Mahimana Bhatt
| Mahimana Bhatt | |
| Occupation | Entrepreneur, robotics engineer |
|---|---|
| Known for | Co-founder of Flywheel AI |
Mahimana Bhatt is an entrepreneur and robotics engineer who co-founded Flywheel AI, a company that converts existing excavators for remote operation and autonomous functionality using robotics and deep learning. The company, sometimes described as "Waymo for excavators," was founded in 2023 and is based in San Francisco, California.[1]
Career
Bhatt co-founded Flywheel AI in 2023 alongside Jash Mota. The company develops technology to retrofit conventional excavators with systems that allow contractors to operate them remotely, with the goal of improving safety and productivity on construction sites.[2] The company's platform also incorporates an "AI co-pilot" for excavators and includes tools for monitoring operator performance and managing multiple machines or sites remotely.
Flywheel AI's approach involves building datasets to train excavators to perform tasks autonomously, drawing on techniques from deep learning and robotics. The company has described its mission in terms analogous to the self-driving car company Waymo, but applied to heavy construction equipment.
Flywheel AI was admitted to the Y Combinator Summer 2025 batch.[3] As of the time of its YC participation, the company had two employees — Bhatt and Mota. The company has deployed its systems on construction sites in the United States and Singapore.[4]
Outside of his work at Flywheel AI, Bhatt has demonstrated interest in broader robotics applications. In early 2026, he participated in the Physical AI Hack, where he used imitation learning to teach a robot to pour a can of soda, winning a prize at the event.
Flywheel AI's clients include construction contractors, and the company's website lists multiple industry partners, though specific customer names and funding details have not been publicly disclosed.
References
- ↑ "Flywheel AI: Waymo for excavators". 'Y Combinator}'. Retrieved 2026-03-19.
- ↑ "Flywheel AI". 'Flywheel AI}'. Retrieved 2026-03-19.
- ↑ "Flywheel AI: Waymo for excavators". 'Y Combinator}'. Retrieved 2026-03-19.
- ↑ "Can remotely operated excavators fix construction's labor gap?". 'Tech in Asia}'. Retrieved 2026-03-19.