DTM E43. Future of Recycling using AI and Robotics - Ishitva Robotics

Jitesh, is the founder and CTO of Ishitva Robotic Systems, which is building futuristic automated Material Recovery Facilities (MRF) that can sort different types of waste at high volume for Indian Cities. Automated MRF solutions incorporate AI Vision Systems, Mechanical Robots, High-Speed Sorting, and Live Analytics of Waste Streams which Jitesh has developed at Ishitva over the last 6 years. Their clients include Municipal Solid Waste Companies, Plastic Aggregators, and different types of companies who recycle and create pellets, paper, cardboard, etc. Ishitva's vision is to provide automation sorting solutions for all types of waste like Plastic, Paper, Cardboard, Glass, Metal, Rubber, etc. Before Ishitva, Jitesh had 12+ years of experience in the software industry and worked for Fortune 500 Companies building products and solutions across the globe.

In today’s episode, we talk about how Ishitva can act as a catalyst for the “waste circular economy” by providing a high volume of materials to recyclers. Jitesh highlights how to evaluate the technical viability of AI/ML solutions and how to make clients trust AI. He further ruminates about the prospects of making his vision system available as a service. We end up with Jitesh’s advice on making it from idea to traction in deep tech and how the technology space in Gujarat is moving ahead in Automation R&D.

In this episode, we cover

(00:01:02) What inspired Jitesh to get into entrepreneurship?

(00:05:20) What is the problem Ishitva solving? What is the circular economy?

(00:08:24) Ishitva’s traction till now and major clients

(00:10:05) Ishitva’s hardware and software technology stack

(00:15:02) How to assess the technical viability of an AI/ML solution early on?

(00:20:43) How to make consumers or clients accept and trust an AI product?

(00:23:09) How can deep tech startups create competitive moats?

(00:28:44) Like large language models, can Ishitva’s vision system be offered as a service as well?

(00:31:00) What are Jitesh's top suggestions for launching a deep-tech startup or product?

(00:33:48) Jitesh's viewpoint on the developments taking place in Gujarat in technology domain

Where to find us?

Jitesh Dadlani – jiteshdadlani (LinkedIn)

Ishitva Robotic Systems – Ishitvaroboticsystems (LinkedIn), @IshitvaSystems (Twitter), ishitva.in (Web)

Pronojit, DTM Podcast - pronojitsaha (LinkedIn), @pronojits (Twitter)