In the fast-evolving world of autonomous robotics, few names stand out as boldly as Peppermint Robotics. At the helm is Runal Dahiwade, the Founder and CEO, whose vision is redefining how industries approach labor-intensive workflows. From pioneering India-made autonomous cleaning robots to building globally scalable platforms, Peppermint has emerged as a trailblazer in commercial robotics. In this exclusive conversation with Sanjay Jadhav, Editor of Machine Edge Global, Runal traces his entrepreneurial journey—from founding Carkhana.com to creating Peppermint Robotics—and delves deep into the trends, technologies, and opportunities shaping the future of robotics. He also sheds light on India’s growing clout in the global robotics supply chain, the impact of modular system architectures like “Peppermint OS” and “Skateboard,” and how sustainability is becoming a strategic lever in automation.
Peppermint Robotics has been a game-changer in autonomous robotic solutions. Can you share the inspiration behind starting the company and the journey so far?
My journey into robotics started well before Peppermint. Back in 2011, I co-founded Carkhana.com, an online marketplace for auto accessories, which was eventually acquired. After that, I continued in the automotive space for a few years, latest at Refreshed Car Care, a sustainable car-care services company. During that time, I experienced and realized just how inefficient and labor-intensive traditional services workflows were—especially with rising costs and the shortage of skilled manpower.
That was the trigger to think of how automation could solve these pain points at scale.
The idea for Peppermint took shape around automating manpower-intensive workflows through intelligent, energy-efficient robots and technologies.
I approached SINE at IIT Bombay for support (incubator at IIT-B) , and that’s where we got our first R&D grant and deep technical mentorship. Those early days were all about validating the use case, building our core technology, and understanding global market potential. We setup Peppermint at Pune to scale up and speed up our R&D, Production and first go-to market plans.
India is increasingly positioning itself as a robotics export powerhouse. How do you see India’s role evolving in the global robotics industry?
India is rapidly emerging as a key player in the global robotics industry, driven by its strong engineering talent, cost-effective manufacturing, and a growing ecosystem of deep-tech startups.
With government support through initiatives like Make in India and increasing focus on export-ready, globally compliant products, Indian robotics companies are not only solving local challenges but also gaining traction in international markets.
Strategic partnerships, global certifications, and a focus on innovation are positioning India to become a leading exporter of robotics products and solutions in the coming years.
The global commercial robots market is growing rapidly. What trends and opportunities do you foresee, and how is Peppermint positioned to leverage them?
The global commercial robots market is witnessing strong growth, driven by rising labor costs, demand for operational efficiency, and a shift toward automation in sectors like healthcare, hospitality, manufacturing, and commercial real estate. Key trends include increased adoption of autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), intelligent driven autonomouos navigation, and robots-as-a-service (RaaS) models.
Peppermint is well-positioned to tap into this momentum with its proven product portfolio in autonomous cleaning and material handling, deep-tech capabilities, and strong presence across Asia, the Middle East, and North America.
By focusing on high-ROI use cases and building strategic global partnerships, Peppermint Robotics is geared to scale and lead in the next phase of commercial robotics adoption worldwide
One of the standout innovations at Peppermint is the modular “OS” & “Skateboard”architecture. Can you explain how it enhances the capabilities and scalability of your robots?
Peppermint’s modular autonomous mobility software called “OS” and commercial robotics grade electronics platform, called “Skateboard’, are key differentiator that significantly enhance both the capabilities and scalability of our robots.
Designed in-house with automotive-grade standards, it acts as a universal operating system for robot navigation, central control module and power su-systems, that can be deployed across various robot types—be it cleaning or material handling, or other special pupose commercial grade robots.
This common platform integrates autonomous navigation capability, motor controls, battery management, sensors, and mission planning into a single, adaptable unit.
As a result, it simplifies development, reduces time-to-market for new products, and enables rapid customization for diverse applications, making our and our partners’ robotic solutions highly scalable across industries and geographies.
Sustainability is becoming crucial in technological advancements. How are Peppermint’s autonomous robots contributing to sustainable practices and improving operational efficiency for your clients?
Peppermint’s autonomous robots are designed with sustainability and efficiency at their core. By automating repetitive and resource-intensive tasks like industrial cleaning and material movement, our robots help clients significantly reduce water, chemical, and energy usage compared to traditional methods.
They also optimize workforce allocation, enabling human staff to focus on higher-value tasks, thereby improving overall productivity. Notably, our Peppermint SD 45 Robotic Auto Scrubber features an integrated water filtration system called “Aqua Reclaim” that recycles and reuses cleaning water—saving up to 32 kiloliters annually. This not only supports greener operations but also delivers long-term cost and resource savings. Additionally, with smart navigation and data-driven operation, our solutions minimize waste and operational downtime—supporting greener facilities and long-term cost savings for clients.
From a broader perspective, do you believe the robotics industry is at a strategic inflection point? If so, what market signals and technological advancements suggest that now is the right time for massive growth?
The robotics industry is indeed at a strategic inflection point. Several converging factors signal a shift from niche adoption to mainstream scalability: labor shortages across industries, increasing pressure for operational efficiency, and the global push for automation in both industrial and commercial environments. Technological advancements—such as intelligent autonomous navigation, modular hardware like Peppermint’s ‘Skateboard’ architecture, and sustainable features like water-recycling systems—have made robots more capable, scalable, and economically viable. Combined with supportive policy environments and growing investor interest, the timing is ideal for massive growth in robotics.
Looking forward, what is your vision for Peppermint Robotics in the next five years, and how do you plan to keep innovating in this rapidly evolving space?
Peppermint Robotics: Five-Year Vision (2025–2030)
Vision
Peppermint Robotics aims to lead the global automation of repetitive, labor-intensive tasks requiring mobility, transforming workflows in commercial and industrial sectors.
Over the next five years, we will expand our market leadership in commercial cleaning robots, capture significant share in industrial material handling, and pioneer new specialized applications, in sectors such as healthcare and facility management.
By 2030, we envision Peppermint as a trusted partner for enterprises worldwide, delivering safe, high-performance robotic solutions certified to global standards, deepening workflow integration, and driving operational efficiency.
Innovation and Growth Strategy
To stay at the forefront of the rapidly evolving robotics industry, we will:
- Advance Product Portfolio: Enhance our commercial cleaning robots with polyfunctional capabilities (e.g., simultaneous cleaning and value-add services) and launch industrial material handling robots in our operational markets.
We will further explore specialized use casesto address emerging market needs.
- Leverage Cutting-Edge Technology: Our Pune-based global R&D center will develop next-generation Peppermint OS, integrating advanced AI, machine vision, and cloud connectivity for real-time analytics and adaptive navigation. Our Skateboard electronics framework will enable modular, scalable solutions for diverse applications.
- Strengthen Global Partnerships: Expand direct collaborations with distribution channels, system integrators, and OEM partners to ensure seamless integration with enterprise systems. Regular training and knowledge-sharing initiatives will enhance partner capabilities and drive adoption in Europe, Japan, and APAC by 2028.
- Prioritize Safety and Sustainability: Maintain globally certified safety and performance standards while optimizing robots for energy efficiency and minimal environmental impact, aligning with client sustainability goals.
Scale Operations Mindfully: Double our engineering and leadership teams by 2028, bolster supply chain resilience, and establish regional hubs to support global demand, ensuring consistent quality and service.