Rajshree Upadhyaya |Business Remedies | By transforming drones from remotely controlled machines into autonomous decision-makers, Besta Prem Sai and Rajeshree Deotalu founded the AI startup Vecros and created a distinct identity for themselves. When Vecros appeared on Shark Tank India, it brought with it a story rooted deeply in engineering curiosity rather than immediate commercial ambition. Vecros Technologies Private Limited was incorporated in 2018, but the direction that truly shaped the brand began to take form a few years later, around 2021, when the founders sharpened their focus on autonomous aerial intelligence.
Besta Prem Sai’s journey into aerial systems began well before Vecros was formally registered. With a background in engineering physics and hands-on experience in aeromodelling, he was drawn to the limitations of conventional drones that rely heavily on GPS signals and manual piloting. Rajeshree Deotalu brought complementary strengths in electronics and systems engineering, helping convert experimental concepts into structured, deployable technology. Together, they envisioned a platform that would take drones beyond simple navigation and enable spatial understanding, allowing them to operate reliably even in complex and unpredictable environments.
This vision materialized in Vecros’ flagship autonomous drone, Aethera. Designed to operate without GPS, Aethera uses specialized artificial intelligence, computer vision, and onboard processing to perceive and navigate its surroundings in real time. Instead of following pre-programmed routes, the drone creates live maps, detects obstacles, and dynamically reroutes itself. These capabilities make Aethera suitable for applications such as industrial inspection, infrastructure monitoring, construction site mapping, and operations in indoor or hazardous environments where human access is difficult or unsafe. The focus was never on aesthetic appeal or recreational flying, but on building a system that could quietly replace dangerous manual processes with intelligent automation.
Positioned as a Specialized AI and Robotics Venture
Vecros gained national recognition with its pitch on Shark Tank India Season 3. The founders sought funding to scale the development of their autonomous systems and expand their use cases. Their pitch stood out for its technical depth, as they explained how specialized AI enables their drones to function in GPS-denied zones-a challenge that significantly limits much of the drone industry. The Sharks responded with a mix of interest and caution, acknowledging the innovation while questioning the challenges of building a hardware-intensive deep-tech company. The discussion concluded with Aman Gupta offering Rs. 20 lakh for 1% equity and Rs. 80 lakh as structured debt, a deal the founders accepted as a strategic move.
Beyond the Shark Tank spotlight, Vecros continued to build its product roadmap with a strong focus on autonomy-first design. Alongside Aethera, the team began working on Jasper, a compact autonomous drone concept designed for enclosed and indoor spaces. This expansion reflects Vecros’ broader ambition to create a portfolio of intelligent aerial systems, each optimized for specific environments but unified by a core philosophy of spatial intelligence and independence from external navigation aids.
What truly sets Vecros apart in the drone ecosystem is its refusal to chase quick wins. From the outset, the company positioned itself not as a conventional drone manufacturer, but as a specialized AI and robotics venture. Every design decision-from onboard computing to perception algorithms-has been centered on minimizing human intervention and maximizing machine intelligence. This approach demands patience, long development cycles, and a willingness to bridge research with real-world applications.
Emerging as an Intelligent Systems Company
At its core, the Vecros story reflects the mindset of its founders. From the company’s incorporation in 2018 to the gradual emergence of a clear product identity years later, Besta Prem Sai and Rajeshree Deotalu chose depth over speed. Their journey shows how meaningful innovation often grows quietly-through experimentation, setbacks, and persistence-long before it appears on television screens. Vecros stands as an example of how Indian deep-tech startups are redefining drones, not merely as flying machines, but as intelligent systems capable of understanding and interacting with the world around them.
