This Hyderabad startup builds India’s first bionic arm, that can lift up to 72 kgs and costs just one-tenth of global alternatives

Losing a hand can mean losing not just a limb but your livelihood. 

Advanced bionic hands exist in the world, but they often cost between ₹30 lakh and ₹60 lakh, putting them far out of reach for most people. 

A Hyderabad-based startup, Makers Hive, is changing that with KalArm, a fully functional bionic hand that is built in India and much more affordable.

Meet the Founder

31-year-old Pranav Vempati comes from a simple background. He studied Electronics at Loyola College in Hyderabad and began his career in the R&D and L&D division of TCS Ignite. 

During his time in Chennai, he spent most of his weekends with the late Dr. M.S. Swaminathan, the father of India’s Green Revolution.

Those interactions deeply influenced him. 

“Like many others, I also wanted to go abroad, make a lot of money, and settle there, but Dr. Swaminathan helped me understand that if you align your passion with a purpose, you can do phenomenal things,”he shared. 

That realization changed his path. Instead of chasing opportunities abroad, he chose to stay in India and focus on solving a real problem — one that required innovation but was often overlooked in developing countries.

Also read: “Typing ‘I love you’ never feels the same as saying it" - Meet Hyderabad founder who launches a voice-first app for real human connections (startuppedia.in)

About Makers Hive

Pranav started Makers Hive in 2018 with the goal of building assistive technologies that could transform lives. He soon realized that prosthetic hands were an area where innovation was really needed.

Designing a hand that worked like a human hand was extremely complex. 

“A human hand can hold an egg gently and a heavy bag firmly because it has visual and touch feedback. A bionic hand doesn’t have that, yet it still needs to be intelligent enough to adapt,” he said. 

Most prosthetic hands available globally used expensive, ready-made parts, making them unaffordable for people in countries like India. Pranav and his team decided to build everything themselves — the bionic controller, finger mechanisms, linear actuators, wrist modules, and EMG sensors.

This approach helped them file eight patents and create a product that was completely designed and built in India, except for the microchips that were still imported. “We wanted to show that world-class innovation could happen here,”Pranav said.

Also read: Meet these two 22-YO engineers who built India’s first AI-powered Robot that burns weeds with lasers instead of pesticides (startuppedia.in)

KalArm - India’s First Bionic Arm

Their work led to the creation of KalArm, India’s first and the world’s most affordable fully functional bionic hand. The name paid tribute to Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, and the word “Kal” in Hindi means tomorrow, symbolizing the hand of the future.

KalArm can lift up to 72 kilograms and has adaptive grasping, allowing users to handle delicate and heavy objects with ease. The hand is priced between ₹4.5 lakh and ₹5.5 lakh, depending on the level of amputation.

Pranav made sure affordability didn’t come at the cost of quality. “We built KalArm in line with international standards like CE and US FDA, we wanted people to see it as world-class, not cheap,” Pranav explained. 

Key features of KalArm:

• Pre-defined and customizable grips: KalArm comes with 18 pre-defined grips for common activities, and users can create 6 custom grips tailored to their daily needs.

• Lightweight, durable design: The hand is 3D-printed and lightweight, making it comfortable for long-term wear while maintaining strength and precision.

• Muscle-controlled movement: EMG sensors pick up signals from residual muscles, allowing precise and natural control of hand movements.

• Battery and power management:The 2850 mAh rechargeable battery provides long use, and users can monitor battery levels and health directly through the companion mobile app.

• Performance monitoring: Through the app, users can check sensor status, motor functioning, and other key performance metrics to ensure smooth operation.

• Firmware updates over-the-air: KalArm supports OTA updates, letting users receive new features and improvements without visiting a service center.

• Mobile app integration: The hand connects to Android and iOS devices via Bluetooth, giving users easy control and monitoring of the device.

• Personalized appearance and fit: Users can choose from color-customizable outer panels, and each hand includes a tailor-made forearm socket for a perfect fit.

Also read: This mechanical engineer quit high-paying job to rescue bees - Now clocks Rs. 65 Lakh annual turnover (startuppedia.in)

Making It Accessible

Even at ₹4.5 lakh, many people still cannot afford KalArm. Makers Hive addresses this through corporate partnerships and CSR programs.

“If someone can afford ₹2 lakh, we help raise the rest through CSR funds. We are tying up with corporates to support people who lost their hands in defense service, Paralympic athletes, and those whose livelihoods depend on getting back to work,” the founder shared. 

This ensures that KalArm reaches those who need it most, not just those who can pay the full price.

Investment and Growth

Since its founding, Makers Hive has raised about ₹30 crore in funding. 

The company has set up an assembly line in Hyderabad, producing 1,000 hands per year in a single shift. With more shifts, production could scale up to 3,200 hands annually. 

Makers Hive has completed proof-of-concept projects with the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Railways, Ministry of Home Affairs, and DRDO research centers. They have also run pilot projects with major hospitals including Apollo, Manipal, Fortis, and Sushruta.

Looking Ahead

Makers Hive plans to expand globally. They are working on CE and US FDA certifications and aim to launch KalArm internationally within five to six months.

“We are exploring distribution in countries affected by war, such as Ukraine, where many people are losing limbs,” Pranav says. The company also aims to extend access in other developing nations.

Pranav sees his work as more than business.“True innovation is purpose-driven. Passion alone is not enough. If you align it with a purpose, you can create real change.”

Makers Hive stood as an example of what could happen when technology served people first. “You don’t need an IIT degree or foreign funding to build something transformative. All you need is passion, purpose, and the will to solve real problems,” he said.

Also read: Gurugram Engineer Starts A Cybersecurity Co. From Home; His Startup Now Serves 800+ Clients Globally & Generated ₹25 Cr+ Rev During Last FY (startuppedia.in)