From Sarabhai’s Legacy to Startup Stardust: Ahmedabad’s Spacetech Renaissance Takes Off

Ahmedabad is rapidly transforming into a spacetech startup hub, thanks to the combined efforts of ISRO, IN-SPACe, and IIMA Ventures. The city, long associated with India's space legacy—dating back to Vikram Sarabhai's founding of the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL)—is now fostering a new wave of spacetech entrepreneurs, many of whom are former ISRO scientists.

Why Ahmedabad?

Ahmedabad houses ISRO’s Space Applications Centre, IN-SPACe headquarters, and IIMA Ventures, creating a dense ecosystem for space innovation. Startups like PierSight, SatLeo Labs, and Orbitt Space are leveraging this infrastructure to develop cutting-edge satellite technologies, including:

• Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) for maritime surveillance.
• Thermal imaging satellites for commercial applications.
• Air-breathing electric propulsion systems for ultra-low Earth orbit (ULEO) missions.

Key Developments

• PierSight is building a SAR-enabled satellite constellation for persistent maritime surveillance, with plans to launch 32 satellites by 2028.
• Orbitt Space, founded by ex-ISRO scientists, is working on ULEO propulsion technology, using residual atmospheric gases as propellant to extend satellite lifespans. The newly founded space tech startup has recently raised $1 million from in pre-seed funding led by pi Ventures, with support from IIMA Ventures. 
• SatLeo Labs secured $3.3 million in funding to advance thermal imaging payloads, aiming to revolutionize commercial space applications.

Institutional Support

IN-SPACe is actively facilitating testing facilities, regulatory approvals, and funding access for startups, while IIMA Ventures is incubating many of these companies, providing strategic mentorship and investment.

Ahmedabad’s scientific heritage, regulatory backing, and entrepreneurial momentum are positioning it as a key player in India’s commercial space race.

Besides Ahmedabad, Pune in Maharashtra is also emerging as a space-tech research hub, with startups working on satellite propulsion systems.

Additionally, Assam in north east of India has recently became home to the Assam State Space Application Centre (ASSAC), which focuses on remote sensing and GIS applications for governance and resource management. The state also boast of AssamSat, the state's first satellite, developed in collaboration with ISRO. 

India is ramping up its space activities, with 30 missions planned for 2024-2025, including launches by Skyroot Aerospace and Agnikul Cosmos. 

Top Image - Prajwal Dwivedi