Assamese Startup AVGARDE Secures Top Honors in DRDO's National Startup Innovation Challenge Dream 4.0

New Delhi, April 3: AVGARDE, a deeptech startup, clinched the top spot in the Defence Research and Development Organisation ( DRDO ) Dare to Dream 4.0 Contest, focusing on national-level startup innovations in 'countermeasures for drone and swarm of drones'. Incubated at both IISc Bangalore and IIT Guwahati, AVGARDE specializes in developing a state-of-the-art AI-driven object sensing platform for managing low-altitude airspace. Originating from Assam, AVGARDE has expanded its operations with offices in Bangalore and Guwahati, alongside a Pan-India presence, serving customers across the nation.

The prestigious DRDO Dare to Dream competition serves as a unique platform for startups and innovators to tackle critical challenges in emerging technologies, thereby enhancing India's aerospace and defence capabilities. It also contributes significantly to the nation's Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) ecosystem, fostering technological self-reliance.

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Expressing gratitude for the recognition, Manash Bhuyan, Managing Director & Co-Founder of AVGARDE, remarked, "Winning DRDO's esteemed innovation contest, Dare to Dream 4.0, is a testament to the globally competitive technology developed by our incredibly talented team. This acknowledgment further validates AVGARDE's innovation journey as we strive to advance our AI-driven airspace management platform for diverse applications, including drone countermeasures. With the escalating use of drones, managing low-altitude airspace confronts numerous risks and threats, necessitating indigenous solutions. AVGARDE remains committed to developing pioneering technology to contribute effectively to a self-reliant India."

Presently, AVGARDE's DeepSense platform encompasses three product lines - DroneSafe, a sophisticated AI-enabled Counter Unmanned Aerial System (C-UAS) designed to detect, classify, mitigate, and report aerial risks/threats from drones and UAVs; DIWAR, an all-band GPS Jammer aimed at neutralizing drones and restricting their airborne movements; and BirdsEye, an intelligent Bird Detection and Monitoring Radar (BDMR) catering to dual-use aviation safety and mitigating Bird Aircraft Strike Hazard (BASH).

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Echoing the sentiments, Nilutpal Choudhury, CEO & Co-Founder of AVGARDE, highlighted, "This accolade marks a significant milestone for AVGARDE, underscoring the dedication and expertise of our diverse team. DRDO's Dare to Dream provides a robust platform for validating innovations, considering various selection criteria such as novelty, applicability, implementability, technical merit, and maturity. Being recognized by DRDO, our nation's premier aerospace and defence R&D organization, is indeed an honor. This recognition motivates our team to continuously innovate, advancing indigenous technologies to fulfill our commitment towards Atmanirbhar Bharat."