Former ISRO scientists' startup Orbitt Space raises $1 million from Pi Ventures, IIMA Ventures
, a
space tech startup
founded by former Indian Space Research Organisation (
ISRO
) scientists, has raised $1 million in a pre-seed funding round led by
Pi Ventures
, with participation from IIMA Ventures.
The Ahmedabad-based startup, founded by Christopher Parmar and Anupam Kumar, will use the funds to accelerate the design and development of its proprietary
electric propulsion technology
and avionics systems.
Parmar and Kumar spent over eight years at ISRO, specialising in satellite design, testing, and deployment, before launching Orbitt Space in March 2025.
Play Video
Pause
Skip Backward
Skip Forward
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
0:00
Loaded
:
0%
0:00
Stream Type
LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
1x
Playback Rate
Chapters
Chapters
Descriptions
descriptions off
, selected
Captions
captions settings
, opens captions settings dialog
captions off
, selected
Audio Track
Picture-in-Picture
Fullscreen
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text
Color
White
Black
Red
Green
Blue
Yellow
Magenta
Cyan
Opacity
Opaque
Semi-Transparent
Text Background
Color
Black
White
Red
Green
Blue
Yellow
Magenta
Cyan
Opacity
Opaque
Semi-Transparent
Transparent
Caption Area Background
Color
Black
White
Red
Green
Blue
Yellow
Magenta
Cyan
Opacity
Transparent
Semi-Transparent
Opaque
Font Size
50%
75%
100%
125%
150%
175%
200%
300%
400%
Text Edge Style
None
Raised
Depressed
Uniform
Drop shadow
Font Family
Proportional Sans-Serif
Monospace Sans-Serif
Proportional Serif
Monospace Serif
Casual
Script
Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values
Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
오돌토돌 닭살피부, 집에서 이렇게 관리해요
현명한소비자
Undo
'When we were at ISRO, we began to identify some of the challenges in the conventional space market. One of the biggest is that
low earth orbit
is becoming increasingly congested, creating manoeuvrability and control issues for new satellite launches,' Parmar told ET.
To address this, Orbitt is developing an air-breathing electric propulsion system and a next-generation satellite bus platform designed specifically for ultra low earth orbit (ULEO) — altitudes below 250 km.
Live Events
This zone remains largely untapped due to high atmospheric drag and fuel constraints. Also, Orbitt's propulsion system claims to use residual atmospheric gases as propellant, eliminating the need for onboard fuel.
Discover the stories of your interest
Blockchain
5 Stories
Cyber-safety
7 Stories
Fintech
9 Stories
E-comm
9 Stories
ML
8 Stories
Edtech
6 Stories
The funding comes amid a broader push to enhance India's satellite-based intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities in response to rising geopolitical and border concerns.
Parmar added that when paired with a high-agility, 200 kg-class satellite bus, Orbitt's technology could enable high-performance earth observation, low-latency telecommunications, climate monitoring, surveillance, and scientific missions.
Currently in its development phase, Orbitt plans to move next to in-orbit demonstrations to validate performance, followed by the commercial rollout of its ULEO satellite platform.
The company also plans to expand its team by hiring scientists and engineers and begin testing its first prototype.
In March, Union minister Jitendra Singh
announced a Rs 1,000 crore funding scheme
for space startups, to be managed by Sidbi Venture Capital.
