Passion and skill combined to create a one-of-a-kind cooling solution that is environment friendly and yet reduces temperatures like a normal air-conditioner. Tiger Aster and Jiten Desai (JD), co-founders of Ambiator Pvt Ltd, are all set to lower the temperature for us, without harming the environment.
Like most parts of the world, India is also experiencing rising temperatures year after year. As the mercury rises, so does the demand for cooling solutions. Currently, cooling accounts for about 10% of the country’s total electricity consumption, and this figure is projected to triple by 2030. While air conditioners provide much-needed relief, they come with significant drawbacks: high energy consumption and substantial carbon dioxide emissions that contribute to climate change.
Desert coolers, often considered the more affordable option, have their limitations. They are ineffective in humid climates, provide inconsistent cooling, and often compromise air quality. These constraints raise an important question: Can we design a cooling system that is energy-efficient, environmentally friendly, and effective?
That’s the challenge that Sukhdarshan Dhaliwal, better known as DD, and his son Tiger set out to solve in early 2020. DD, an expert in cooling systems, had developed a heat exchanger for his personal use. Sadly, while working on the project, he passed away in August 2022. Without his father’s guidance, Tiger almost gave up on the idea, until a chance meeting changed everything.
Jitan Desai recalls, “At a demo centre, I met Tiger and heard about the concept he was working on with his late father. I immediately saw its potential and asked if he would consider continuing the project. While Tiger was confident in handling the technical side, he was hesitant in managing the business aspects. I offered to take him on so he could focus solely on the technology. Could do. He agreed, and we moved forward together.”
Later that year, the two co-founded Ambiator Pvt Ltd, a startup built on a vision of providing sustainable and efficient cooling solutions, carrying forward not just a technological innovation, but a legacy.
Although Ambiator is based in Hyderabad, the startup was incubated at the Venture Center in Pune.
mechanics of cooling
“It started with a simple question,” says Jeetan. “Can we make comfort cooling sustainable? The core temperature of the human body is about 36.5 degrees Celsius. If you lower the room temperature even by five to ten degrees, it becomes quite comfortable. Air conditioners do this effectively, but at a cost. They not only cool the room; they also dehydrate it, both the air and the people in it. Let’s dry it. You will notice that your skin and sinuses feel dry in an AC room. Furthermore, many modern glass buildings trap heat, forcing air-conditioners to work even harder. The real cost of air conditioning is not just financial, but also environmental.”
He adds, “The wet bulb temperature is always lower than the dry bulb temperature. The dew point, the temperature at which water vapor condenses, is where the potential for permanent cooling lies.”
Although Ambiator is based in Hyderabad, the startup was incubated at the Venture Center in Pune. After two and a half years of R&D, they had a working proof of concept (POC). Jeetan explains: “The ambiator efficiently transfers heat from air to water and provides what we call sensible cooling. The air finds its own level, so even with open doors or windows, our continuous air exchange cycle effectively cools the space. We use both dry and wet bulb cooling principles, but the real magic happens in the dry cooling step. This is done while wearing gloves in a can of cold water. It’s like putting your hand in, you feel cold, but your hand remains dry.”
The startup now has two approved patents for its innovative technologies.
construction of ambiator
While one part of Ambiator focuses on research and technological innovation, the other, often more difficult, is prototyping and manufacturing.
“When we built our initial prototype, it was big and made of steel,” says Jeetan. “We faced leakage problems. Later, we switched to LDPE for the inner body, which made the unit lighter and solved the leakage problem. Tiger’s father, DD, had done the initial work on the heat exchanger and went through several design iterations.”
Finding the right manufacturing partner proved challenging. Most steel fabricators were unwilling to take small, custom orders. Eventually, he found a company that made precision products for multinational companies.
“The owner turned out to be my former business school batchmate,” recalls Jeetan. “This helped open the door, but relationships alone do not guarantee quality. We agreed to pay 1.5 times the regular cost, on the condition that the products met our exacting standards. If a unit did not meet our criteria, it was rejected. Paying more for precision is worth it.”
speed to market
His first customer came from an unexpected source. Jeetan’s neighbor had an architect friend who recommended Ambiator to a client in Warangal, Telangana.
“The client had already completed his bungalow, and the developer had installed air-conditioners, but he wanted coolness in the common areas as well,” says Jeetan. “We retrofitted the ambiator in there. Luckily, it had solar panels, so the current cost of cooling was virtually zero.”
His next big opportunity came through SELCO Foundation in Bangalore, which organized a competition to design sustainable cooling solutions for social spaces.
“We used the ambiator to cool the tin shed where his employees worked,” explains Jeetan. “It showed that even people who couldn’t afford an air-conditioner could enjoy thermal comfort. The shed, previously unusable in summer, became a functional workplace.”
Since launching commercially in January 2024, Ambiator has deployed 35 units across India, from Jaipur to Vellore, including Baroda, Pune, Panchgani, Warangal and Bangalore. Establishments range from industrial kitchens and hospitals to tin sheds, homes and storefronts.
Competition and Market
Ambiator sits between the traditional air-conditioner and the desert cooler, redefining the middle ground in India’s cooling market. “Air-conditioners provide consistent comfort, but they consume 6-10 kilowatts per unit and use refrigerants that are 2,000 times the global warming potential of CO₂,” says Jeetan. “Desert coolers, although more economical, are ineffective, water-intensive and often unhealthy.”
Ambiator aims to provide the best of both worlds: AC-like comfort using just 1 kilowatt of power, five times less water and zero refrigerant. “It’s cleaner, healthier and much more sustainable,” he added.
This unique combination of comfort, efficiency and environmental responsibility positions Ambeater as one of the few Indian companies developing climate-positive cooling solutions for widespread use.
Funding and the way forward
So far, Ambiator has raised 83 lakhs from a mix of grants, awards and challenge funds. This includes a 30 Lakh Startup India Seed Fund structured as convertible grant in April 2028. Now, the company is preparing to raise Rs 34 crore to increase production, expand R&D and create nationwide service infrastructure.
One of the company’s most ambitious goals? Launching a residential bio-climate unit that works in the diverse climate of India without compromising on energy efficiency.
what will happen next
“We are expanding our reach through channel partners,” says Jeetan. “Cooling is a feeling business; you have to experience it. That’s why we are partnering with places like restaurants and clubs, where people can actually feel the ambient difference.”
Channel partners will also support ducting, logistics and after-sales service, which is key to providing a seamless customer experience.
“People today expect next-day delivery,” he said. “But our manufacturing process is different. Ambeater units currently take about 75 days. So we’re looking to partner with companies that can stock inventory and manage installation to help us serve customers faster.”
Cooling-as-a-Service: A Sustainable Change
Ambeater’s next big step is to launch Cooling-as-a-Service (CaaS). “We help our customers save more than 80% on electricity bills,” says Jeetan. “So why not turn capital expenditure (capex) into operating expenditure (opex)? It’s a win for businesses, for us and for the planet.”
The company is also in discussions with solar energy providers to integrate Ambiator with renewable systems. “These companies already install solar panels, why don’t they offer the ambiator as an add-on?” Jeetan explains. “We can charge a fee that’s less than running a traditional air-conditioner. It works for them, for us, and most importantly for the environment.”
