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GridMats began inside PotHoleRaja, the civic start-up that has mended more than 20,000 potholes across Indian cities. The question that followed was simple: if recycled plastic can hold a pothole repair together, can it hold a road? Seven years, a patent, a Shark Tank pitch and 32 sites later, the answer is the six systems on this site.

2019 first GridMats sites
2021 Indian Patent 398992 filed on 1 December; the patent is in force from that date
2023 PCT application published as WO/2023/100191
2024 Shark Tank India, season 3
2025 Adani GreenTalks award, SDG 9 · IIT Hyderabad research programme · RINAC and Reliance sites
2026 six systems, from permanent roads to temporary surfaces; exports to five countries; urban-heat-island (UHI) patent filed

The GridMats team receiving the Adani GreenTalks award

The team

Dr Prathap B Rao
Managing Director
Connect on LinkedIn (opens in a new tab)

Pavan Sampath
USA Business Development
Ex-Goldman Sachs · Michigan State University

Abhimanyu Kinha
USA Strategy and Operations
QC Engineer, Tesla

Surya B
Sales and Projects
National-level sportsman · Lead accountant

Dr Kalpana Sampath
CPO
Serial entrepreneur

Poornima Prathap
Controller
Educator

Shravan Kumar
Techie, R&D
MTech Highways · PhD scholar

Awards and certifications

Indian Patent 398992
In force from 1 Dec 2021 · PCT WO/2023/100191

UHI patent
Urban heat island, filed 2026

GreenPro
GPGEP277001, CII

Adani GreenTalks 2025
SDG 9 award

Climate Collective
CCF-CIC-003

Shark Tank India S3
Featured pitch, 2024

TGS 2026, IISc
IIT Hyderabad research presented, for publication by Springer

Urban Mobility Challenge 2023
Recognition

BAICONF 2026
Paper submitted

Exports and channel partners

GridMats is exported for installation by local channel partners in Nigeria, Romania, Canada, the USA, Mauritius and other countries. Partners receive the systems manual, the method statements, the design engine output for their sites and installer training (online or on site).

Partner enquiry

In the media

13 Jan 2026The Better IndiaInside PotHoleRaja’s technology that turns recycled plastic into safer, stronger roadsNational Road Safety Week feature on the patented GridMats base. (opens in a new tab)4 Feb 2023The Financial ExpressFixing India’s pothole problem: what needs to be done (opens in a new tab)12 Oct 2022Business StandardPotHoleRaja: how one start-up is fixing roads the eco-friendly way (opens in a new tab)24 Sep 2022The New Indian ExpressPotHoleRaja: comrades-in-arms for a good cause (opens in a new tab)1 Aug 2022The Better IndiaPotHoleRaja builds a 25% cheaper road from 3,000 kg of plastic (opens in a new tab)14 Jul 2022The HinduIn Bengaluru, road built with 100% recycled plastic waste between Ecoworld and ORR (opens in a new tab)

All media, podcasts, talks and recognition

Watch

PodcastHow can India build roads that last?Godrej Design Lab × The Gyaan Project

GridMats1:57Why I started PotHoleRajaYouTube short (opens in a new tab)

From the blog

What would your road or yard cost on GridMats?

An indicative estimate in about a minute, free. Our engineers follow with the design and the bill of quantities against your conventional section; the method statement your contractor will follow comes with your order.

Get my free estimate Talk to an engineer on WhatsApp (opens in a new tab)