'India's deep-rooted excellence in spacetech, led by ISRO, is now fuelling a new wave of private innovation. Orbitt Space is poised to disrupt the satellite market by pioneering access to ULEO to deliver better performance and lower costs for satellite operators,' said Shubham Sandeep, managing director at Pi Ventures.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
33 minutes ago
- Time of India
Aaj Ka Bharat: Shux revives Rakesh Sharma's iconic words from ISS as Axiom-4 preps for homecoming
Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla delivered a heartfelt farewell message from the International Space Station (ISS) as he and his Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) crewmates prepare to return to Earth. Blending nostalgia with pride, he echoed the historic words of Rakesh Sharma with a modern perspective: 'Aaj ka Bharat space se mahatvakaanshi dikhta hai, nidar dikhta hai, confident dikhta hai, garv se poorn dikhta hai... aur inhi sab kaarano se aaj mai fir se keh sakta hoon ki aaj ka Bharat abhi bhi saare jahaan se acha dikhta hai.' ('Today's India looks ambitious, fearless, confident, and full of pride from space—and for all these reasons, I can once again say that India still appears better than the entire world.') by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Bargain Prices on Unsold Container Houses in Cavite - Check Them Out! Shipping Container Homes | Search Ads Search Now Undo A live farewell event with NASA 's Expedition 73 crew is scheduled for 7:25 PM IST on July 14, streamed by Axiom Space. As the Ax-4 crew prepares to leave orbit, their mission stands as a testament to international cooperation, scientific progress, and the indomitable spirit of exploration. Live Events Gratitude to collaborators During his remarks, Group Captain Shukla expressed deep appreciation to ISRO , NASA, Axiom Space, SpaceX , international partners, and the citizens of India for their support. He said it felt almost magical to be there and thanked his country and everyone who made the mission possible, including the ISRO teams who developed protocols, and the researchers and students who contributed experiments and outreach materials. Shukla stressed the extraordinary experience of working alongside professionals from around the world, underscoring how the mission's impact extended beyond science. Reflections on Unity and Achievement Agreeing with Hungarian astronaut Tibor Kapu, Shukla highlighted the power of international collaboration. He noted that the most profound realization he would bring back was what humanity can accomplish when people from different countries unite behind a shared goal. 'It's truly remarkable,' he said. The beloved astronaut ended his message on an optimistic note: 'We will meet soon on Earth.' The farewell ceremony concluded with an emotional moment as the crew embraced, which was later shared by Axiom Space on social media. Mission Overview and Return Timeline Group Captain Shukla, the first Indian astronaut to visit the ISS, and his Ax-4 teammates are scheduled to begin their return journey on July 14. They will undock from the station at around 4:35 PM IST, with splashdown expected in the Pacific Ocean off the California coast at approximately 3 PM IST on July 15. The trip aboard the Dragon spacecraft will take about 22 hours, concluding nearly 18 days spent in orbit. The Ax-4 crew comprises Commander Peggy Whitson, Pilot Shubhanshu Shukla representing ISRO, European Space Agency project astronaut Slawosz 'Suave' Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland, and Hungarian astronaut Tibor Kapu. The mission launched on June 25 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, and the spacecraft docked with the ISS a day later, ahead of schedule. Scientific Research and Outreach Throughout the mission, the team conducted over 60 scientific experiments and numerous outreach activities. The Dragon capsule will return with more than 580 pounds of research samples and equipment. On 'flight day 18,' the astronauts were still working intensively. Tibor Kapu advanced the Fruit Fly DNA Repair experiment and the VITAPRIC project on nutrient-rich plant growth. Group Captain Shukla led the testing of Continuous Glucose Monitors in microgravity, an important step for enabling diabetic individuals to participate in spaceflight. Other projects included the Voyager Displays study of eye tracking and coordination, ENPERCHAR research into perception in microgravity, the Neuromotion VR study assessing motor skills and attention, Suit Fabric tests collecting data on heat transfer and material properties, and investigations into stress reduction and mental health using neurofeedback techniques.
