Indian startup Graviky draws funding from reality TV show for turning smog to ink

By | 18 October, 2016

NOVEL technology from Indian-based Graviky that addresses India’s pollution problem by turning exhaust fumes into ink has won funding from its appearance on The Vault reality TV show.

Graviky, which is a Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) spin-off, won Rs80 lakhs (US$119,000) from Investor Mohit Goel, CEO of Omaxe Limited.

In return Goel will receive one percent equity from the Graviky, as well as a seven percent India-exclusive commission.

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Graviky’s Kaalink technology is a retrofit device that attaches to the exhaust of a vehicle collecting 95 percent of particular matter pollution without inducing back-pressure. The units are designed with heat and water-proof electronics and materials.

The device then filters the matter to produce a product the start-up is calling ‘Air Ink’, which can be used for printing. The company is promoting Air Ink in conjunction with the Tiger beer brand.

Air pollution in India is a serious problem that is caused by severe traffic congestion and fuel and biomass burning.

In 2016 the country ranked a poor 141 out of 180 countries in the Environmental Performance Index which ranks the environmental performance of a state’s policies.

The Kaalink technology isn’t yet commercially available but is presently under certification and commercial pilots, and currently only available for private demonstrations.

The Vault is a reality television show that gives business the opportunity to pitch their ideas and inventions to a panel of investors in order to persuade them to invest money in their ventures.

Creator of The Vault Jatin Goel speaking to The Times of India said: “The Vault was established as a platform to give these would-be entrepreneurs from across the country a chance to give their business dreams a big boost by securing investment and garnering visibility.”



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Heidi Vella is a freelance energy and technology journalist based in London. Her interests include smart cities, clean energy, emerging markets and technology innovation. Prior to working freelance, Heidi spent four years’ covering all things technology and energy-related for London-based Progressive Digital Media.

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