StarrBot leads in lighting solutions with motion sensors and LED lights, offering customized technology for smarter interactions, savings, and efficient, remote-managed lighting. In this exclusive interview Mr. Aviinaash Verma, Founder and Managing Director of StarrBot Automations Pvt. Ltd. opens up about the company’s journey in revolutionizing the lighting industry. With a strong focus on energy efficiency, StarrBot is tackling the growing electricity cost challenges by offering innovative solutions that can reduce energy consumption by up to 80%. The company’s commitment to sustainability and quality shines through as they continue to develop cutting-edge technologies in-house, aiming to reduce India’s reliance on imported products. Read on as Mr. Aviinaash shares insights on the company’s vision, growth, and future plans to create a greener, energy-efficient future for India.
About Starrbot and its Vision
The company operates in the lighting industry, addressing the challenge of rising electricity costs and the increasing gap between electricity production and consumption. Its vision is to offer innovative solutions that significantly reduce electricity consumption, benefiting both residential and commercial sectors. Key highlights include:
- Electricity Savings: Their products reduce electricity consumption by up to 80%, providing substantial cost savings for clients, particularly in commercial settings.
- Product Features:
- Motion Sensors: Lights with built-in motion sensors for outdoor areas, offering dimming or on-off features to save energy in common spaces like parking lots, lobbies, and staircases.
- In-House Manufacturing: All products, including LED drivers and motion sensors, are designed and manufactured in Pune with a dedicated R&D team.
- Retrofit Solutions: Standalone motion sensors can be added to existing lighting setups, converting them into energy-efficient systems.
- Technologies Used:
- PIR (Passive Infrared) Sensors: Ideal for indoor use due to sensitivity to body motion and temperature differences.
- Microwave Sensors: Suitable for outdoor use, unaffected by temperature variations, with a longer range and higher sensitivity.
- Client Base: The company serves housing societies, multi-storey apartments, factories (e.g., Tata Steel, Serum Institute), and commercial establishments. Its products have proven durability, with customers reporting no defects even after two years of use.
- Future Outlook: By continuously innovating in energy-saving technologies, the company aims to bridge the demand-supply gap in electricity and support sustainable growth in sectors like electric vehicles and residential infrastructure.
Products Offering
- Motion Sensor Lights:
- A wide range of indoor and outdoor lighting solutions with motion-sensing capabilities.
- Features include dimming or on-off motion sensors for energy efficiency.
- LPG Gas Leak Detectors:
- Compact, portable alarms designed to detect LPG leaks.
- Easy to install and highly critical for household safety.
- Standalone Motion Sensors:
- Retrofit solutions for existing lights, converting them into motion-sensor-enabled setups.
- LED Drivers:
- Custom-designed drivers for efficient energy use in lighting systems.
Applications
- Residential Spaces:
- Common areas like staircases, parking lots, and lobbies benefit from motion-sensor lights.
- Specific indoor use cases include bathrooms, kitchens, balconies, storerooms, and bedrooms.
- Commercial Establishments:
- Offices, factories, and industrial facilities use these products for energy savings in large-scale operations.
- Examples include Tata Steel, Serum Institute, and Maruti.
- Safety Applications:
- LPG gas detectors are vital for kitchen safety, providing early warnings of gas leaks.
- Energy Efficiency Solutions:
- Applicable in areas like gardens, internal roads, and external lighting to reduce electricity consumption.
- Retrofit sensors extend usability to existing infrastructure.
Company Workforce
- R&D Team: 3-4 people.
- Factory Team: 25 people, with outsourced employees also contributing.
- On-Roll Employees: 19 people handling accounts and operations.
Cost Comparison
The company is working towards matching the cost of production in India with global markets, particularly China, to prevent imports from China. With a slight increase in sales, they aim to make their costs competitive enough to offer products at prices comparable to those produced in China.
Guarantee and Warranty
- Current Warranty: 2-year Point-to-Point (P2P) warranty.
- Future Plans: Aiming to launch a 5-year warranty for certain products, such as tube lights, which is considered exceptional, especially when compared to competitors like Philips, which typically offer shorter warranties.
Company Vision
- The company is focused on energy conservation and aims to make a significant impact by helping to reduce electricity consumption across India.
- They are working towards creating “Make in India” products that support sustainable energy solutions for future generations.
- Their products are designed to last and provide solutions for the next 10 years, helping bridge the gap between electricity production and consumption.
Distribution Plans
- Pan-India Expansion: They are looking for distributors across India to expand their reach and save electricity on a national level.
- The company plans to approach the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) soon to get support for wider distribution of their energy-saving products.
Sales Overview
- Company History: The company has been operating for 4 years, with the first year spent in pilot testing.
- Revenue Target: This year, the company is planning to cross 5 crores in revenue.
- Sales Approach: They operate on an advance payment model, preferring not to work on credit. The company’s founder emphasizes the importance of maintaining control over both the product and finances to ensure quality.
Funding and Business Philosophy
- Self-Funded: The company is entirely self-funded, with no external investments to date.
- Focus on Quality: The founder highlights the importance of using branded, high-quality components, ensuring no compromise on the product’s reliability.
Product Development and Innovation
- In-House R&D: The company has a dedicated R&D team focused on continuous miniaturization of products and improving quality.
- New Products: They recently launched a 50W street light with motion sensors and are exploring ways to cut costs and further improve the quality of their products.
Sensor Range
- The company offers a wide range of motion sensors with varying detection distances:
- 10 feet range
- 30 feet range
- 50 feet range
- The sensors are available for various applications, ensuring versatility in customer needs.
Future Plans
- The company aims to expand its presence by establishing dealers and distributors across India.
- They are also working on Wi-Fi-enabled products and continuously improving their offerings to stay ahead in the market.
