Chennai-based material science and manufacturing technology startup Think Metal has raised Rs 27 crore in a funding round led by IAN Alpha Fund, with participation from 3i Partners and other investors. The company said the capital will support commercial expansion of its industrial metal additive manufacturing platform, SistemT1.
Think Metal is developing precision manufacturing technologies for aerospace, defence, space, automotive and electric mobility applications. The company plans to use the funding for product development, materials research and development, team expansion and outreach to a larger base of industrial customers.
SistemT1 is built around what Think Metal describes as proprietary metal filament technology. The platform is intended to enable faster and more flexible production of precision metal components. The company said it has completed its initial technology development and enterprise pilots and is now working towards larger commercial deployments.
The startup is also expanding its materials library and developing in-house capabilities to process and create new materials. Its stated approach combines materials, manufacturing processes, industrial systems and application development into an integrated technology stack. This is aimed at addressing the requirements of industries where component performance, production flexibility and development cycles are critical.
Think Metal was founded by Sabyasachi Ghosh and Arushi Sharma. Co-founder and chief executive Ghosh said the investment would help the company strengthen its product development, expand its team and materials capabilities, and accelerate adoption across industrial applications. He said the company’s long-term focus was to build indigenous capabilities in materials and manufacturing technologies from India for global markets.
Rajnish Kapur, managing partner at IAN Alpha Fund, said the platform could enable manufacturers to produce high-value precision metal parts up to 10 times faster and at half the cost. He also said the quality of parts had been tested at NABL- and ASME-accredited laboratories. According to Kapur, Think Metal has filed more than 17 intellectual property applications.
The company estimates a global market opportunity of approximately $110 billion across advanced manufacturing and materials. The new funding will now be directed towards product development, materials research, hiring and the transition from enterprise pilots to broader commercial use, according to the company release.