Mint
3 hours ago
- Mint
Startups prep for exits as Chinese backers find little love
Udaan, Pocket FM and Vedantu have joined the league of startups looking to offer exits to their Chinese backers as the industry's appeal to ease restrictions on such investments has failed to secure a policy shift, according to four people familiar with the matter. Udaan and Pocket FM count Tencent among their investors, while Vedantu's Chinese backers include Legend Capital and the TAL Education Group. There has been a recent spike in discussions around Chinese investors looking to pull out, several Indian investorsMintspoke with confirmed separately. 'We can expect more block deals within listed startup entities as well, as Chinese investors don't want to stay invested given the current geopolitical scenario," said one of the investors. This shift is more visible in highly regulated sectors such as gaming and fintech. The people and investors quoted earlier spoke withMint on the condition of anonymity. In recent months, Antfin have exited or trimmed stakes in firms like Paytm and MakeMyTrip. Last year, Tencent sold its stake in Dream11 parent Sporta Technologies Ltd to Singapore-based Tiga Investment Pte Ltd for $150 million, as the gaming unicorn sought to comply with regulations on Chinese investments. This wave of exits and stake sales follows a long wait among Indian founders, who anticipated that the government may ease rules governing Press Note 3 (PN3)—the 2020 pandemic-era notification that placed investments from neighbouring countries under a more stringent approval route. The move was largely aimed at curbing inflows from China after a deadly clash between Indian and Chinese soldiers in Ladakh's Galwan valley. 'Many (Chinese) funds, and even some board directors, have stepped back," said Rajat Tandon, president of the Indian Venture and Alternate Capital Association (IVCA), a key industry body. 'The entire wind-up of Chinese funds has happened. While their investments in Indian startups still exist, those startups are now actively exploring exit mechanisms." A spokesperson for Tencent said the firm has no plans to exit and remains committed to its investments in India. 'The information regarding Tencent is purely speculative, and we have no comments to offer on it. Pocket FM remains a high-growth company with strong investor confidence and continues to engage with several global investors," a spokesperson for Pocket FM said as the company looks to raise $100 million. Queries emailed to Vedantu, Udaan, Legend Capital and TAL Education Group did not elicit a response at the time of publishing. Some of these companies are struggling to raise successive rounds of capital as the funding tap dried from the pandemic highs, which has now led to investors chasing fewer startups with a profit-oriented mindset and strong fundamentals. Several Chinese investment firms may also offload stakes through initial public offerings of startups as a part of the offer-for-sale component. For instance, Hong Kong-based Hillhouse Capital, alongside other investors, is expected to sell some stake in CarDekho when the company goes public, Mint exclusively reported in September last year. Shrinking Chinese exposure From 2005, close to $16.8 billion in funding has been channelled from China into India, according to China Global Investment Tracker by public policy think tank American Enterprise Institute. Tencent has been among the most active Chinese investors in India, backing firms including Swiggy, Byju's, Dream11, Udaan, and PolicyBazaar. Shunwei Capital has invested in ShareChat, Meesho, Pratilipi, Koo, and Cashify, among others. The investor has reportedly exited Pratilipi and Koo. Alibaba, through Ant Group, had stakes in Paytm and Zomato, which have since been pared down. Hillhouse Capital has backed Zomato and Koo, while Qiming Venture Partners has invested in Pratilipi, partially exiting a few months ago. Since PN3 came into effect, new Chinese investments in India have plunged. From 17 deals worth $5.2 billion in 2021, the number fell to 10 deals worth $780 million in 2022. While this drop reflected the broader slowdown in funding post-2022, the contrast has become starker more recently. Overall, private equity and venture capital funding is showing signs of recovery. Indian startups raised $17.1 billion between January 2024 and June 2025. Yet, Chinese participation has continued to shrink, recording only five deals worth $317 million during the 18-month period, indicating a strategic retreat. What it means The PN3 restrictions not only apply to direct investments but also slow down approvals for Chinese investors acting as limited partners (or LPs) in domestic funds, or to global funds with Chinese exposure, affecting recent deals. LPs are investors who pool in capital but are not involved in managing funds. 'About 85% of the capital in India currently is international. Chinese money, in particular, was quite significant at one point, with a lot of capital ready to be deployed. Now, most Chinese investors have exited. Only a small, single-digit percentage remains," said Tandon. He said IVCA had formally requested the government to limit PN3 to general partners or fund managers, given that LPs typically do not influence fund deployment. 