Space startup inks deal with NSIL

Space startup Avantel Limited has received a purchase order worth Rs 11.59 crore (excluding taxes) from NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), the commercial arm of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), for the supply, installation and commissioning of MSS Terminals (Xponders).

The order is planned to be implemented by October 2026. The startup said this order further strengthens India’s contribution to the growing space ecosystem, especially in the field of satellite communications infrastructure.

“This involvement underscores the company’s continued focus on delivering highly reliable, indigenously developed solutions aligned with national initiatives aimed at increasing self-reliance in critical technologies such as Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat,” he said.

Siddhartha Abburi, Director, Avantel Limited, said: “We are pleased to receive this order from NewSpace India Limited, which reflects continued confidence in Avantel’s capabilities in providing advanced communications solutions. This participation strengthens our commitment to support India’s space sector with robust, high-performance and indigenous technologies that meet stringent operational requirements.”

Another startup, SatLeo Labs, raised $2.2 million in seed round led by Unicorn India Ventures. With this, SatLeo has raised a total of $5.5 million in funding to date.

Existing investors Merak Ventures, Java Capital, IIMA-CIIE and Deep Tech Investor Manish Gandhi also participated in the round. The funding will be used to advance SatLeo’s flagship thermal satellite mission and develop its AI-powered platform for thermal intelligence applications.

The company has also begun to translate its technology into real-world applications through commercial pilot projects, including urban heat island and air pollution monitoring initiatives that affect more than 400,000 citizens in cities such as Ahmedabad and Tumakuru.

Additionally, the company has built a strong commercial pipeline, with Letters of Intent (LOI) rising from approximately $15 million to over $42 million during the year, reflecting strong market demand for SatLeo’s space-based thermal intelligence solutions.