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Tag: bellatrix aerospace

  • Top leading-edge Space tech Startups in India

    India, a nation renowned for its rich history and culture, has advanced significantly in the area of space technology. While the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has led the way in these developments, several creative startups are also starting to make their name in this fascinating field. This blog will examine some of the leading spacetech companies in India, their accomplishments, and the ways in which they are transforming space exploration and technology.

    Why Spacetech Startups Matter
    Top Spacetech Startups in India
    The Impact of These Startups
    Challenges Faced by Spacetech Startups
    Future Prospects

    Why Spacetech Startups Matter

    Why Spacetech Startups Matter
    Why Spacetech Startups Matter

    Spacetech startups are crucial for several reasons:

    • Innovation: They bring fresh ideas and new technologies to the table.
    • Cost-Effectiveness: Startups often find more affordable ways to achieve complex goals.
    • Job Creation: They create employment opportunities in high-tech fields.
    • Global Competitiveness: These startups help India compete on a global scale.

    Now, let’s delve into some of the top spacetech startups in India that are making waves in the industry.

    Top Spacetech Startups in India

    Startup Founded Location Founders Mission Key Focus/Highlight
    Pixxel 2019 Bengaluru Awais Ahmed, Kshitij Khandelwal To democratize access to satellite imagery data Fireflies Constellation for environmental monitoring
    Bellatrix Aerospace 2015 Bengaluru Rohan Ganapathy, Yashas Karanam Develops and manufactures advanced technologies for in-space mobility Proprietary Electric Propulsion System for efficient space missions
    Skyroot Aerospace 2018 Hyderabad Pawan Kumar Chandana, Naga Bharath Daka To make spaceflight as simple, affordable, and reliable as airflight Vikram Series – launch vehicles for small satellite deployment
    Agnikul Cosmos 2017 Chennai Srinath Ravichandran, Moin SPM Demonstrate in-house tech and enable efficient launches with Agnikul’s Agnibaan rocket On-demand, customizable launch vehicles for small payloads (up to 100 kg to LEO)
    Vesta Space Technology 2018 Pune Arun Kumar Sureban Provider of satellite-based communication services End-to-end satellite solutions: design, development, and launch

    Pixxel

    Founded 2019
    Founders Awais Ahmed and Kshitij Khandelwal
    Mission To democratize access to satellite imagery data

    Pixxel is a Bengaluru-based startup that is making headlines with its ambitious plans to build a constellation of Earth-imaging satellites. These satellites are designed to capture high-resolution images of the Earth, providing valuable data for various applications such as agriculture, urban planning, and disaster management.

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    Bellatrix Aerospace

    Founded 2015
    Founders Rohan Ganapathy and Yashas Karanam
    Mission develops and manufactures advanced technologies for in-space mobility

    Bellatrix Aerospace is another Bengaluru-based startup that focuses on developing advanced propulsion systems for satellites. Their proprietary Electric Propulsion System aims to make space missions more efficient and cost-effective.

    Skyroot Aerospace

    Founded 2018
    Founders Pawan Kumar Chandana and Naga Bharath Daka
    Mission To make spaceflight as simple, affordable, and reliable as airflight

    Skyroot Aerospace, based in Hyderabad, is working on developing launch vehicles that can successfully take satellites into space. Their flagship product, Vikram Series, is designed to cater to the needs of small satellite launches.

    Agnikul Cosmos

    Founded 2017
    Founders Srinath Ravichandran and Moin SPM
    Mission To demonstrate the in-house and home-grown technologies, gather flight data, and ensure optimal functioning of Agnikul’s orbital launch vehicle, Agnibaan

    Agnikul Cosmos is a Chennai-based startup that is developing a customizable and on-demand launch vehicle. Their Agnibaan rocket is designed to carry payloads of up to 100 kg to low Earth orbit, making it ideal for small satellite missions.

    Vesta Space Technology

    Founded 2018
    Founders Arun Kumar Sureban
    Mission Provider of satellite-based communication services

    Vesta Space Technology is a Pune-based startup that specializes in small-satellite technology. They provide end-to-end solutions for satellite missions, including design, development, and launch services.

    The Impact of These Startups

    These startups are not just contributing to India’s spacetech landscape; they are also making a global impact. Here are some ways they are influencing the world:

    • Advancing Technology: By developing new technologies, these startups are pushing the boundaries of what is possible in space exploration.
    • Reducing Costs: Their cost-effective solutions are making space missions more affordable, which could lead to more frequent and varied space activities.
    • Data Accessibility: Companies like Pixxel are democratizing access to satellite data, which can be used for a wide range of applications from environmental monitoring to urban planning.
    • Inspiring Innovation: Their success stories inspire other entrepreneurs and innovators to venture into the spacetech field.