'Since LPs don't play an active role, the PN3 framework should focus on general partners (GPs who manage funds), with all necessary background checks done on fund managers. That's the request we've submitted," he said. Apart from that, IVCA has also sought amendments like defining beneficial ownership (ultimate investor) using a '10% threshold" in line with Indian laws, introducing a 'green channel" for low-risk cases such as repeat investments, listed funds not controlled by land-border countries, and 'minority, non-controlling stakes below 25%". It has also recommended a '45–60 business day" timeline for PN3 approvals to reduce deal uncertainty, he said. Part of this shift stems from the disadvantages startups face when Chinese investors remain on the cap table. 'Any further fundraises by Indian startups from existing Chinese investors remain a challenge, which can materially affect their business plans and growth prospects," said said Vaibhav Kakkar, senior partner at Saraf and Partners. 'Apart from the regulatory hurdles posed by PN3, companies with Chinese ownership may also face negative perception among regulators and the public." The retreat, however, also results in the loss of certain advantages. 'Chinese tech majors historically brought patient capital, playbooks on super-apps, social commerce and embedded fintech, and access to low-cost hardware supply chains—advantages that helped Indian startups," said Siddharth Mody, partner at JSA. While the uncertainty around having a Chinese investor in the cap table complicates follow-on rounds, domestic regulatory pressure and a weaker yuan have also prompted Alibaba's Ant, Tencent and others to monetize offshore bets and repatriate cash, Mody said, emphasising that these factors have made the past year an opportune window for Indian founders to negotiate exits. The vacuum left by the Chinese capital is already being filled. 'For instance, Gulf sovereign-wealth funds such as ADIA have set up dedicated India vehicles worth US$4-5 billion each and are underwriting late-stage rounds, while North-American cross-over funds and large domestic family offices are increasingly active," said Mody '…Importantly, these new investors (non-Chinese/not sharing a border with India) are generally free of PN3 constraints, allowing quicker closings."
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Time of India
Saraswati revival mission gains momentum; Rajasthan forms panel
Ambala: The multi-state mission to revive the ancient Saraswati river, led by the Haryana Saraswati Heritage Development Board (HSHDB), is making steady progress. After the successful implementation in Haryana and efforts in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, the Rajasthan govt has now joined the cause. With the support from the HSHDB, the Rajasthan govt formed a dedicated advisory panel on June 18 to work on the reservation and revival of the Saraswati river in the state. The committee includes representatives from key institutions, including ISRO and the state's water resources department. The initiative gained traction after a meeting at ISRO's Birla Institute in Jaipur on April 28, where HSHDB vice-chairman Dhuman Singh Kirmach met Rajasthan's irrigation minister Suresh Rawat, officials from the water resources department, and scientists from ISRO. The HSHDB proposed collaborative work to reintroduce water flow to parts of Rajasthan through the ancient Saraswati system. Acting on the proposal, Rajasthan has committed to work in tandem with the HSHDB. Meanwhile, the HSHDB intensified its efforts in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. It began comprehensive geo-archaeological and hydrological studies of the Tons river, a major glacier-fed stream originating from Bandarpunch glacier near Dehradun in Uttarakhand. Historical and scientific evidence suggests that the Tons river may have been a key tributary of the mythical Saraswati river described in the Rigveda. Kirmach recently visited Dakpathar barrage near Dehradun, where the Tons river merges with the Yamuna. Data is being collected from revenue records and scientific surveys, including inputs from geologists, hydrologists, and paleo-channel researchers. The Geological Survey of India (GSI) and other institutes have also expressed interest in the study, particularly the suggestion that the Tons river may have originally flowed westward into the ancient Saraswati system before tectonic shifts diverted it towards the Yamuna. Kirmach claimed that according to multidisciplinary research, including satellite imagery, geomorphological studies, and ancient texts, the Tons river, along with glacier-fed streams like Pabar, Rupin, and Supin, were once integral part of the Saraswati system. He further said the archaeological and hydrological data pointed towards a scenario in which rivers such as the Yamuna and Sutlej were part of the Saraswati system until 10,000-16,000 years ago. The HSHDB already demonstrated success in Haryana, where water was channeled through a 400-kilometre stretch from Adi Badri at the Himachal border to the Ottu headworks near Rajasthan border by connecting seasonal rivers during the monsoon. The goal is to expand this revival from the glacier source in Uttarakhand all the way through Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, and finally to the Rann of Kutch in Gujarat. As part of ongoing efforts, Kirmach also held discussions with researchers at the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology in Dehradun.
