Motion to deliver solutions that combine our expertise with their deep industry insights", added Jagadish Gattu, Founder and CEO, UptimeAI. "By joining forces, we will optimize operations and address the unique challenges faced by industrial customers such as root cause analysis, continuous improvement, and knowledge management." ABB is a global technology leader in electrification and automation, enabling a more sustainable and resource-efficient future. By connecting its engineering and digitalization expertise, ABB helps industries run at high performance, while becoming more efficient, productive and sustainable so they outperform. At ABB, we call this 'Engineered to Outrun'. The company has over 140 years of history and around 110,000 employees worldwide. ABB's shares are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (ABBN) and Nasdaq Stockholm (ABB). www.abb.com ABB Motion Ventures is the venture capital unit of ABB Motion. ABB through its business-led venture capital investment framework, ABB Ventures, looks for breakthrough technology companies aligned with ABB's goal to write the future of industrial electrification and automation. Since its formation in 2009, ABB Ventures has deployed around $500 million into startups spanning a range of sectors including robotics, industrial IoT, AI/machine learning, energy transition, cybersecurity, electric mobility, smart buildings, and distributed energy. For more information, visit  https://global.abb/group/en/technology/ventures UptimeAI is a San Francisco-based AI software company offering operational excellence capabilities via its AI Expert OEx platform. The company empowers engineers to solve operational issues faster by explaining the relationships between reliability, performance, and equipment to automatically diagnose the root cause and suggesting mitigations. Many global industrial customers have implemented UtimeAI's solutions across North America, the Middle East, and India.

UptimeAI Bags Funding From ABB Motion To Optimise Its AI Suite

Prior to this investment, the startup had raised over $19 Mn from investors like YourNest Venture Capital, Sharad Sanghi, AI Sprouts and Venture Catalysts Artificial intelligence (AI) startup UptimeAI has raised an undisclosed amount of investment from the venture arm of Switzerland-based ABB Motion. In a statement, ABB said that the investment would help UptimeAI's AI-driven digital solutions provide clients insights on improving their asset performance. ABB Motion, which is a part of the ABB Group, is a leading company in the motors and drives segment. As part of the deal, ABB Motion will acquire a minority stake in UptimeAI. With the partnership, the companies plan to initially provide solutions to players in heavy asset industries, starting with addressing the needs of cement, metals and water pipes sectors in India. "By introducing tailored solutions for these critical industries, the partnership seeks to enable companies to achieve operational excellence, reduce unplanned downtime and enhance overall productivity," the statement said. Founded in 2019 by Jagadish Gattu and Vamsi Yalamanchili, UptimeAI provides deep insights to minimise losses, maintenance costs and increase workforce productivity via its AI-driven digital solutions to enterprises operating in heavy industries sector. Through its AI Export OEx platform, the startup claims to empower engineers to solve operational issues faster by explaining the relationships between reliability, performance, and equipment to automatically diagnose the root cause and suggest mitigations. Commenting on the funding, UptimeAI cofounder and CEO Gattu said, "By joining forces, we will optimise operations and address the unique challenges faced by industrial customers such as root cause analysis, continuous improvement, and knowledge management." UptimeAI's client base includes Tata Power, GMR, Bharat Petroleum, Ultratech, among others. Besides, it claims that it has an array of global industrial customers from North America and the Middle East. The startup competes with the likes of Infinite Uptime in the Indian market and Augury and SparkCognition in the global terrains. Prior to this investment, the startup had raised over $19 Mn from investors like YourNest Venture Capital, Sharad Sanghi, AI Sprouts and Venture Catalysts. It last raised $14 Mn in its Series A funding round led by WestBridge Capital back in July 2024. According to Inc42's annual funding report, AI-led startups contributed to a major funding surge in the wider deeptech sector, which recorded a 33% year-on-year jump in funding to $460 Mn in 2024.