    Challenges Faced by Spacetech Startups

    While these startups are making significant progress, they also face several challenges:

    • Funding: Securing adequate funding is often a major hurdle.
    • Regulatory Hurdles: Navigating the complex regulatory landscape can be daunting.
    • Technical Challenges: Developing cutting-edge technology is inherently risky and challenging.
    • Market Competition: The global spacetech market is highly competitive, with established players like SpaceX and Blue Origin.

    Future Prospects

    The future looks promising for India’s spacetech startups. With increasing support from the government and private investors, these startups are well-positioned to achieve their ambitious goals. The Indian government’s recent reforms in space policy, aimed at encouraging private sector participation, are also likely to provide a significant boost to these startups.

    Conclusion

    India’s spacetech startups are significantly influencing how technology and space exploration develop in the future. These startups are at the forefront of innovation, creating customizable launch vehicles, sophisticated propulsion systems, and Earth-imaging satellites. Despite a number of obstacles, they have the potential to have a huge impact on the world at large as well as India.

    You can get a sneak peek at the direction space technology is taking as an explorer by keeping a watch on these startups. Who knows? The next big breakthrough in spacetech could very well come from one of these innovative Indian startups.

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    FAQs

    What are spacetech startups?

    Spacetech startups are companies that develop innovative technologies for space exploration, satellite services, and related infrastructure.

    Which are the top spacetech startups in India?

    Some of the leading spacetech startups in India include Pixxel, Bellatrix Aerospace, Skyroot Aerospace, Agnikul Cosmos, and Vesta Space Technology.

    What challenges do Indian spacetech startups face?

    Common challenges include limited funding, regulatory complexities, high technical risks, and competition from global giants.

  • Rohan Ganapathy, CEO & CTO of Bellatrix Aerospace, on How They’re Leading Innovations in Sustainable Space Technology

    In this exclusive interaction with StartupTalky, Rohan Ganapathy, Co-Founder, CEO, and CTO of Bellatrix Aerospace, discusses how the company is leading advancements in sustainable space technology. Bellatrix, which began with a vision to combat climate change, has grown into a pioneer in satellite propulsion and in-space mobility solutions. Ganapathy shares insights on their innovative technologies, like the water-powered Microwave Plasma Thruster, their collaboration with ISRO, and how they’re driving cost-efficient, eco-friendly innovations that are shaping the future of the satellite industry.

    StartupTalky: What inspired you to start Bellatrix Aerospace, and how has your mission evolved since then?

    Mr. Ganapathy: Bellatrix Aerospace started when we were still in college and interested in space exploration. Set out on a vision to solve climate change by developing water-based satellite propulsion to reduce the cost of transportation in space. Our mission to remain cost-efficient and sustainable has remained. Now we have evolved into In-Space Mobility solution provider for all classes of satellites and continue to develop cutting-edge technologies.

    StartupTalky: Briefly highlight Bellatrix Aerospace’s key technologies and what makes them unique.

    Mr. Ganapathy: Chemical Propulsion:

    • Green Mono-Propellent Thruster (Rudra Series): Sustainable and highly performant. We have developed fuel and catalysts in-house that are green and sustainable.
    • Nano thruster: World’s smallest thrusters, smaller than a coin. Based on nanofabrication, this thruster is designed to be compatible for CubeSats up to 12 U. Volume and power efficiency.

    Electric Propulsion:

    • Hall Effect Thruster (Arka Series): Based on Hall effect technology, the Arka series can be compatible with satellites from 50kg class to 5000 kg. To avoid a single-point failure due to heating issues in the cathode, we have developed a heater-less hollow cathode-based hall effect thruster.
    • Microwave Plasma Thruster (Jal Series): The world’s first thruster with water as a fuel,  designed for 1000Kg+ class satellites and reduces cost for the satellite owner significantly due to water used as the fuel.

    StartupTalky: How has your partnership with ISRO impacted Bellatrix’s technological advancements and growth? 

    Mr. Ganapathy: Bellatrix was the first space tech to be awarded a developmental contract by the ISRO to develop an electric propulsion system that uses water as fuel. This collaboration highlighted the startup’s credibility and the promise of its technology. By teaming up with ISRO, Bellatrix accessed crucial resources,  knowledge, and infrastructure, which sped up their research and development.

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    StartupTalky: What steps is Bellatrix taking to contribute to sustainable space technology, and what are your future goals in this area?

