In Salem, Tamil Nadu, a small car shed once used as a workshop is now the base of an enterprise that supplies food-processing machines to more than 30 countries. The story of Karthik Raja Karnan, founder and CEO of MADique Technologies, captures how one engineer turned a local innovation into a global food automation brand.
Growing up in Ammapet, Salem, karthik's early years were shaped by limited means and a strong sense of curiosity. As a child, he would take apart old gadgets to build new ones. After completing his engineering degree in Electrical and Electronics from the Knowledge Institute of Technology, he decided to reject a secure job offer and pursue an idea of his own. He started MADique Technologies in a car shed to create affordable machines that could help small food producers automate their work.
The company designs compact and low-power food-processing machines for small and medium businesses. Its automatic idiyappam maker, for example, consumes only 60 watts of power, weighs around 19 kilograms, and can produce hundreds of idiyappams every hour.
By keeping machines simple and energy-efficient, Karthik made automation accessible even to home-based entrepreneurs who couldn’t afford large industrial equipment. Today, the company supports over 3,000 small food businesses worldwide.
In 2025, MADique Technologies was recognised among India’s Top 100 MSMEs at the India SME 100 Awards, chosen from more than 27,000 nominations. Karnan also received the Fast-Growing 500 CEO Award in 2024.
Karthik Raja Karnan’s story shows how innovation and purpose can emerge from unexpected places. What began as a single engineer’s experiment in a car shed has turned into a brand transforming small kitchens into automated production hubs across 30 countries.
Growing up in Ammapet, Salem, karthik's early years were shaped by limited means and a strong sense of curiosity. As a child, he would take apart old gadgets to build new ones. After completing his engineering degree in Electrical and Electronics from the Knowledge Institute of Technology, he decided to reject a secure job offer and pursue an idea of his own. He started MADique Technologies in a car shed to create affordable machines that could help small food producers automate their work.
The company designs compact and low-power food-processing machines for small and medium businesses. Its automatic idiyappam maker, for example, consumes only 60 watts of power, weighs around 19 kilograms, and can produce hundreds of idiyappams every hour.
By keeping machines simple and energy-efficient, Karthik made automation accessible even to home-based entrepreneurs who couldn’t afford large industrial equipment. Today, the company supports over 3,000 small food businesses worldwide.
In 2025, MADique Technologies was recognised among India’s Top 100 MSMEs at the India SME 100 Awards, chosen from more than 27,000 nominations. Karnan also received the Fast-Growing 500 CEO Award in 2024.
Karthik Raja Karnan’s story shows how innovation and purpose can emerge from unexpected places. What began as a single engineer’s experiment in a car shed has turned into a brand transforming small kitchens into automated production hubs across 30 countries.
