A deep-tech startup co-founded by two first-generation college graduates has secured a pilot project with Indian Railways. The idea is to detect brake failures on freight wagons and reduce the derailment risks.

Teezash Labs, founded in April 2025, bagged the contract after designing an IoT-based system to monitor wagon components.

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First-Gen Founders Aim at Rail Safety Innovation

Hailing from Odisha, Mahato (29) and Xaxa (35) grew up living near the railway corridors where mechanical failures caused accidents and related losses. The experiences defined their focus on safety-focused engineering solutions rather than general post-accident responses.

The duo ditched their stable careers to build a rugged sensor network with edge-level computing and cloud analytics.
The system captures data from wagon brakes and other components, including vibration and temperature and uses on-device algorithms to flag anomalies for operators.

The startup was incubated at the Foundation for Technology and Business Incubation (FTBI) at the National Institute of Technology, Rourkela. Under a Department of Science and Technology inclusive entrepreneurship programme, they received seed funding and mentorship that helped land a pilot covering 58 freight wagons in October.

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Pilot Seen as Step Toward Scalable Rail Safety Tech

The pilot with Indian Railways’ Chakradharpur Division marks an important early test for Teezash’s brake-health monitoring system. The technology is built to withstand harsh field conditions, including extreme temperatures and heavy vibration.

Such sensor-based detection tools could complement broader rail-safety strategies, including advanced signalling systems and automatic train protection deployments like the indigenous Kavach system, which automatically applies brakes to prevent collisions.

FTBI president Subrat Kumar Panda described the project as an example of campus incubators. Linking local engineering talent with large public-sector clients is excellent for managing risks through tech in different ways. However, scaling a full fleet deployment needs sustained capital, regulatory approvals and manufacturing capacity.