ENDOBOT enables robotic inspection to detect defects inside water, sewer, & stormwater pipelines, while HOMOSEP eliminates manual scavenging through mechanized manhole cleaning
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India: Solinas Integrity Private Limited, a deep-tech robotics company incubated at IIT Madras, has been selected as the subject of a case study published on Harvard Business Publishing – the world’s foremost repository of business school teaching cases used by institutions across six continents. Authored by Dr. Suresh Srinivasan from the Great Lakes Institute of Management, the case thoughtfully captures Solinas’ journey, innovation, and growing impact across India.
Operating at the intersection of public infrastructure and industrial systems, Solinas has emerged as a key player working closely with municipal corporations across multiple states, as well as leading industries. The company focuses on solving critical challenges in underground infrastructure, ranging from manual scavenging, water pipeline leakages, and contamination risks to unsafe sewer systems, areas that are often invisible yet vital to public health and sustainability.
Through its advanced robotics, AI, and digitization solutions, Solinas is enabling cities to reduce non-revenue water, improve service delivery, and make data-driven decisions. At the same time, its solutions are helping industries ensure operational efficiency, regulatory compliance, and infrastructure reliability.
Solinas is among a small cohort of Indian startups — and fewer still from the WASH (Water, Sanitation & Hygiene) sector — to be featured in this publishing ecosystem. The case is now available as a teaching resource for MBA programs and business schools worldwide.
The HBS case study highlights how Solinas is building a scalable and impact-driven business model in a traditionally underserved sector. It explores the company’s approach to navigating complex government ecosystems, establishing credibility in industrial markets, and leveraging technology to create measurable outcomes.
“There is no playbook for building a technology company in the water and sanitation sector. Solinas has been built through constant experimentation and learning. Having studied Harvard Business School case studies during my education, it is incredibly meaningful to now see our journey featured as one,” said Divanshu Kumar, Co-founder & CEO, Solinas.
The case is expected to serve as a global learning resource for students, policymakers, and business leaders, offering insights into innovation, public-private collaboration, and building a startup in critical infrastructure sectors in WASH (Water, Sanitation & Hygiene).
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