Spacetech Startup InspeCity Raises ₹100 Crore in Pre-Series A Funding to Advance In-Orbit Satellite Servicing Missions
Indian space technology startup InspeCity has secured ₹100 crore (approximately $10.5 million) in a pre-Series A funding round, marking a significant step forward for the country’s private space ecosystem. The financing round was co-led by deep-tech venture capital firm Speciale Invest and prominent technology investor Ashish Kacholia, with participation from Antler Elevate, Antler India, Shastra VC, and several angel investors.
Founded in 2022 by IIT Bombay professor Arindrajit Chowdhury and co-founder Tausif Shaikh, InspeCity is developing vertically integrated platforms designed to service, repair, and refuel satellites while in Earth's orbit. The company's proprietary VEDA (Vehicle for life-Extension and Deorbiting Activities) architecture aims to solve key satellite operational challenges, such as unexpected hardware failures and premature fuel depletion, while actively mitigating growing space debris.
The newly acquired capital will support InspeCity as it transitions from laboratory testing to active orbital deployment. Over the next 12 to 18 months, the startup plans to execute four planned in-orbit missions under its RIG-X, VEDA-X, and SAMA-X roadmaps to validate its autonomous propulsion, sensing, robotics, and docking technologies. Additionally, part of the funding will match government grants under India's Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) initiative and fund a new manufacturing and research facility.
As commercial and government satellite deployments continue to rise globally, in-space servicing is becoming a vital sector. InspeCity’s progress demonstrates how private Indian space startups are expanding beyond launch vehicles and satellite manufacturing into complex orbital operations, strengthening India's footprint in the global commercial space market.
