A Conversation with Aayush Kumar, Co-Founder and COO of BYTES on AI-Driven Safety for Indian Roads
Every year, over 75,000 twowheeler riders lose their lives on Indian roads. That’s more than 200 deaths daily. Aayush, what sparked the idea behind BYTES?
The turning point for us was a simple but haunting question: Why are two-wheeler riders still so exposed in an era of advancing automotive safety? As we dug into the data, the scale of the problem became clear. Two-wheelers account for over 60% of road accidents in India, with more than 90% of these caused by human error. These aren’t just numbers— each one is a life, a family, a future lost. That’s what compelled us to act.
Tell us about BYTES. How does it address this crisis?
BYTES is India’s first AI-powered, vision-based Advanced Driver Assistance System—or ADAS— designed specifically for twowheelers. Our mission is ambitious: to make every ride a safe ride. Unlike the ADAS solutions in cars, which are often bulky and expensive, twowheeler riders have historically been left out. We wanted to change that. We’ve built our solution around three key pillars:
- Vision AI Models that detect real time risks like blind spots and potential collisions,
- Plug-and-Play Hardware that integrates easily with existing OEM systems,
- And Data-Driven Intelligence to provide personalized rider safety insights and predictive alerts.
Why focus exclusively on twowheelers?
Two-wheelers are the backbone of personal and last-mile mobility in India and across much of the developing world. But they remain the most vulnerable. Globally, over 50 million road accidents happen each year—60% involving two-wheelers— and the vast majority are caused by human error. The affordability and accessibility of safety systems for this segment have been completely overlooked. That’s the gap BYTES is here to fill.
What makes BYTES different from existing ADAS solutions?
Most traditional ADAS platforms are designed for four-wheelers. They’re expensive, power-hungry, and not compatible with the dynamics of a two-wheeler. BYTES is different— we’ve designed our tech to be lean, efficient, and cost-effective. It’s engineered for India’s unpredictable roads, but with a design philosophy that makes it globally scalable.
You’ve mentioned global scalability. Is BYTES looking beyond India?
Absolutely. India is our home and our first market, but the problem isn’t unique to us. Countries in Southeast Asia, Latin America, and Africa face similar road safety challenges. Millions depend on scooters and motorcycles, often in chaotic traffic environments. BYTES is uniquely positioned to offer a universal, affordable safety standard.
Who are the key supporters backing BYTES?
We’re fortunate to have support from leading ecosystem partners including WTFund by Nikhil Kamath, IIT Mandi Catalyst, iHub IIT Mandi, Startup Karnataka, RX100 Ventures, and NSRCEL. Their belief in our mission has helped accelerate our journey from prototype to real-world pilots.
What’s next for BYTES?
The road ahead is exciting. We’re working closely with OEMs to embed our safety system directly on the factory floor. We’re also engaging with regulators to help shape the standards for two-wheeler ADAS. We believe that in the near future, two-wheeler safety systems will go from being a “nice-to-have” to a legal mandate—much like seat belts and airbags in cars.
BYTES seems to be as much a social mission as it is a business. Would you agree?
Completely. At its core, BYTES is about democratizing safety. We’re building a solution that is:
- Economically Viable so it can scale across all income groups,
- Socially Impactful because each unit installed could mean a life saved,
- And Technologically Scalable with a future-ready architecture and OTA capabilities.
- We believe safety should never be a privilege—it should be a right.
How can others join your movement?
We’re always looking to collaborate— Investors with OEMs, policymakers, engineers, or anyone passionate about safer mobility. We’re hiring, we’re piloting, and we’re expanding. This is just the beginning. Let’s make every two-wheeler ride safer, together.■
Aayush Kumar,
Co-Founder and COO
BYTES