From Satellites to Small Loans – Dhruva Space and Olyv Attract Fresh Growth Capital

India’s startup funding scene is backing very different kinds of ambition. Hyderabad-based Dhruva Space is reportedly preparing a large pre-Series B round to expand satellite capabilities. Bengaluru-based digital lender Olyv has added Rs. 57.62 crore to its ongoing Series C round.

One company is building hardware for orbit. The other helps people access small personal loans through a mobile-first platform. Both stories show how fresh capital is being used to move from early success to wider scale.

Dhruva Space eyes a bigger pre-Series B round

Dhruva Space, founded in 2012, is a full-stack space engineering company. Its founders are Sanjay Nekkanti, Chaitanya Dora, Krishna Teja Penamakuru and Abhay Egoor. The startup works across three areas viz. building satellites and their parts, helping deploy satellites through launch systems, and developing ground-station infrastructure.

According to an Entrackr report, Dhruva Space is set to raise around Rs. 147 crore, or roughly $15.5 million, in a pre-Series B round led by IndusBridge Ventures. The reported round includes participation from Antariksh Venture Capital Fund, Blue Ashva Sampada Fund and other investors.

It is important to note that the round was reported from company filings and was not described as fully closed. The report also said that some committed investments were still to be received.

As reported earlier, the proposed funds are expected to support communication, Earth-observation and remote-sensing satellites, along with infrastructure and working-capital requirements. Put simply, Dhruva Space wants to build more of the equipment needed to create, launch and operate satellite missions.

For example, an Earth-observation satellite can collect images and data useful for farming, disaster response, mapping or environmental monitoring. But the satellite alone is not enough. It needs launch integration, ground communication and mission control. Dhruva Space is trying to offer more of these pieces under one roof.

Its competitive landscape overlaps with Indian space startups such as Pixxel, Digantara, GalaxEye, Bellatrix Aerospace and Skyroot Aerospace. However, these companies do not all offer the same products. Some focus on satellite imagery, some on propulsion, and others on launch vehicles.

Olyv adds Rs. 57.62 crore to Series C

Olyv, formerly known as SmartCoin, is a digital lending platform founded in 2015. It was co-founded by Rohit Garg, Amit Chandel, Vinay Singh and Jayant Upadhyay. The platform connects borrowers with RBI-regulated lending partners for small unsecured personal loans.

Olyv has raised Rs. 57.62 crore in an extended Series C round led by Nippon India Digital, which invested Rs. 50 crore. Existing investor Fundamentum added Rs. 7.62 crore. Coverage based on regulatory filings says the extension follows Olyv’s Rs. 207 crore Series C round in February 2026.

The company’s larger goal is to serve people who may not find traditional credit easy to access, including salaried workers, self-employed users and small merchants. Olyv says it works with regulated lenders, while loan approval, rates and repayment terms are decided by those partners. It also lists its wider focus on financial wellness.

The fresh money can support product expansion, technology and customer growth. Olyv has previously indicated plans around insurance, UPI payments and business-loan products.

Its competitors include KreditBee, Fibe, Kissht, Moneyview and other digital-credit platforms. The key challenge across this sector is not only fast loan approval. It is responsible lending, clear pricing, strong collections and good customer support.