India’s deeptech ecosystem is gaining attention through two important developments. Space technology startup Sanyark Space has raised $2 million in pre-seed funding to build NAV-COM satellites. At the same time, IIT Madras, IIT Madras Research Park and Unicorn India Ventures have reached the first close of a Rs. 1,000-crore deeptech fund at Rs. 450 crore.

Although both announcements involve technology and investment, their roles are different. Sanyark is building a specific space product, while the IIT Madras-Unicorn fund is designed to support several companies working on difficult engineering problems.

Sanyark Space and its NAV-COM satellite plan

Sanyark Space was co-founded by Raghava Kundrapu and Akhileshwar Reddy. Reddy is a former ISRO scientist, while Kundrapu is associated with Masters’ Union. The company’s cited announcement does not clearly mention its founding year.

The startup raised $2 million in a pre-seed round led by Avaana and AUM Ventures. The money will help Sanyark develop its satellite constellation and the technology needed to operate it.

NAV-COM refers to navigation and communication working together. In simple terms, Sanyark wants to develop a low Earth orbit satellite network that can provide accurate positioning as well as secure communication for connected devices.

The company says its system will use software-defined payloads, electronically controlled antennas and onboard edge AI. These technologies could allow satellites to adjust their functions in orbit and process some information before sending it to the ground.

A practical use could be an autonomous vehicle operating in an area where regular signals are weak or unavailable. Defence systems, smart infrastructure and industrial devices may also need reliable positioning and communication links.

Sanyark is different from rocket manufacturers because its main focus is satellite infrastructure and services. Its challenge will be proving the system in space, completing testing and finding customers in both commercial and defence markets.

What the IIT Madras-Unicorn India fund aims to do

The IITM Unicorn Frontier Fund I has reached a Rs. 450-crore first close against a planned corpus of Rs. 1,000 crore. A first close means this amount has been committed so far. It does not mean that the full fund has already been raised.

The fund has already deployed nearly Rs. 55 crore across four startups working in areas such as space, quantum technology, batteries and carbon capture. Its wider investment focus includes defence, semiconductors, robotics, AI infrastructure, manufacturing and health technology.

The main purpose is to solve a common problem faced by deeptech startups. These companies often spend years developing hardware, testing prototypes and obtaining approvals before they can generate large revenue. Ordinary startup funding may not always be patient enough for this process.

The fund plans to back around 25 engineering-heavy startups. Reported investment cheques are expected to average between Rs. 15 crore and Rs. 25 crore. It will also keep money aside for future funding rounds, allowing promising companies to continue growing after the first investment.

Why these two stories matter

Sanyark’s funding shows how investors are supporting specialized Indian spacetech startups. The IIT Madras-Unicorn fund shows a broader attempt to create a steady capital pipeline for companies developing important technologies.

The fund could support startups similar to Sanyark in the future, although investment decisions will depend on technology readiness, market demand and commercial potential. In this way, the two stories represent both sides of India’s deeptech ecosystem – one company building a product and one fund supporting a larger group of companies.

Conclusion – Key takeaways

• Sanyark Space raised $2 million in pre-seed funding for its NAV-COM satellite programme.
• Its technology combines navigation, communication and satellite-based data services.
• The IITM Unicorn Frontier Fund I has reached a Rs. 450-crore first close.
• The fund targets early-stage companies in space, quantum, batteries, defence and other deeptech sectors.
• Both developments point to growing interest in Indian spacetech startups and deep-tech venture capital.

Facts Input- ET Education, Financial Express