AI for Manufacturing Diagnostics
San Francisco-based startup Niobia is focusing on battery and chip manufacturing by helping engineers understand production defects. Its AI software flags defects and lets engineers query a chatbot to determine root causes, aiming to deliver answers in minutes rather than days.
The company places AI agents on production lines to inspect for flaws, while human engineers review potential causes for product failures. The agents operate on self-contained GPUs mounted directly on manufacturing machinery, enabling them to detect micro-scale flaws such as scratches. Niobia’s system consolidates data so engineers can investigate issues using a chatbot interface.
High Costs of Production Delays
Speed is critical because chips and batteries remain in high demand and short supply. During research and development, issues frequently arise that require engineers to spend days diagnosing fixes before restarting production. Each mistake can cost millions of dollars and disrupt manufacturing timelines.
Niobia co-founders Gaurav Jha and Harveen Kaur hold PhDs in chemistry and possess industry experience working with chipmakers and battery manufacturers. Jha noted that the company serves a multibillion-dollar market encompassing major battery and semiconductor producers.
It is extremely niche; maybe people will never know about it, said Jha, regarding the manufacturing sector. But behind the scenes, this is powering everything... we just do not see it in the regular world.
Every product around you, like glasses or shoes, slippers, wallets, and headphones — these processes touch every single part of it, Jha added.
Open Source Models and Data Security
Niobia’s agents utilize open source models further trained on specialized battery and chip research data, enabling the identification of minute defects. Jha explained that open source models were selected because customers prefer to keep sensitive proprietary data off public AI clouds.
None of our customers want their proprietary data to go to the cloud, even if we tell them it is safe, Jha stated. To address cybersecurity requirements, Niobia allows customers to maintain their own encryption keys so the startup cannot access their underlying data.
Future Roadmap
Jha indicated that the company’s current priorities involve three specific industrial specialties: film coating, electroplating, and fluidized bed reaction processes.
The company also intends to increase the autonomy of its technology, with the long-term objective of supporting fully self-driving factories for its customers.
If you’re curious to learn more, Niobia will present onstage at TechCrunch Disrupt this afternoon in San Francisco. Join us to catch the company and the 19 startups against which it’s competing as part of our storied Startup Battlefield competition, happening today, Tuesday, through Thursday, October 15.