    Mr. Ganapathy: In chemical propulsion, hydrazine fuel used traditionally is considered extremely toxic requires a specialized condition to handle and it’s unsustainable, we have developed our in-house green fuel to replace hydrazine and deliver better performance. We are doubling down on this technology to develop components to cater to varied demands in the market.

    StartupTalky: How does your Satellite as a Service (SaaS) solution address current challenges in the satellite industry? 

    Mr. Ganapathy: A satellite needs to travel from the deployed orbit to its desired orbit to start its operations, it’s like the last mile connectivity. Without the Satellite as a Service solution, the satellite needs to take additional fuel to do the last mile operations, which increases the overall mass and size of the satellite, thereby significant additional costs for the satellite owner/operator and adding complexity to the mission operations.

    With the Satellite as a Service solution, the satellites are onboarded in the orbital transfer vehicle, which transfers them to the desired orbit, saving the cost for the satellite operator. Additionally, the vehicle could act as a satellite body and host payloads of the customer and run demonstration operations or short-term operations required, thereby saving a huge amount of cost and time for the operator.

    Mr. Ganapathy: Key trends shaping the future of space exploration and satellite technology are:

    • In-Space Mobility Solutions: With the rapid growth of satellites, there are crucial gaps in the market for in-space mobility. So, technological advancements in satellite propulsion systems that are greener, more efficient, deliver high performance, reliable, cost-effective, and with low lead times are shaping satellite technology and its outcomes.
    • In-Space Manufacturing: At a global level, there are startups innovating to leverage the space conditions for manufacturing specific materials that can benefit our planet. Manufacturing the same materials by replicating the space conditions here on Earth is very challenging and has significant overhead and operational costs compared to doing it in space.
    • Space Situation Awareness: Monitoring the ever-growing volume of satellites in space to avoid collisions and to protect the satellites from space debris is of key importance for sustainable space operations.

    StartupTalky: How does Bellatrix’s large propulsion test facility benefit your R&D and product innovation efforts? 

    Mr. Ganapathy: Space conditions are harsh, and once a satellite is in space, from Earth we have very limited control to rectify a problem or issue. So, the solution requires extremely stringent quality testing before it’s sent to space. So, a large test facility helps in fast iterations by replicating space conditions for testing, which significantly benefits R&D and product innovation.

    StartupTalky: How has the funding from prominent investors helped advance Bellatrix’s technology and operations?

    Mr. Ganapathy: The funding has enabled us to iterate fast by acquiring the necessary tools to set up lab and testing facilities; thereby, we were able to innovate and develop four product lines to cover all satellite classes and space-qualified technologies. Prominent investors’ confidence also helps in improving our trust and reliability in the market.

    StartupTalky: What are the goals in line for Bellatrix and how do you plan to continue driving innovation in space technology?

    Mr. Ganapathy: We have four propulsion product lines and satellite as a service product. We have space-qualified two of our product lines. Our short-term goal is to space-qualify all our propulsion and satellite-as-a-service product lines by next year. And, we are working on a few customer orders, expanding our operations to the US  and EU soon to penetrate deep into the market. 

    We have solutions for all classes of satellites, and our long-term goal is to become a trustworthy and reliable player for in-space mobility solutions among both government and commercial customers at a global level. We are working on a few other areas and planning to announce them once we have passed a certain qualification stage.

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  • Startups That Are Funded By Deepika Padukone

    India is known to have the third-largest startup ecosystem in the world. According to the Nasscom report, the country will have more than 50 unicorns by the end of 2021 and more the 100 by 2025. This growth has only been made possible because of the venture capitalists, angel investors, businessmen and high net worth individuals that have been funding startups that have potential.

    Bollywood celebrities like Alia Bhatt, Suniel Shetty, Shilpa Shetty Kundra, Madhuri Dixit Nene, Anushka Sharma, Katrina Kaif, Deepika Padukone, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Sonu Sood have also been investing for the past few years to give their career another direction.

    Deepika Padukone is one of the highest-paid actresses in India and among the 100 most influential people in the world, according to 2018 Time Magazine. She is the daughter of Prakash Padukone who is a well-known badminton player in India.

    Deepika Padukone is known for her work in movies like Om Shanti Om, Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, Piku, Bajirao Mastani, Padmaavat, Cocktail, Chhapaak, etc. The actress has spoken up for issues such as Feminism and Depression, designed her own line of clothing called All About You and has been a celebrity endorser for brands and their products.

    Besides that, she is also the chairperson of the Mumbai Academy of the Moving Image and also the founder of the Live Love Laugh Foundation bringing awareness about mental health.

