Solving for Manual Scavenging with Physical AI + Robotics | Divanshu - Solinas Integrity | STFT E01

Water is a problem almost no one is solving for, and that's exactly why Divanshu Kumar decided to build Solinas Integrity. In this episode of Stories That Founders Tell, we sit down with Divanshu to unpack how Solinas is using physical AI and robotics to eliminate manual scavenging - deploying robots into sewer pipelines, water pipelines, and stormwater drains to do work that's long been done at enormous human cost. We talk about what it actually takes to build hard tech for water infrastructure, why working with the government (and with water) is never simple, the brutal early days of "no one was ready to back us," and how Solinas has still managed to post year-on-year growth while staying anchored to its mission. If you're curious about physical AI, deep tech entrepreneurship in India, or what it looks like to build a startup around genuine public good, this one's for you. [00:30] Introduction [01:28] Question 1 - What stories do you tell your customers? [05:15] Making robots in India [08:15] Validation of the technology [08:55] Question 2 - What are the stories you tell your investors? [12:33] First round of investment was the hardest [16:59] Question 3 - What are the stories you tell your employees? [18:40] The employee team structure at Solinas [20:15] Building a hierarchy-free transparent culture [23:04] Question 4 - What are the stories you tell yourself?