Bengaluru spacetech startup OXG Space raises Rs 17 crore to build satellite connectivity network in orbit

OXG Space has secured ₹17 crore in a funding round led by Aum Ventures to showcase its satellite connectivity and in-orbit computing technology.

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OXG Space, a spacetech startup headquartered in Bengaluru, has secured ₹17 crore in a funding round led by Aum Ventures via its India Innovation Fund II. Skyroot Aerospace co-founders Pawan Kumar Chandana and Bharath Daka, as well as Cosmoserve founder Chiran Phanindra, also participated in the round.

Set up by Akash Shetty and Sanjay Gorur, both former engineers at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), OXG Space is building an orbital network that merges satellite connectivity with in-space computing capabilities.

The company is looking to tackle a key problem in the satellite industry: delays in transmitting and processing Earth-observation data. By relocating connectivity and computing infrastructure into orbit, OXG Space aims to help satellite operators obtain useful information faster.

The new funds will back Mission Synapse, a 12-month initiative intended to demonstrate the startup’s core technologies in orbit. The programme represents a significant step toward validating the satellite connectivity network it has proposed.

Satellites that observe Earth gather valuable data about our planet. Their data underpins uses like environmental monitoring, agriculture, disaster management, defence and surveillance.

Nevertheless, getting this information down to Earth can take time. Many satellites hold on to the data they collect until they come within range of a suitable ground station. Consequently, users may have to wait several hours before they receive the information they need.

OXG Space says the gap between collecting satellite data and gaining actionable insights can span four to 12 hours. In situations demanding a rapid response, this delay can reduce how useful the information is.

In what ways will OXG Space tackle these delays?

OXG Space is building what it calls “edge cell towers in space.” The idea merges satellite connectivity modeled on 5G non-terrestrial networks with in-orbit computing power.

Rather than depending fully on ground infrastructure, the proposed network would let satellites trade information and process data while in orbit.

This method could enable operators to merge data from several satellites before transmitting the results to Earth. As a result, users could get processed insights faster instead of waiting for all the raw data to arrive at a ground station.

The technology is meant to serve defence, intelligence and commercial Earth-observation operators in India as well as international markets. Yet the system’s real-world performance will hinge on successful in-orbit demonstrations.

OXG Space intends to use the investment to further Mission Synapse, a 12-month initiative aimed at demonstrating three key technologies.

1. Phased-Array Antenna in the Ka-Band

The startup is building a phased-array antenna intended to enable high-capacity satellite communications. Its initial goal is a link capacity of 1 Gbps, with a longer-term plan of reaching up to 64 Gbps per spacecraft. These numbers represent targets rather than confirmed operational results.

A Ka-Band Phased-Array Antenna relies on electronic beam steering and works in the high-frequency Ka-band (usually 17.5 GHz to 31 GHz) to communicate with satellites in Geostationary (GEO), Medium Earth Orbit (MEO), and Low Earth Orbit (LEO) constellations.

2. Deployable Mesh Reflector

OXG Space is additionally working on a deployable mesh reflector intended for ground connectivity. This technology is designed to enable communication links between the orbital network and systems on the ground.

A deployable mesh reflector is a specialized antenna structure, either umbrella-like or truss-supported, used mainly in spacecraft, satellites, and deep-space missions to deliver high-gain radio frequency (RF) performance while folding down compactly for launch.

3. Scalable Deployable Solar Array

The third technology is a deployable solar array built to provide power for the network’s communications and computing equipment. Dependable power generation is critical for running sophisticated hardware in orbit.

A scalable deployable solar array is a modular spacecraft power system engineered to stow compactly within a small launch volume and then expand considerably once in orbit.

Combined, these technologies are meant to lay the groundwork for OXG Space’s orbital connectivity and computing network. The Mission Synapse demonstrations will assist in verifying whether the systems can function in space as intended.

OXG Space was established by Akash Shetty and Sanjay Gorur, two engineers who have worked within India’s space programmes.

Together they bring more than 17 years of experience, covering work on spacecraft systems and deployable technologies tied to ISRO missions such as Chandrayaan-2 and Chandrayaan-3.

The founders offer expertise in fields that are essential to building space infrastructure.

• Akash Shetty: His experience covers spacecraft mechanisms and large deployable antenna systems.
• Sanjay Gorur: His background includes satellite systems engineering, spacecraft hardware integration and deployable structures.

Their technical expertise matches OXG Space’s emphasis on creating antennas, solar arrays and computing infrastructure for use in orbit.

Their experience also highlights the expanding role of engineers with space-programme know-how in India’s private spacetech industry.

The ₹17 crore funding round was led by Aum Ventures through its India Innovation Fund II. Investors with experience in India’s private space industry also participated in the round.

The involvement of seasoned space entrepreneurs brings industry expertise to the funding round. Their investment also signals interest in technologies capable of supporting the next generation of satellite services.

Aum Ventures has backed other deep-tech companies in fields including space technology, defence and advanced engineering. Its India Innovation Fund II is aimed at supporting early-stage businesses that are developing technology-driven solutions.

Conventional satellite systems frequently rely on scheduled communication windows with ground stations. By processing certain information directly in space, in-orbit computing seeks to lessen this reliance.

A satellite could, for instance, potentially process or merge chosen observations before sending the results down to Earth. This can lower the amount of raw data that must be transmitted and help users get important information more quickly.

Possible Uses of OXG Space’s Technology

• Defence and intelligence: Quicker access to satellite data could aid surveillance and situational awareness.
• Disaster response: Timely observations could assist teams in evaluating floods, fires and other emergencies.
• Environmental monitoring: More frequent access to processed observations could aid in monitoring land, forests and water resources.
• Commercial Earth observation: Satellite operators could gain from more efficient communication and data delivery.

These are possible applications rather than confirmed results of OXG Space’s technology. The benefits will hinge on the network’s capabilities, reliability and successful deployment.

The ₹17 crore raised by OXG Space reflects growing investor interest in specialised technologies that enable satellite operations.

India’s private space ecosystem comprises companies involved in launch vehicles, satellite manufacturing, communications and Earth-observation services. With satellite activity on the rise, supporting infrastructure like dependable connectivity and in-orbit computing is likely to grow increasingly important.

OXG Space is focusing on this infrastructure layer instead of concentrating solely on building individual satellites. Its approach seeks to link spacecraft together and help process data nearer to the point where it is gathered.

Nevertheless, developing space technology comes with technical, financial and operational hurdles. Hardware has to operate reliably in demanding conditions, and orbital demonstrations demand careful planning and execution.

Mission Synapse will thus serve as a key milestone for the company. Successful demonstrations could help confirm its technology and pave the way for future commercial partnerships.

Backed by ₹17 crore in new funding, OXG Space is getting ready to showcase its core technologies through Mission Synapse over the coming 12 months.

The programme will centre on its phased-array antenna, deployable mesh reflector and scalable solar array. Taken together, these components are meant to advance the company’s vision of an orbital network that merges satellite connectivity with in-space computing.

The key upcoming milestones will be proving the technology in orbit, assessing communication performance and demonstrating how the network can serve satellite operators.

All in all, OXG Space’s ₹17 crore funding round represents a major step toward its ambition of building satellite connectivity infrastructure in orbit. Should its technology work as planned, the startup could help cut delays in delivering Earth-observation data and open up new opportunities in India’s expanding spacetech ecosystem.