    Deepika Padukone is now not only an investor but is also involved with the brand strategic decisions. The actress investments are made through the KA Enterprises which is her family office, in which she is a co-director along with her father Prakash Padukone. Through KA Enterprises the actress has invested in many startups such as Epigamia which is an FMCG brand of yoghurt products, FrontRow a hobby based EdTech startup, Blu Smart an electric taxi startup and even Bellatrix Aerospace which is an Indian space tech startup.

    List of Startups funded by Deepika Padukone

    BellatrixAerospace
    Blu Smart
    FrontRow
    Epigamia
    Supertails
    Frequently Asked Questions

    Bellatrix Aerospace

    Bellatrix Aerospace is an Indian private aerospace manufacturer and a small satellite company that was established in 2015. The Spacetech startup was founded by Rohan M Ganapathy and Yashas Karanam and is based out of the Indian Institute of Science in Bengaluru, Karnataka.

    The company is known to be evolving and growing in order to develop key technologies in electric propulsion, new generation propellants and launch vehicles. The company plans to launch its own rocket named Chetak in 2023, the speciality of this particular rocket is that it is powered by Aeon engines and that it uses liquid methane as fuel.

    The Space tech startup has so far raised over $3 million in a Pre-Series A round from venture capitalists like IDFC Parampara, Karsemven Fund, StartupXseed, Survam Partners, and actress Deepika Padukone through KA enterprise, etc.

    The funds generated will be used to expand its team and will help them demonstrate its thruster technology in space. The company has also partnered with Skyroot Aerospace in February 2021.  The Bengaluru based startup is now reviewing NASA and European Space Agency standards in order to make their tech reach the global standards. The company aims to build its own launch vehicle and make water-based propulsion systems.

    The startup is currently working on building an electric-based propulsion system which is the Microwave Plasma Thrusters (MPT). This supposedly will help their clients to take bigger payloads into space at a lower cost. The MPT propulsion system is also more eco-friendly, lightweight and costs less than compared to the chemical propulsion system. ISRO (Indian Space Research Organization) is now on board to help develop this technology. According to the founder Rohan Ganapathy, Bellatrix will soon be setting up its offices in the US and Europe.

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    Blu Smart

    Blu Smart is an electric taxi startup founded in October 2018 by Puneet Singh Jaggi, Anmol Singh Jaggi and Punit K Goyal. The startup claims to so far have more than 20,000 customers in the Delhi NCR in just 3 months from its launch, scaling its ridesharing fleet to more than 200 electric cars. By 2019, the company has scaled to over 500 cars in Delhi and Mumbai making it the largest all-electric B2C ridesharing company in India and top 3 in Asia.

    An example of the Blusmart car
    An example of the BluSmart car

    The company is headquartered in Gurugram, Haryana; while it’s creating many job opportunities for drivers with a monthly revenue stream. Blu Smart is slowly transforming metropolitan cities in India by providing 100% electric, sustainable and most reliable mobility solutions.

    Blu Smart is aiming to make an all-electric ecosystem with funding from venture capitalists and partnerships across automotive, infrastructure and energy companies. It also is planning to board more than 15,000 electric cars and 2500 chargers on the platform by the end of 2021.

    The company generated $3 million funds from Deepika Padukone who invested through her family office KA enterprises, along with other investors like JITO Angel Network, Sanjiv Bajaj and Rajat Gupta from Bajaj Capital, Survam Partners and Rajesh Agarwal from Micromax.

    According to Punit Goyal the co-founder of BluSmart,

    “Blusmart is focused on providing superior mobility experience for its customers, cost savings, passenger safety and security. Our innovative mobility allows customers to travel whenever they want without the hassles of car ownership and stress of finding parking spots in densely populated urban areas.”

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    FrontRow

    FrontRow is an ed-tech startup that is based in Bengaluru and Mumbai with a 20 member multi-disciplinary team. The company was founded by Shubhadit Sharma, Mikhil Raj and Ishaan Preet Singh who were executives from the startup ecosystem before coming together and starting FrontRow.

    The Bengaluru based startup wants to make non-academic learning accessible and affordable for Indians in rural areas by getting funds from high profile investors. The company enables everyone to pursue their passion and learn from the best professional experts and celebrities.

    FrontRow claims to be Building ecosystems around passions like comedy, cricket, dance, music, cricket and fitness among others. There is a huge demand for learning non-academic subjects in India. This is why each course it provides contains 15 to 25 video lessons available at affordable prices like Rs. 500.

    These courses are taught by experts in that field like for example Singing is taught by Neha Kakkar, Standup Comedy taught by Biswa Kalyan Rath, Batting by Suresh Raina, Bowling Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Rap by Divine, Music composition by Amit Trivedi, etc.

