Nawgati’s AI-Driven Global Fuel-Tech Ambitions
What began as a conversation with a cab driver in Noida about lost time and earnings at crowded CNG stations has evolved into one of India’s most promising mobility-tech expansions. Nawgati, the AI-powered fuel-tech platform, is now taking its infrastructure solutions global, with the UAE as its first major international market.
The UAE Play: A Strategic Partnership
Nawgati’s entry into the UAE is anchored by a strategic partnership with Seed Group, an investment company affiliated with The Private Office of Sheikh Saeed bin Ahmed Al Maktoum. This alliance, announced in September 2025, marks Nawgati’s first global expansion and provides immediate access to the UAE’s fuel retail ecosystem.
The UAE is not a random choice. As Vaibhav Kaushik, Co-founder and CEO of Nawgati, explained: “We are expanding internationally through strategic partnerships in the UAE, with Seed Group, and in Sri Lanka, both markets that mirror the fuel retail inefficiencies we’ve already solved in India, giving us a natural entry point without needing to rebuild our core model”. The UAE’s fuel retail sector is projected for steady growth through 2030, making it a receptive market for digital transformation.
AI at the Core of a Hardware-Light Model
Central to Nawgati’s global scalability is its AI-driven technology. The platform, called Aaveg, uses deep learning, real-time analytics, and mobile applications to streamline fuel station operations, reduce bottlenecks, and provide congestion and compliance intelligence.
The company’s approach is notably hardware-light, leveraging existing infrastructure like CCTV and dispensers rather than requiring costly new equipment. “Our low-cost, hardware-light deployment approach, which leverages existing CCTV and station infrastructure rather than requiring new capex, makes it easier to replicate our model in new geographies,” Kaushik noted. This design philosophy ensures that while Nawgati was “built around the dynamics of India’s fuel retail ecosystem,” its “core architecture is designed to be scalable beyond it”.
Strong Traction and Growth Funding
Nawgati is building its global ambitions on a foundation of impressive domestic traction. The company has already onboarded over 1,000 fuel outlets across India, serving more than 30 lakh users and partnering with major oil marketing companies like Indraprastha Gas and Mahanagar Gas.
To fuel its international expansion, the startup secured $2.5 million in a Pre-Series A funding** round led by angel investor Ajay Upadhyaya in May 2025. It is now in advanced talks to raise a **$5.2 million Series A round at a valuation exceeding $70 million, with plans to “accelerate global deployments, deepen our AI capabilities, and strengthen both our enterprise and consumer offerings”. The company has also received backing from GAIL (India) Limited and was selected for the Google for Startups Accelerator program.
With its foray into the UAE and plans to replicate this model in markets like Sri Lanka, Nawgati’s journey reflects India’s broader push to export its deep-tech and mobility innovations globally. It signals a maturing startup ecosystem that is moving beyond domestic problem-solving to building globally scalable infrastructure solutions.
