Uzbek robotics startup Defex joins Y Combinator, turning down $2M in term sheets
What's the deal? Defex Robotics, founded by Uzbek entrepreneur Husan Mavlonov, has been accepted into Y Combinator. The startup builds robots that automate the installation and inspection of electrical connectors on factory lines.
How it works: Defex's system uses a camera to identify a connector and its port, inserts it, checks the mechanical fit, tests the electrical connection, and logs results for each product. It combines computer vision, sensors, and robotics to do the job.
What's the endgame? Mavlonov wants robots that teach themselves. After learning to install one connector, a robot should handle similar ones with slightly different shapes — cutting the time and cost of retooling production lines for new products.
Why now? Mavlonov said dropping out of university and turning down term sheets worth up to $2 million were among the team's riskiest moves. Both he and his twin brother Hasan decided instead to "go all in" on Defex, which they are building together in San Francisco.
Early traction: Defex has signed an initial $2,000 agreement with a factory in Uzbekistan and lists local partners including Artel, NOVA SolutionsDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, and TechnoparkDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →. Its YC acceptance alone does not establish commercial traction or how widely the system can be deployed.
The signal: Defex is the third Uzbek-founded startup reported to reach Y Combinator in 2026, after agricultural-robotics firm TwoLabsDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → and voice-AI startup SpekoDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, adding an industrial example to a small but growing pipeline. Its timing tracks strong investor appetite for factory automation — recent deals include Foundry Robotics' $100 million Series A for autonomous factories.
Read more: pivot.uz
Image credit: Generated with Gemini
