Dhruva Space raises $15 Mn in Series A round

Space tech startup Dhruva Space has raised $15 million (Rs 123 crore approximately) in its Series A round from Indian Angel Network Alpha Fund and Blue Ashva Capital, as well as Silverneedle Ventures, BIG Global Investment JSC (BITEXCO Group) IvyCap Ventures, Mumbai Angels, and Blume Founders Fund.

The fundraise also includes a Rs 10 crore venture debt from Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) and a Rs 14 crore venture debt from Technology Development Board.

The proceeds will be used for upcoming spacecraft manufacturing facilities, strategic business acquisitions, and enhancing product offerings, the company said in a press release. 

Founded by Sanjay Nekkanti and Chaitanya Dora, Dhruva Space has launched as many as eight payloads in the last 24 months, including the Thybolt satellites mission in November 2022 and the LEAP-TD mission on 01 January 2024. 

The Hyderabad-based startup is active across space, launch, and ground segments, and supports civilian and defence clients worldwide. It offers satellites teamed with Earth Station/s and Launch Services as an integrated solution or individually as technology solutions to power space-based applications on Earth and beyond. 

Over the past few years, several space tech startups such as Agnikul Cosmos, Skyroot Aerospace, Pixxel, Bellatrix, GlaxEye, Dhruva, Vesta Space, Digantara and InspeCity have managed to raise decent funding. 

In June last year, spacetech startup Digantara raised $10 million in Series A1 funding led by Peak XV Partners (formerly Sequoia Capital India) and Kalaari Capital. In the same month, Pixxel scooped up $36 million in a series B funding round from new investors such as Google.