Insider Brief
- OrbitAID has raised $1.5 million in a pre-seed funding round led by Unicorn India Ventures, with additional support from TANSIM, a Tamil Nadu government initiative.
- The funding will enable the company to accelerate its mission of advancing sustainable space operations, with a focus on its proprietary Standard Interface Docking and Refuelling Port.
- The company plans to allocate the new capital toward an in-space demonstration of docking and refueling operations, scaling its facilities for on-orbit servicing, and advancing SIDRP to commercial readiness. It will also expand its team to support upcoming projects.
OrbitAID, a Chennai-based space tech startup, has reportedly raised $1.5 million in a pre-seed funding round led by Unicorn India Ventures, with additional support from TANSIM, a Tamil Nadu government initiative. The funding will enable the company to accelerate its mission of advancing sustainable space operations, with a focus on its proprietary Standard Interface Docking and Refuelling Port (SIDRP).
The company plans to allocate the new capital toward an in-space demonstration of docking and refueling operations, scaling its facilities for on-orbit servicing, and advancing SIDRP to commercial readiness. It will also expand its team to support upcoming projects.
Founded in 2021 by Sakthikumar R, Nikhil Balasubramanian, and Mano Balaji, OrbitAID specializes in extending the lifespan and functionality of satellites through innovative on-orbit refueling solutions. This approach aims to reduce space debris and bolster the long-term viability of space infrastructure. The company recently achieved a significant milestone by successfully testing SIDRP in a zero-gravity environment during a flight in Florida.
“With this funding, we will conduct our in-orbit demonstration in space for docking and refueling, bringing us closer to revolutionizing satellite servicing and ensuring a sustainable future in space,” said Sakthikumar R, Founder and CEO of OrbitAID Aerospace.
Bhaskar Majumdar, Managing Partner at Unicorn India Ventures, highlighted the potential of OrbitAID’s technology: “As a deep tech-focused investor, emerging technologies within space tech, drones, and IoT are of massive interest to us. The funding will help the company in expanding facilities for on-orbit servicing operations and scale the SIDRP product to an advanced stage.”
OrbitAID’s progress aligns with a broader industry trajectory, as India’s defense and aerospace sector is projected to reach $70 billion by 2030, driven by increasing demand for advanced infrastructure and strong government support.
Image credit: OrbitAID
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