Zoho has acquired Asimov Robotics, a 13-year-old robotics startup, as part of its broader effort to deepen its research and development capabilities in robotics and other advanced technologies. While the financial details of the acquisition have not been disclosed, the move signals Zoho’s growing focus on building long-term deeptech expertise alongside its core SaaS portfolio.
Founded in 2012, Asimov Robotics is known for developing robotic solutions designed to handle hazardous, repetitive, and operationally inefficient industrial tasks. The startup has been backed by the Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM) and has built a reputation for applied robotics research tailored to real-world industrial environments. Following the acquisition, Asimov Robotics’ employees will continue their research and development work under Zoho’s guidance, ensuring continuity while benefiting from the resources of a larger technology organization.
The acquisition aligns closely with Zoho’s expanding deeptech strategy, particularly its increasing engagement with the Kerala innovation ecosystem. Alongside the Asimov Robotics deal, Zoho has announced a partnership with KSUM to set up a deeptech product studio. This initiative is aimed at bringing together startups, researchers, and institutions focused on frontier technologies, creating a collaborative environment for long-term innovation.
Through this deeptech studio, Zoho is working with a diverse group of partners including Boson Motors, Vipus Advanced Materials, vTitan, Zentron Labs, Verdant Telemetry, Netrasemi, Genrobotics, Energy 24by7, and IIT Bombay. The focus areas span artificial intelligence, robotics, and large language model development, with a particular emphasis on building LLMs tailored for Indian languages. This reflects Zoho’s intent to develop foundational technologies that are both globally relevant and locally grounded.
The Asimov Robotics acquisition also marks Zoho’s second significant investment in the robotics space. In May 2022, the company took a ₹20 crore stake in Genrobotics, further underscoring its belief in robotics as a critical pillar of future technology infrastructure. Internally, Zoho has reinforced this direction with a leadership shift, as cofounder Sridhar Vembu moved from the role of CEO to Chief Scientist to focus full-time on R&D and deeptech initiatives.
The announcement coincided with the inauguration of Zoho’s Kottarakkara office in Kerala, which is expected to serve as a hub for robotics and deeptech research projects. Together, these moves highlight Zoho’s long-term commitment to advancing AI, robotics, and deeptech innovation through sustained investment, ecosystem collaboration, and in-house research.
