India’s space age startups plan to land in UAE
Focused on satellite launches, newer players scout deals and fresh funding
When it comes to satellite launches, India’s governments and space agencies are right up there with the world’s best. Now, India’s businesses want to get into the act.
The country’s first-generation space startups are looking to ride on the surging demand for satellites and related services - and they believe the UAE could provide them the space to grow. Dhruva Space, which makes small satellite systems for private and government entities, is in talks with Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) for a potential deal.
“We are looking at some collaboration opportunities that will benefit both,” said Sanjay Nekkanti, founder and CEO of Dhruva Space.
Dhruva Space, participating at the upcoming International Astronautical Congress in Dubai, is looking to raise about $15 million and is in discussions with multiple investors.
Government support
Funding is one side of the story – government support for the sector is equally crucial and the UAE has several incentives in place to attract top talent.
As part of its National Space Strategy 2030, the UAE has launched free zones and infrastructure for space firms, with 100 per cent ownership. “The space economic zone is phenomenal - what they’re trying to do is attract entrepreneurs like us to come and utilize the infrastructure and build on top of it to serve the requirements of the global space market,” said Nekkanti.
GalaxEye, originally conceptualized in IIT Madras, is aiming to build a constellation of observation satellites. “What we claim to do is build integrated satellites in our lab, which would be able to capture images from space and then send down data,” said Pranit Mehta, Vice-President at GalaxEye.
GalaxEyhe is also in search of potential investors.
Bellatrix, another player, is planning to open an office in Dubai next year to hire local talent. “We see UAE as a good place to expand as far as space logistics is concerned,” says CEO Rohan Ganapathy.
Chennai-based Agnikul is building launch vehicles that can take payloads to space, but it goes a little further than that.
In India, firms have to wait two to three years to launch satellites. “By then, the technology gets more advanced and the electronics shrink in size,” said Moin S.P.M., co-founder and COO of Agnikul. “That’s where we come in - we give them a lead time of almost two to three weeks for the launch and we are able to do that because we have a customizable design of the vehicle itself.”