IAN Angel Fund Backs Trishul Space’s Harpy-1 Engine in ₹4 Crore Pre-Seed Round

Trishul Team(L-R) Rajat, Aditya, Divyam

Trishul Space, an advanced rocket propulsion startup developing next-generation liquid rocket engines, has secured ₹4 crore in a pre-seed funding round led by the IAN Angel Fund, with participation from 8X Ventures and ITEL. The capital will fund research and testing of advanced turbopump technology, accelerating the development and commercialization of Harpy-1, a high-performance liquid rocket engine for small satellite launch vehicles.

Founded by Aditya Singh, Divyam, and Rajat Choudhary, Trishul Space builds high-performance propulsion systems powered by staged combustion cycles and AI-driven failure detection mechanism.

Building rocket engines is one of the toughest challenges for launch vehicle developers. The process is expensive, time-consuming, and technically complex, often creating a major bottleneck in the space industry. Trishul Space aims to solve this by developing cost-effective, ready-to-use liquid rocket engines that cut down development time, complexity, and cost, targeting both private and government launch vehicle manufacturers.

Rajat Choudhary, Co-founder, Trishul Space, said,

This investment is a strong validation of our vision to build India’s most advanced and reliable rocket propulsion systems. With this support, we aim to accelerate the development and testing of our ‘Harpy-1’ engine, strengthen India’s space launch ecosystem, and move one step closer to making space access faster, affordable, and globally competitive. In addition, IAN’s mentoring and guidance would help us build valuable business.

India’s space sector is shifting from government-led programs to a vibrant private ecosystem. Trishul Space aims to make rocket propulsion more modular and accessible, helping new players build faster and cheaper without starting from scratch, through its modular, plug-and-play reliable system.

By delivering advanced, affordable propulsion solutions, Trishul accelerates development timelines and lowers entry barriers for new and emerging space players. It is strategically positioned in the global small and medium launch vehicle market, projected to cross USD 15 billion by 2030, where propulsion systems account for nearly 30–40 percent of total launch costs.

The IAN Angel Fund’s investment reflects strong investor confidence in India’s space ecosystem and aligns with its focus on deep-tech ventures that help build for India’s strategic imperatives.

About Trishul Space

Trishul Space is a Deep-tech aerospace startup that was founded in 2022 with the goal of creating next-generation rocket engines that are dependable, efficient, and operational. The company specializes in high-performance propulsion systems that use AI-driven failure detection and staged combustion cycles to enable space access quicker, more economical, and competitive on a global scale. Trishul Space, which has its headquarters in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, and operates out of IIT Delhi's R&I Park, provides government and private launch vehicle makers with affordable propulsion solutions, advancing both India's and the world's transition towards a truly spacefaring civilization.

About IAN Group

IAN Group is the country’s single largest seed and early-stage investment platform, comprising IAN Angel Fund, BioAngels, IAN Fund I, and IAN Alpha Fund — enabling entrepreneurs to raise from ₹50 lakhs to ₹50 crores. The platform brings capital, mentoring from successful entrepreneurs, and global market access. It is sector-agnostic and has funded innovative start-ups across 19 sectors in India and 7 other countries, expanding the global footprint of Indian companies. IAN has been listed by Forbes as one of the iconic business and economic events of Independent India over 75 years, alongside LIC, NASSCOM, RBI, and Naukri.com