Akashalabdhi Pvt. Ltd., a Bengaluru-based space technology startup specializing in expandable space habitats and dual-use defense solutions, has raised $1.2 million in a pre-seed funding round. The investment came from notable backers including Uday Chatterjee, Romesh Sobti, Suraj Nalin, LVX, 1Crowd, and Riceberg Ventures. The fresh capital will accelerate the development of ANTARIKSHAB, the company’s flagship expandable space habitat designed for orbital logistics, microgravity research, habitation, and defense applications.
Highlighting the company’s long-term vision, Siddharth Jena, Founder of Akashalabdhi, said: “Our vision is clear. We want to put India at the forefront of orbital infrastructure and space habitation by innovating dual use technologies.” He emphasized that closing the pre-seed round marks an important milestone: “The successful close of the pre seed round is a significant milestone that brings the company closer to making ANTARIKSHAB a global reality.”
Beyond ANTARIKSHAB, the company plans to use the funding to advance other initiatives, including inflatable solar arrays, analogue habitat studies, and the orbital launch of its minimum viable product (MVP). These projects aim to position Akashalabdhi as a key player in both commercial space research and defense-grade orbital infrastructure.
The startup’s roots lie in India’s leading academic and innovation ecosystem. Akashalabdhi has been incubated at FSID, Indian Institute of Science (IISc), and TIDES, IIT Roorkee, while also receiving support from the KickSky Accelerator. This network of institutional backing and mentorship has provided the company with access to cutting-edge research and technical expertise, helping to transform bold ideas into deployable technologies.
With the growing global demand for orbital habitats, in-space logistics, and defense-ready space infrastructure, Akashalabdhi is aiming to carve a niche in the emerging space economy. By focusing on dual-use technologies, the company seeks to serve both national security requirements and humanity’s broader ambitions for space exploration.
In advancing ANTARIKSHAB and related projects, Akashalabdhi positions itself at the intersection of aerospace innovation and defense strategy, aligning with India’s aspirations to play a leading role in the future of space infrastructure. The funding round not only validates the startup’s vision but also provides the momentum needed to move from concept to orbital deployment.
