Ronnie Screwvala backs drywall robot startup Origin

Ronnie Screwvala, the serial entrepreneur and co-founder of upGrad, has invested in Origin, a startup developing AI-powered robots that reportedly install drywall three times faster than human crews. The news surfaced in a LinkedIn post from Screwvala earlier this week, though neither party disclosed the size of the check or the startup’s current valuation.

Origin’s technology appears to focus on drywall installation, a labor-intensive part of construction. The company’s approach echoes other robotics startups targeting specific trades—promising speed, consistency, and potential labor savings—rather than the broader, multi-task ambitions of humanoid robot makers like Maven Robotics or Apptronik. Those two startups have drawn significant funding attention recently, with Maven closing a $100 million Series A in October and Apptronik’s private share value rising sharply since 2022.

Screwvala’s investment fits into a pattern: some investors seem to be favoring single-purpose robots in construction, where pilot deployments might be easier to scale than in factories. Earlier coverage suggested another drywall-focused startup raised funding to expand into related trades, though details remain limited. Origin, for its part, has not shared information about its backers beyond Screwvala, its product plans, or any commercial pilots.

The move highlights a potential divide in robotics funding. While humanoid startups attract large rounds, Origin’s trade-specific focus suggests an alternative approach—one where speed to market and measurable outcomes could matter more than the promise of general-purpose machines. What’s unclear is whether Origin will expand its robots’ capabilities beyond drywall or remain focused on that niche.

Sources: msn.com