The viral Chuvarbot 2.0 secures productisation grant from Kerala Startup Mission

Chuvarbot 2.0 in action | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT In the weeks leading up to the 2026 Kerala Assembly elections, Tevanova Techtrade Private Limited was testing the prototype of its latest product, Chuvarbot 2.0, a CNC-based (Computer Numerical Control) wall painting machine. The name, a portmanteau of the words chuvar, meaning wall in Malayalam, and robot, encapsulates what the product set out to do — making wall paintings efficient.The team led by CEO Shakkib Geethanjali and directors Dr Acsah Peter and Shibina Shyni oversaw the trials in Palakkad, where they reached out to families to spray paint their enclosures. They would clean and paint the walls to calibrate the machines and whitewash them once finished. Soon, they were approached by a few local politicians to paint walls as part of the election campaign of United Democratic Front’s candidate Ramesh Pisharody.Videos about Chuvarbot went viral, and enquiries rushed in from political parties and commercial companies. As the product is set to enter the market later this year, Tevanova Techtrade Private Limited has received a productisation grant of ₹12 lakh under the Kerala Startup Mission Innovation Grant Scheme. (from left) Shakkib Geethanjali, Anoop Ambika (CEO, Kerala Startup Mission) and Dr Acsah Peter | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT “A lot of startups we see in Kerala are innovations that follow the formulae of successful ventures outside the country. However, for Chuvarbot, the market is solely India. Graffiti is illegal in many countries, and others don’t have a culture of creating advertisements on the walls,” says Shakkib, explaining that the project has been on the pipeline since February 2025.He points out that Chuvarbot’s market extends beyond political campaigns. “The potential clientele includes concrete brands, steel bar companies, textiles, jewellery brands and more. The walls also have a longer shelf life.”However, despite the high demand, the number of artists in this profession has been on the decline over the past few years.“New artists are not ready to take up this profession. The reasons are that it is physically taxing to do it outdoors. It also requires some skill to master typography,” says Shakkib.The process Chuvarbot 2.0 in action | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT The machine comes with a vehicular unit consisting of a control panel and is operated by two technicians. The wall is measured, and a design mockup is created. Each colour and outline forms one layer of paint.Chuvarbot uses spray paint, which makes it easier to paint surfaces of varied smoothness. The machine uses X, Y, and Z axes to paint and adjust itself according to the irregularities of the wall. Since there is no direct contact between the surface and the nozzle, the work gets done faster, explains Shakkib.The bot finishes a three-metre-long wall in 10 to 15 minutes.Shakkib says, “We are trying to preserve this art form by integrating robotics into it. The artists are not being replaced, but they are provided with a powerful tool. It allows them to be more productive. This form of advertisements are also eco-friendly when compared to hoardings.”Moving forwardChuvarbot is set to launch towards the end of 2026 with a franchise model.“Few clients across the State and the country, apart from political parties, have reached out to us,” says Shakkib. “Most enquiries were from people who wanted to buy the machine.”The team is also working on an app for wall rental spaces, where people can list their walls for advertisements, and brands could rent them for a fixed period. This project is currently in its prototype stage. Published - July 30, 2026 05:05 pm IST