- Mahindra University invested in Hyderabad-based AI agri startup Harvested Robotics in 2023
- Harvested Robotics develops AI-powered laser robot Rakshak to precisely eliminate weeds
- Founders Rahul Arepaka and George Mathew launched startup during their B.Tech studies
Mahindra University has invested in a Hyderabad-based AI agricultural startup. In a post on X, industrialist Anand Mahindra on Friday shared details about the duo behind India's first AI laser weed-killer.
“News about Carbon Robotics' LaserWeeder, an AI-powered, tractor-pulled agricultural tool that uses AI & high-powered lasers to destroy weeds has been going viral the last couple of days. So, let me share news about Harvested Robotics, founded in 2023 by Rahul Arepaka and George Mathew in Hyderabad,” he posted on the platform, reacting to the viral video of another similar startup Carbon Robotics.
News about Carbon Robotics' LaserWeeder, an AI-powered, tractor-pulled agricultural tool that uses AI & high-powered lasers to destroy weeds has been going viral the last couple of days.
— anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) March 6, 2026
So let me share news about Harvested Robotics, founded in 2023 by Rahul Arepaka and George… https://t.co/QpRkwdi4LP pic.twitter.com/fMbktBx0vT
Mahindra shared that the startup, Harvested Robotics, was founded in 2023 by Rahul Arepaka and George Mathew in Hyderabad. Mahindra University invested in the company and provided space for them at its on-campus incubator.
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“I met them during a visit to Mahindra University last year and also agreed to be an investor. We're cheering for you, Rahul, George. Aim for the skies even as you remove weeds from the ground…,” the billionaire industrialist concluded his post.
What Does Harvested Robotics Do?
In his X post, Mahindra also shared an earlier interview with the founders posted by Startuppedia.
According to the article shared in September 2025, Arepaka and Mathew, both 22-year-old engineers at the time, created the AI-powered robot that eliminates weeds using high-powered lasers instead of chemicals.
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The two friends launched the deeptech startup from their college hostel to address weed problems with a focus on sustainable solutions. The startup was founded in 2023 when they were completing their B.Tech.
The deeptech startup develops advanced robotic solutions to help farmers protect crops from weeds. Their flagship product, Rakshak, is India's first AI-powered laser-weeding robot. It removes weeds precisely without harming crops.
The AI-powered laser-weeding robot is designed to attach to tractors. It uses cameras to detect and burn weeds with lasers. The system relies entirely on tractor power. The founders have also deployed cameras across farms in India to collect data, with an objective to build a dataset that helps the AI accurately identify and target weeds.
According to the article, Mahindra University has invested about Rs 20 lakh in Harvested Labs. In March 2025, the startup raised around Rs 5 crore in a pre-seed round from Bengaluru-based Arali Ventures, with Mahindra Group chairman Anand Mahindra also backing the company as an angel investor.
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