Now Reading: Spacetech startup InspeCity raises Rs 100 crore for four missions
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Spacetech startup InspeCity raises Rs 100 crore for four missions
Spacetech startup InspeCity raises Rs 100 crore for four missions
Thane-based spacetech startup InspeCity has raised Rs 100 crore (about $10.4 million) in a pre-Series A round co-led by investor Ashish Kacholia and Speciale Invest. Antler India, Shastra VC and existing backers…
Thane-based spacetech startup InspeCity has raised Rs 100 crore (about $10.4 million) in a pre-Series A round co-led by investor Ashish Kacholia and Speciale Invest. Antler India, Shastra VC and existing backers also participated. The company plans to use the funds for four in-orbit missions over the next 12-18 months, expand its team and push its in-space servicing technologies toward commercial deployment.
Founded in 2022 by Arindrajit Chowdhury and Tausif Shaikh, InspeCity builds in-orbit satellite servicing and deorbiting solutions. Its stack includes GITA for propulsion, CHAKSU for sensing, RAMA for robotic manipulation and SPARSH for docking and propellant transfer. Chowdhury said the startup has completed functional and environmental testing of its propulsion system and received clearances from ISRO labs, adding that it is ready to integrate the system with a satellite.
The startup previously raised $5.6 million in seed funding last year. The round comes as India’s spacetech sector grows, driven by policy reforms and rising investor interest. The homegrown space economy is projected to become a $44 billion opportunity by 2033.
Indian Opinion Analysis
InspeCity operates in a narrow but high-stakes niche: in-orbit servicing and deorbiting. As India’s satellite fleet grows, unserviced derelict satellites become collision hazards and occupy scarce orbital slots. The Indian Space Policy 2023 opened non-government satellite operations, creating a market for precisely this capability. ISRO’s clearances for InspeCity’s propulsion system mean the startup has passed the hardest technical gate before flight. The four planned missions over 18 months will test whether a private Indian company can perform rendezvous, propulsion and robotic operations in orbit, something only a few firms globally have done. Success would qualify InspeCity for commercial contracts with satellite operators and government agencies like the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe). The next milestone is the first launch contract and integration with a ride-share provider.
Source: inc42.com
This brief was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
