Chennai Startup Invents World’s First Multi-Cuisine Automated Machine

Highlighting the advantages of iKichn for commercial enterprises, particularly small and medium-scale food businesses, Satheshkumar emphasized the acute challenge of quality manpower availability. 

Market studies indicate that at least 70% of businesses fail within a year, and another 20% fail within five years of operation. Retaining manpower is difficult, making it hard to justify the unit economics. Many businesses are turning to automation to scale operations and increase volume to justify unit economics. However, small businesses find it particularly difficult to sustain and manage.

"This iKichn could be very useful for them, offering profitability and reduced dependence on manpower turnover at a relatively lower investment. Manpower turnover is continuous, but ensuring consistency of taste and continuous availability can extend the sustainability of the business compared to manpower-dependent or conventional businesses," explained the founder of KitOSys in an exclusive interview with Startup Pedia. 

“I am 200% sure your solutions will be the new wave in cooking for the food industry.. totally visionary.. Futuristic..,” Chef Deepak Shirur, Formerly with Taj and Oberoi Hotels and CEO of Touchpoint Gourmet Consultants, told me. 

Reflecting on the birth of iKichn, Satheshkumar shared with Startup Pedia, "By around 2005, I envisioned a kitchen solution for a home to ease the workload of my wife as well as to empower individuals so they wouldn't have to compromise on their dietary preferences regardless of their location. Though the concept wasn't fully formed, I was obsessed with the idea since then." 

Genesis of iKichn

The idea started to take shape in 2015. Driven by his own struggle with IBD and a desire to spare others from similar lifestyle ordeals, Satheshkumar, with automation engineering expertise, extensively researched the concept of a fully automatic kitchen. 

In 2016, he founded Food Printer, a Chennai-based startup, later rebranded as KitOSys to fructify the idea into a business model. The startup name aptly reflects its function—a Kitchen Operating System.

Over the years, after a million man-hours spent, Satheshkumar and his team tirelessly developed iKichn for a home prototype in 2019. A robotic culinary marvel that allows users to simply input ingredients and command the kitchen to prepare a variety of dishes without human intervention. 

Initially designed for residential use to replace the conventional modular kitchen with their smart modular kitchen, the prototype excelled in cooking all three times south Indian delicacies such as idli, sambar, rice varieties and even hot beverages like tea and coffee. However, the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted their plans for a residential launch. The pandemic has helped the Startup strategically pivot towards a commercial model of automatic kitchen. 

"After assessing the readiness of the residential market, we recognized that the timing wasn't optimal for India. Consequently, we shifted our focus to developing a commercial automatic kitchen," shared the founder of KitOSys during the interview with Startup Pedia.

iKichn Prototype

After three years of intensive development, the commercial prototype of iKichn is now ready for market entry. Capable of preparing for 50 to 500 pax simultaneously, the stainless steel kitchen can be accommodated within a minimum area of 2 meters by 2 meters, expandable up to 7 meters by 2 meters if necessary. 

The Startup is a NITI Aayog Atmanirbhar Innovation Challenge 1.0  national awardee by 2021 and also recognized among the top 15 Cohort startups in South Asia by Stanford SEED in 2023 and Startup World Cup Semi Finalist held in Singapore; the iKichn embodies a substantial investment, with Satheshkumar investing Rs. 3-4 crores of his personal savings towards its development. 

The 50-year-old entrepreneur was so dedicated to his automation kitchen idea that he began working on his Startup while he had a full-time job. Satheshkumar, having qualified as an Engineer and with over three decades of experience in automation engineering, shaped the business with an executive management diploma from Emeritus, Singapore, in collaboration with Ivy League schools like MIT Sloan and Columbia Business Schools besides the qualification from TUV Rheinland as a Functional Safety Engineer. 

With aspirations to sell over 100  products in the upcoming fiscal year (FY-26) and achieve revenue of Rs. 50-100 crores, the venture is intensifying its marketing and sales efforts. 

Initially comprising eight full-time employees, the Startup has since expanded its workforce to 14 part-time employees, embracing a low-cost operational model by leveraging freelance talent. Its headquarters and workshop span 1,500 square feet, serving as the nerve centre for KitOSys operations.