Bengaluru-based spacetech startup Bellatrix Aerospace has raised $20 million (Rs 190 crore) in a funding round led by venture fund Cactus Partners, as it looks to scale commercial production of its satellite propulsion systems and expand global deliveries.
The round also saw participation from Hero Investment Office, 35 North Ventures, Indusbridge Ventures, and Monarch Holdings, along with continued backing from existing investors including Inflexor, Pavestone, GrowX, StartupXseed and Survam Partners.
Founded in 2015, Bellatrix develops electric and green propulsion systems for satellites. The company operates a vertically integrated model, handling design, manufacturing and testing in-house.
Bellatrix won the Best on Campus award at the Economic Times Startup Awards (ETSA) in 2020.
Rohan Ganapathy, cofounder and CEO of Bellatrix Aerospace said having successfully flight-qualified its core technologies, it is now focused on building a reliable production propulsion system. “This investment allows us to increase our annual production capacity significantly, ensuring we remain the most trusted partner for operators requiring propulsion at scale.”
Bellatrix said it will deploy the funds to expand its manufacturing capacity and set up production lines to meet growing demand from satellite constellation operators in India and overseas. The investment will also support ongoing customer programmes.
“We’ve moved from flight-proven to factory-ready,” said cofounder and COO Yashas Karanam, adding that the company has reduced propulsion system lead times to under six months while improving unit economics.
The investment comes amid rising global demand for propulsion systems, driven by the expansion of low-earth orbit satellite constellations and many Indian startups as well as global, getting closer to their launch timelines.
“Bellatrix is a unique asset with a robust history of space technology innovation. Rohan and Yashas have invested more than a decade in creating leading, cost-effective technologies for electric and green propulsion systems,” said Amit Sharma, General Partner of Cactus Partners.
He added that Bellatrix’s propulsion systems could help de-risk a critical component of satellite missions
The round also saw participation from Hero Investment Office, 35 North Ventures, Indusbridge Ventures, and Monarch Holdings, along with continued backing from existing investors including Inflexor, Pavestone, GrowX, StartupXseed and Survam Partners.
Founded in 2015, Bellatrix develops electric and green propulsion systems for satellites. The company operates a vertically integrated model, handling design, manufacturing and testing in-house.
Bellatrix won the Best on Campus award at the Economic Times Startup Awards (ETSA) in 2020.
Rohan Ganapathy, cofounder and CEO of Bellatrix Aerospace said having successfully flight-qualified its core technologies, it is now focused on building a reliable production propulsion system. “This investment allows us to increase our annual production capacity significantly, ensuring we remain the most trusted partner for operators requiring propulsion at scale.”
Bellatrix said it will deploy the funds to expand its manufacturing capacity and set up production lines to meet growing demand from satellite constellation operators in India and overseas. The investment will also support ongoing customer programmes.
“We’ve moved from flight-proven to factory-ready,” said cofounder and COO Yashas Karanam, adding that the company has reduced propulsion system lead times to under six months while improving unit economics.
The investment comes amid rising global demand for propulsion systems, driven by the expansion of low-earth orbit satellite constellations and many Indian startups as well as global, getting closer to their launch timelines.
“Bellatrix is a unique asset with a robust history of space technology innovation. Rohan and Yashas have invested more than a decade in creating leading, cost-effective technologies for electric and green propulsion systems,” said Amit Sharma, General Partner of Cactus Partners.
He added that Bellatrix’s propulsion systems could help de-risk a critical component of satellite missions