    Frontrow Website
    Frontrow Website

    Ishaan Preet Singh the founder of the startup says that they will be many more courses coming in 2021, and will also be doubling down on the categories. The company is bridging the gap between urban and rural cities by providing offline and online video lessons.

    It is also allowing its users to participate in daily challenges, peer to peer interactions, collaboration opportunities and activities featuring celebrity’s judges also receive feedback and tips from their mentors. FrontRow is also planning to expand to other channels like B2B partnerships besides the D2C one.

    The company is targeting hobby learning which is the Ed-tech sector’s next big thing. This is why the company managed to raise a seed funding of $3.2 million from Investors like Lightspeed India, Elevation Capital and Deepika Padukone through KA Enterprise.

    In an interview, Deepika mentioned her reason behind funding this startup saying that,

    “If there’s one thing I wish I had access to while growing up, it would be a platform like FrontRow, because its gives access to abundant knowledge in non-academic fields and connects them to a community of peers and professional of the fields of interest”

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    Epigamia

    Epigamia is an FMCG startup that was launched by Rohan Mirchandani, Uday Thakker, Chef Ganesh Krishnamoorthy and Rahul Jain in 2015. The company first started out being a Greek Yogurt brand and then went on to expand its products to artisanal curd, snack pack, Misti Doi and even smoothies.

    Epigamia markets its products through 21 different stock keeping units and 7000 retail stores which include Big Bazaar, Godrej Nature Basket, Big Basket, Amazon, Reliance Fresh in metropolitan cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Pune, Ahmedabad and Kolkata.

    The journey of Ghee spreads with Deepika Padukone

    The company has so far created more than 21 different products and plans to scale all over India and enter 50,000 stores in the coming years. The FMCG market is currently over $1.2 billion dollars, over 6% of the orders come from metro cities ordering through online channels of the FMCG total sales.

    The FMCG market in India is estimated over $104 billion in the year 2020 and is said to be growing at the rate of 28%. This is why Deepika Padukone decided to invest in the company in May 2019.

    The company has so far raised $51 million from investors like Verlinvest, Danone Manifesto Ventures, DSG Consumer Partners and Deepika Padukone from KA Enterprise in the 3rd round of funding.

    According to Rahul Jain the co-founder of Epigamia, the company aims to increase its consumer base and added that, “We believe that our association with Deepika Padukone will go a long way in making people aware of our brand and product. Deepika is a perfect fit to bring to life the brand ideology.”

    In a recent interview, the actress also stated that “not only do I love the products that the company makes but also connect very strongly with the brand philosophy, the team has big plans for future expansions and I am excited to be closely involved as we make new products and enter new cities.”

    The most recent product the company made was the Chocolate ghee spreads, which was marketed by Deepika Padukone as it was her idea to mix ghee and chocolate together. Deepika along with Epigamia also made an Instagram challenge called #DigSwirlSpread which took Instagram by storm, advertising the company and its products instantly.

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    Supertails

    Deepika Padukone, a global Indian icon, and other investors led a $2.6 million USD pre-series A investment for Supertails.com.

    Supertails.com, a Bangalore-based digital pet care start-up founded by Mr Varun Sadana, took an entry into India’s fast-developing pet care sector. Supertails.com is a one-of-a-kind platform that serves the growing pet parent community by offering dependable veterinarian services and a one-stop-shop for pet food and supplies.

    Supertails.com is distinguished by its one-of-a-kind offering of a fully digital telehealth consultation service provided by a team of highly skilled in-house veterinarians. The brand strives to bring pet parents closer to the widest choice of pet supplies from India and around the world, with doorstep delivery services available across the country.

    Supertails.com seeks to enrich this new adventure for them with items and services that they need the most as more people join pets to their families. The founders of Supertails.com and their team of pet care specialists and enthusiasts are united by a tireless love for the pet care ecosystem and a mission to make India a pet-friendly nation.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Who is Deepika Padukone?

    Deepika Padukone is one of the highest-paid actresses in India and among the 100 most influential people in the world according to 2018 Time Magazine.

    What are the startups funded by Deepika Padukone?

    Deepika Padukone has invested in many startups such as Epigamia which FMCG brand of yoghurt products, FrontRow a hobby based ed-tech startup, Blu Smart an electric taxi startup and even Bellatrix Aerospace which is an Indian space tech startup.

    What is the clothing line of Deepika Padukone called?

    The clothing line of Deepika Padukone is called All About You.

    What is the net worth of Deepika Padukone?

    The net worth of Deepika Padukone is Rs. 103 Crore.

    What is the KA Enterprise?

    KA Enterprises is the family office, in which she is a co-director along with her father Prakash Padukone. The actress funds startups through this office.