ISRO’s Recent Success and Support for Startups
India’s space agency, ISRO, is celebrating the huge success of missions like Chandrayaan-3 and Aditya-1. These missions have drawn the world’s eyes to India. But while ISRO basks in glory, there’s another exciting story unfolding. Around 140 new space tech startups are quietly becoming important players in India’s space journey. These startups are making big waves with their innovative ideas and impressive achievements.
In 2022, India saw some major milestones in its space adventures. India’s first private rocket was launched by Skyroot Aerospace, and multiple new satellites were sent into orbit. These feats caught global attention and showed the world that India is a serious contender in space tech.
A big reason for this success is the government’s strong support for these young companies. The government provides funding, access to advanced technology, and help with infrastructure. Significantly, the GST Council made it easier for space tech businesses to expand in July by introducing a 0% GST regime. This support has helped India’s space tech landscape flourish, with around $205 million raised in funding through over 30 deals between 2014 and July 2023.
Top Indian Space Tech Startups
India’s space sector is buzzing with startups that are set to make a mark globally. Let’s look at some of the most promising ones:
Pixxel: Founded by two students from BITS Pilani in 2019, Pixxel focuses on building high-resolution Earth observation satellites. These satellites have special sensors that can monitor things like crop health, deforestation, and water quality. Pixxel launched its first imaging satellite, ‘Shakuntala,’ which collects important data about climate change, such as ice cap melting and gas leaks. The startup has raised over $36 million from investors, including Google.
Skyroot Aerospace: Skyroot Aerospace, based in Hyderabad, was founded in 2018 by former ISRO scientists. Their mission is to make space accessible for everyone by creating affordable launch vehicles for small satellites. They are developing the Vikram series of rockets, with Vikram-1 being the first. This rocket will carry payloads into low Earth orbit and is expected to launch soon. Skyroot has raised over $51 million in funding.
Dhruva Space: Founded in 2012, Dhruva Space builds small satellites for commercial, government, and academic purposes. They offer full-stack solutions, from building to launching and operating satellites. Dhruva Space’s satellites range from tiny CubeSats to larger microsatellites. They have been successful in securing significant projects and continue to grow.
Agnikul Cosmos: Agnikul Cosmos, based in Chennai, was founded in 2017. They are developing small, fully 3D-printed rockets for launching small satellites into space. In 2022, they successfully tested their first 3D-printed rocket engine. Agnikul Cosmos also built India’s first private launchpad. They have raised a total of $34.8 million in funding.
Bellatrix Aerospace: Founded in 2015, Bellatrix Aerospace is based in Bangalore. They are working on a small satellite launch vehicle called Chetak. Bellatrix has developed four unique thrusters and holds a global patent for them. They have an order from ISRO and raised $11.3 million in funding. Recently, they signed a contract to set up a $76 million factory focused on eco-friendly propulsion technologies.
More Exciting Startups
Astrome Technologies: This deep-tech startup, founded in 2018, focuses on improving 5G and rural telecommunication infrastructure. Astrome’s products help provide internet connectivity in rural areas and support satellite-based services like weather forecasting. They have raised over $10 million in funding and have offices in Bengaluru and internationally.
Aadyah Aerospace: Established in 2016, Aadyah Aerospace specializes in aeronautics, space, and defense technology. They design satellites, launch vehicle subsystems, and drones. The company focuses on advanced electro-mechanical systems for missiles and launch vehicles. Aadyah Aerospace secured $6.12 million in funding within a year of its founding.
Vasundhara Geo Technologies: This 2017-founded business specializes in data mining from aerial platforms and satellites. They swiftly and efficiently evaluate big datasets using sophisticated algorithms. Vasundhara Geo Technologies has finished more than 75 projects in fields including environmental protection, disaster relief, and agriculture.
SatSure: This Bengaluru-based startup, founded in 2017, uses satellite data to provide decision-making services for industries like agriculture and infrastructure. They offer a SaaS product that helps banks provide on-demand credit to farmers. SatSure has raised $20 million and plans to launch four high-resolution satellites by 2024.
Digantara: Digantara was established in 2018 with an emphasis on space debris detection and sustainable space operations. The Pushan-Alpha satellite was just launched to test space weather. Digantara is working on a platform to manage space operations and traffic. They have raised $12.5 million from various investors.
India‘s space tech sector is booming, with startups making significant strides and gaining global attention. With government support and continuous innovation, these companies are set to take India’s space capabilities to new heights.
