Bengaluru-based spacetech startup Akashalabdhi, supported by IISc Bangalore’s Foundation for Science, Innovation and Development (FSID), has raised $1.2 million in pre-seed funding. Backers include Uday Chatterjee, Romesh Sobti, LVX (formerly LetsVenture), 1Crowd, and Riceberg Ventures. The startup is developing Antarikshab, an expandable orbital module for logistics, microgravity research, and defense applications. Built from flexible materials, the module can launch compact and then expand into a pressurised structure that extends existing habitats.
The funds will also support the development of inflatable solar arrays and analogue studies conducted on Earth to simulate space exploration. Akashalabdhi plans to trial its prototype module on a SpaceX launch vehicle in the first quarter of 2026. The company also builds defense-grade systems alongside scalable space infrastructure, extending its portfolio into aerospace and security markets.
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Funding
Akashalabdhi’s $1.2 million pre-seed round establishes its entry into scalable orbital infrastructure. The investment positions the Bengaluru-based startup at the intersection of space habitation and defense applications, sectors seeking cost-efficient modular systems.
Investors
Backing came from established figures and venture networks, including LVX, 1Crowd, and Riceberg Ventures. Individual investors Uday Chatterjee and Romesh Sobti participated, showing investor alignment with early-stage orbital infrastructure initiatives.
Technical advantage
The Antarikshab module expands post-launch, creating additional space without requiring dedicated payload volumes. The structure enables multipurpose use cases, from research laboratories to space tourism, while maintaining compatibility with existing habitats.
Pilot timeline
A prototype trial is planned with a SpaceX launch in 2026. This milestone will provide the first live demonstration of the module’s deployment and pressure integrity in orbit.
Market impact
“Orbital infrastructure is picking up pace because the world is now realising that there are certain materials, drugs, processes that cannot be done on earth but are actually very feasible in space,” said Siddharth Jena, founder and CEO of Akashalabdhi. The company’s focus on modular add-ons targets the growing demand for incremental habitation capacity.
The funding creates near-term validation of expandable habitat feasibility within South Asia’s startup ecosystem. Deployment timelines and defense applications indicate commercialization potential that could create competitive differentiation against international space-habitat developers. Investor participation shows confidence in a regional venture addressing orbital infrastructure scale-up ahead of 2030 market expansion.
Reference
ETtech. (2025, September 29). Spacetech startup Akashalabdhi raises $1.2 million in pre-seed round. The Economic Times. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/funding/spacetech-startup-akashalabdhi-raises-1-2-million-in-pre-seed-round/articleshow/124215735.cms
