Bengaluru-based video telematics startup Cautio has acquired deep-tech startup BYTES, a company backed by WTFund, founded by Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath. The acquisition marks an important step in Cautio’s journey to build advanced, AI-driven safety solutions for Indian roads, with a sharp focus on two-wheelers — one of the most vulnerable segments in the country’s mobility ecosystem.
The move comes at a time when India continues to witness a high number of road accidents involving two-wheelers. While several safety innovations have emerged for cars and commercial fleets, two-wheeler riders have largely remained underserved. With this acquisition, Cautio aims to address this long-standing gap by bringing together complementary technologies, teams and a shared vision for safer mobility.
Why BYTES Fits Into Cautio’s Long-Term Vision
BYTES has been working on vision-based, AI-powered safety systems designed specifically for Indian road conditions. Unlike cars, two-wheelers operate in extremely dynamic environments with limited space for hardware, inconsistent power supply and highly unpredictable traffic behaviour. BYTES’ technology focuses on these unique challenges, enabling real-time risk detection and smarter rider assistance without adding complexity for users.
By integrating BYTES’ capabilities into its existing video telematics platform, Cautio plans to build an India-first safety stack that goes beyond monitoring and moves towards prevention. The acquisition also brings BYTES’ entire team into Cautio, strengthening its research, product development and engineering functions.
Focus on Two-Wheelers and Everyday Riders
Cautio is already known for its AI-based solutions used by commercial fleets, logistics companies and shared mobility platforms across multiple Indian cities. The addition of BYTES allows the startup to expand its scope from organised fleets to everyday two-wheeler riders, who make up a significant portion of India’s daily commuters.
The combined platform is expected to support features such as real-time alerts, rider behaviour analysis and improved visibility in complex traffic scenarios. Over time, this could also help insurers, mobility platforms and policymakers access better safety data to design more effective interventions.
Founders Call for Ecosystem Collaboration
Speaking on the acquisition, Cautio’s leadership emphasised that road safety in India cannot be solved in isolation. The company believes meaningful impact will only come when startups, investors, regulators and industry players work together with a shared purpose.
The founders of BYTES echoed this sentiment, stating that their goal has always been to make two-wheeler riding safer without increasing friction or cost for users. Joining hands with Cautio gives them the scale and infrastructure needed to take their solutions to a much larger audience while staying aligned with their original mission.
What This Means for India’s Mobility Tech Space
While the financial details of the acquisition were not disclosed, the strategic importance is clear. It highlights a growing trend in India’s startup ecosystem where early-stage deep-tech companies are finding meaningful exits or scale opportunities through acquisitions rather than standalone growth.
It also reflects the increasing role of founder-focused initiatives like WTFund in nurturing young startups that work on complex, real-world problems. BYTES’ journey from early backing to acquisition shows how targeted support and strong technology can lead to impactful outcomes.
The Road Ahead
With this acquisition, Cautio is positioning itself as a key player in India’s evolving road safety and mobility intelligence space. By bringing two-wheeler safety into sharper focus and combining it with AI-driven video telematics, the company aims to contribute to safer roads for millions of riders.
As Indian mobility continues to grow and diversify, such collaborations could play a crucial role in ensuring that innovation keeps pace with safety — not just for cars and fleets, but for every rider navigating the country’s busy streets every day.