New Delhi: Indian fuel-tech startup Nawgati has been named among the top 10 finalists of the UAE-India Startup Series 2.0, emerging from a pool of more than 11,000 applicants. Organised by the UAE-India CEPA Council, the initiative will bring its shortlisted startups together for the Final Pitch Event in Bengaluru on November 17–18, 2026.
The selection marks a significant milestone for Nawgati, a technology company focused on improving fuel station operations through artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity and real-time data analytics.
Founded in 2019 by Vaibhav Kaushik, Aalaap Nair and Aryan Sisodia, the company has evolved from a consumer-focused fuel information service into a full-stack fuel retail data platform, addressing operational challenges faced by fuel retailers and motorists across India.
Using AI and IoT to Make Fuel Stations Smarter
Nawgati’s technology aims to tackle familiar problems at fuel stations, including lengthy queues, congestion, safety concerns and operational inefficiencies.
The platform integrates fuel dispensers, surveillance cameras and billing systems through proprietary on-site controllers, providing fuel companies, station dealers and government authorities with a unified, real-time view of station operations.
Rather than relying solely on reports generated after an incident, the system can identify potential safety risks, procedural violations and non-compliant vehicles as they occur, allowing operators to respond more quickly.
The approach is designed to shift fuel station management from retrospective monitoring towards real-time intervention.
For motorists, the intended benefit is straightforward: fewer unnecessary delays, more reliable information about fuel availability and, ideally, less time spent watching the queue ahead move at a leisurely pace.
Nawgati Expands Its Presence Across India
Nawgati says its platform is already deployed across India, working with leading fuel retail and gas companies.
These deployments provide operational experience that the company is using to refine its technology, with a focus on identifying compliance gaps, managing congestion and improving station efficiency.
By connecting different aspects of fuel station operations through a single digital platform, Nawgati seeks to give operators greater visibility over activities that would otherwise require separate monitoring systems.
The company’s development also reflects a broader shift towards data-driven management of physical infrastructure, where connected devices and real-time analytics increasingly support everyday operations.
CEO Vaibhav Kaushik Highlights Driver-Centric Approach
Commenting on the selection, Vaibhav Kaushik, Co-Founder and CEO of Nawgati, said:
“We are honoured to be selected among the top 10 from over 11,000 applicants for the UAE-India Startup Series 2.0, and we thank the UAE-India CEPA Council for this recognition. We have built Nawgati for the person in the driver’s seat. When a station runs smoothly, drivers spend less time stuck in queues, find fuel more reliably, and get clear, real-time information before they even reach the pump. Seeing that difference across India is what motivates us most. We look forward to taking this experience to more drivers and more stations.”
Bengaluru Final Pitch Event Scheduled for November 17–18
As one of the ten shortlisted companies, Nawgati will participate in the Final Pitch Event in Bengaluru on November 17 and 18, 2026.
The event will provide the finalists with an opportunity to present their businesses under the UAE-India Startup Series 2.0 initiative.
For Nawgati, the recognition brings attention to a sector of mobility technology that often receives less public attention than electric vehicles, autonomous driving or connected cars: the infrastructure that keeps vehicles moving.
While the company has demonstrated its technology through deployments in India, its selection among the finalists could help introduce its fuel retail management approach to a wider audience.
Ultimately, Nawgati’s progress illustrates how India’s mobility technology ecosystem is expanding beyond vehicles themselves to address the infrastructure supporting them. As fuel retailers seek greater operational efficiency and drivers expect faster, more predictable services, intelligent station management could become an increasingly important part of the mobility landscape.
