True to its name, Ooga Technologies was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee. But behind that name is a company working to revolutionize the non-destructive testing (NDT) field, with a digital platform that tripled in revenue last year—and is showing no signs of slowing down.
Founded by four NDT industry leaders in 2020, Ooga Technologies aims to make non-destructive testing—a process by which systems and components are evaluated without causing damage—more efficient and cost-effective, said Co-Founder and CEO Ajay Pasupuleti.
“Basically, what we are trying to go after is to provide reliable inspection systems, a one-stop solution,” Pasupuleti said. “In the current day and age, without our technology, decisions are made in a very slow, sometimes unreliable manner—and we are trying to move this industry toward more real time feedback.”
Through Ooga’s desktop-oriented platform, clients gain access to a marketplace stocked with top NDT experts and AI tools, a remote digital inspection system and learning management features that promote the spread of NDT knowledge and talent.
The learning tools are especially important for the future of this industry. Where other industries see an average working age of 35 to 40, the average age in NDT is 50 years old, Pasupuleti said, leading to problematic information gaps between generations.
“We are losing the knowledge,” Pasupuleti said. “But having a system like this, where you can connect remotely with experts who know what they’re doing, gives the advantage of knowledge transfer across the board.”
Ooga’s four co-founders have amassed years of expertise in different industries. Michael Turnbow, the chief technical officer, has worked in NDT for over 30 years. And between Pasupuleti, COO Igor Kasovski and Director Dale Lynn, the team also has experience in aerospace and software development.
Their diverse array of experience is emblematic of the many industries that use NDT, but Pasupuleti said that Ooga Technologies works primarily with oil and gas clients. For example, a midstream gas company might need to transport large volumes of gas across states through pipelines, but first they need to get the wells that hold the gas inspected.
“Those wells are what we are trying to inspect and report faster,” Pasupuleti said.
The startup’s platform matches clients within a specific industry to inspectors with the right certification. Inspectors can then select industry-specific software, including AI tools that use assisted defect recognition to spot imperfections in manufacturing environments that the human eye might miss.
All of this happens from the browser, Pasupuleti said. With no installation or downloads required, the company reduces dependence on the individual inspector’s computer, and they also maintain privacy and control over all data.
This remote, cloud-based SaaS model sets Ooga Technologies apart, as evidenced by its early financial success. All of the founders put money in at the beginning, and the rest is in contracts, making Ooga Technologies cash flow positive from the first year. In 2023, the startup hit $1 million in revenue, and by 2024 it tripled that amount. Pasupuleti has been meeting with investors, and said he expects to double their revenue next year. (No wonder Ooga was named one of GrepBeat’s 2024 “Startups to Watch” honorees!)
“Eventually, we believe we can make it a $100 million ARR company,” Pasupuleti said. “The market is there, and there is a global need for the services that we are offering.”
Ooga Technologies just acquired its first international customer, which will be using the platform remotely from Japan. The company meets most of its clients at trade shows about pipeline integrity, but Pasupuleti said they were lucky to secure a few large, billion-dollar oil and gas companies as early adopters after launching an MVP in 2023.
QUICK BITS
Startup: Ooga Technologies
Co-Founders: Ajay Pasupuleti (CEO), Igor Kasovski
Founded: 2020
Team size: 5
Location: Durham, NC
Website: www.oogatechnologies.com
Funding: Currently raising
The next step for the company is to move from the MVP stage to an actual product. The founders are currently fundraising and readying the platform for product launch by the third quarter of next year.
Ooga Technologies also plans to continue elevating its learning tools to bring about a new wave of blue collar jobs for technicians with high school degrees. Pasupuleti said he hopes that engaging younger technicians will help close the aforementioned age and information gap that plagues the industry.
But amid the hard work and pressure to pass on NDT knowledge, there are also scattered moments of levity. It was the International Pipeline Conference in September, and the co-founders were in a casino in Calgary, sharing the company’s story to a crowded room. Midway through their speech, a familiar song began to play in the background.
I’ll give you a hint: Ooga-Chaka Ooga-Ooga.
