In Salem, Tamil Nadu, Karthik Raja Karnan transformed a humble car shed into the headquarters of MADique Technologies, a company that now provides food-processing machines to over 30 countries. Karthik's journey, from a curious child disassembling gadgets to a globally recognized engineer, exemplifies how local innovation can achieve international impact.

Growing up in Ammapet, Salem, Karthik's early life was characterized by limited resources and a strong desire to learn. After earning his engineering degree in Electrical and Electronics from the Knowledge Institute of Technology, he chose to start his own venture instead of accepting a secure job. He founded MADique Technologies in a car shed with the goal of creating affordable machines that would help small food producers automate their operations.

MADique Technologies specializes in designing compact and energy-efficient food-processing machines tailored for small and medium-sized businesses. One notable product is an automatic idiyappam maker that consumes only 60 watts of power, weighs approximately 19 kilograms, and can produce hundreds of idiyappams per hour. By focusing on simplicity and energy efficiency, Karthik made automation accessible to home-based entrepreneurs who could not afford large industrial equipment. Currently, the company supports over 3,000 small food businesses worldwide.

In 2025, MADique Technologies was recognized as one of India's Top 100 MSMEs at the India SME 100 Awards, chosen from over 27,000 nominations. Karthik Raja Karnan also received the Fast-Growing 500 CEO Award in 2024.

Karthik Raja Karnan's story demonstrates how innovation and purpose can emerge from unexpected places. What began as a single engineer's experiment in a car shed has evolved into a brand transforming small kitchens into automated production hubs across 30 countries.