Sharechat Co-founders Launch Robotics Startup General Autonomy, Expanding Their Entrepreneurial Ventures

Sharechat, the popular Indian social media platform, might still be focused on becoming a profitable enterprise, but two of its co-founders, Farid Ahsan and Bhanu Pratap Singh, have already embarked on a new and exciting mission. The duo recently launched General Autonomy, a robotics startup aimed at revolutionizing the future of factories.

With a clear vision to make mass manufacturing agile and distributed, similar to software development, General Autonomy aims to deploy automation to unlock the full potential of factories. By leveraging industrial robots, the startup seeks to enhance safety, efficiency, and standardized production processes. Farid Ahsan expressed his enthusiasm for robots, describing their pivotal role in the manufacturing sector and their transformative impact on the way things are made.

Notably, General Autonomy has secured funding from multiple investors who previously backed Sharechat, including India Quotient and Elevation Capital. Moreover, Ankush Sachdeva, the third founder of Sharechat who continues to serve as its CEO, has also made an investment in General Autonomy, showcasing his trust in his co-founders’ entrepreneurial abilities.

Having temporarily relinquished their day-to-day roles at Sharechat earlier this year, Bhanu Pratap Singh, the former CTO of Sharechat, and Farid Ahsan, the former COO, have given the reins of the company over to capable hands while they pursue their new venture. Their decision to step down reflects their confidence in Sharechat’s current leadership, yet they remain committed to providing guidance and maintaining their positions on the board.

As Sharechat continues its journey and now boasts a valuation of $5 billion, its pioneering co-founders have redirected their focus to General Autonomy, immersing themselves in the robotics sector. While various Indian companies, such as Grey Orange, Addverb, and Affordable Robotics, already operate in this vertical, it is not unusual for unicorn founders to explore new opportunities beyond their initial ventures. Similar to the founders of Zomato and Ola, who ventured into different domains, Ahsan and Singh now seek fresh challenges, leaving Sharechat to adapt to their absence in an entirely divergent industry.

1. What is General Autonomy?

General Autonomy is a robotics startup founded by Farid Ahsan and Bhanu Pratap Singh, co-founders of the popular Indian social media platform Sharechat. The company aims to revolutionize the future of factories by deploying automation and industrial robots to enhance safety, efficiency, and standardized production processes.

2. Which investors have supported General Autonomy?

General Autonomy has received investments from several investors who previously backed Sharechat, including India Quotient and Elevation Capital. Ankush Sachdeva, the third founder of Sharechat and its current CEO, has also invested in the new robotics startup.

3. When did Farid Ahsan and Bhanu Pratap Singh step aside from Sharechat?

Farid Ahsan and Bhanu Pratap Singh temporarily stepped aside from their day-to-day roles at Sharechat in January of this year. Bhanu Pratap Singh was serving as the company’s CTO, while Farid Ahsan was the COO.

4. What are some other companies in the Indian robotics sector?

India is home to several notable companies in the robotics industry, including Grey Orange, Addverb (owned by Reliance), and Affordable Robotics, which is listed on the stock market.

5. How do Ahsan and Singh’s new ventures differ from their previous work in Sharechat?

With the launch of General Autonomy, Ahsan and Singh have ventured into a completely different industry, focusing on robotics and the transformation of factories. While Sharechat aims to become a profitable social media platform, their new company aims to revolutionize manufacturing processes through automation and industrial robots.