Chennai Engineer Quits Rs 1.8 Cr per Annum Job to Build India’s First Transparent Auto-Tech Brand MicroBin, Eyes ₹100 Cr Revenue in Year One

In India, two-wheelers and cars are more than just vehicles—they’re a way of life. Whether it’s weaving through traffic on a scooter, hauling cement in a mixer truck, or cruising down national highways in a passenger car, the vehicle is central to everyday life. And right in front of every driver is the digital dashboard, showing speed, fuel, Bluetooth connection, and more.

That glowing screen? It’s not just tech. It’s the pulse of modern mobility.

But while vehicles have become smarter, the tech behind them—embedded hardware, instrument clusters, infotainment systems—is often stuck in the past, controlled by legacy players with opaque systems that lock out smaller OEMs and startups.

That’s the gap that Chennai-based entrepreneurs Kiyasul Arif A. and Vignesh Devalla decided to bridge with their startup, MicroBin.

“Why can’t India lead in building the brains of tomorrow’s vehicles? We have the talent, the drive—why not make production-grade electronics that rival the world’s best, right here in Chennai?” asks Kiyasul in an exclusive interview with Startup Pedia.

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What MicroBin Does: Powering Next-Gen Vehicle Tech

Founded in June 2024, MicroBin is a Chennai-based manufacturing startup delivering hardware platform infrastructure for the automotive and industrial sectors. Their core products include automotive digital cockpit electronics, digital instrument clusters, infotainment systems, secondary display units, and driver information systems that make driving smarter. On the industrial side, they manufacture HMI (Human-Machine Interface) displays—like panel PCs and custom industrial computers for factories.

Unlike competitors focused solely on design or R&D, MicroBin offers a full-stack approach—design, development, and manufacturing.

“Our hardware isn’t for hobbyists or educational kits. We’re delivering commercial-grade platforms built for real automotive systems,” says the co-founder of MicroBin.

They’ve launched commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) products, including their flagship Infinite Board Computers, available for direct purchase on their website in INR and USD. MicroBin also provides a transparent project management platform, streamlining timelines, roadmaps, and instant quotations for OEMs—all IP-protected with NDAs.

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Leaving a ₹1.8 Crore Job for The Big Idea

MicroBin’s story begins with two colleagues spotting a gap in India’s automotive electronics. Kiyasul Arif, a Chennai native, was a senior firmware engineer at Silicon Labs in Austin, Texas, earning $200,000 (~₹1.8 crore) annually. But he felt restless.

“I saw how efficient systems were abroad, but India had immense talent—just lacking execution,” he recalls during the Startup Pedia interview.

In 2021, at 28, he made a bold move. Without telling his parents, he quit his job and returned to Chennai.

“It was a surprise for them,” he laughs. “I didn’t discuss it with anyone. I knew at this age, I could take the risk—by 40, it’d be too late.”

Vignesh Devalla, a mechanical engineer from SRM College of Engineering, was building his own path. Starting at Wheels India as a methods engineer, he later joined LCS, rising to lead a business vertical. Now 30 and pursuing a PhD in Operations at BITS Pilani, he balances academia with entrepreneurship.

They met as colleagues in the weighing industry—not automotive—which made their pivot to MicroBin even bolder. By late 2022, they began ideating and sketching concepts for production-grade electronics.

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Funding, Launch, and ₹100 Crore Revenue Projection

MicroBin was incorporated in June 2024 with ₹2–5 lakh bootstrapped by the founders, covering incorporation, prototypes, and tools. Most funds remained unspent, reflecting their lean ethos. In September 2024, a ₹1 crore pre-seed round gave them wings.

Based on their prototype, they started seeing interest from major prospects. They are actively engaged with several top-tier OEMs in the automotive, industrial, and agri-equipment sectors. While specific names cannot be disclosed at this stage due to ongoing commercial agreements, these partnerships span across some of the most respected manufacturers in India and globally. With promising orders for 10,000–20,000 units, MicroBin aims to produce 1 lakh devices.

“We’re projecting ₹100 crore revenue next year and ₹2,000 crore in eight years. We’re confident because with just one customer, we can hit ₹20 crore. We’re talking to 10 to 15 such customers,” says Kiyasul in the Startup Pedia interview.

How They Operate—and What Sets Them Apart

MicroBin manufactures through EMS partnerships, with a capacity of 10,000 units. Their small, nimble R&D team drives innovation, but they plan to scale smartly. Unlike global giants like Visteon and Valeo or Indian players like Uno Minda and Pricol, MicroBin is open and digital-first. Their Make in India ethos—building production-grade hardware with Indian talent—sets them apart.

“We’re not hiding behind black boxes. Our platforms are transparent, production-ready, and available for testing. It’s about democratizing access,” the co-founder adds.

Their Infinite Board Computer, available online, empowers smaller players to innovate without delays.

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What’s Next for MicroBin

MicroBin aims to scale manufacturing with an in-house plant, grow their R&D team to 20–30 members, and diversify products. They’re exploring solutions for electric vehicles and advanced industrial HMIs, aiming to cut costs with smarter designs. Exports to the US and Europe are on the horizon, leveraging India’s tech reputation.

“Our ultimate goal is to make MicroBin a global brand built in India. We want to power the embedded brains of the world’s machines—and we’re just getting started,” says Kiyasul, the co-founder of MicroBin, at the end of the Startup Pedia interview.