Space startup inks deal with NSIL

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

The order is scheduled for execution by October 2026. The startup said that this order further strengthens its contribution to India’s growing space ecosystem, particularly in the domain of satellite communication infrastructure.

“The engagement highlights the company’s continued focus on delivering high-reliability, indigenously developed solutions aligned with national initiatives such as Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat, aimed at enhancing self-reliance in critical technologies,” it said.

Siddhartha Abburi, director, Avantel Limited, said, “We are pleased to receive this order from NewSpace India Limited, which reflects continued trust in Avantel’s capabilities in delivering advanced communication solutions. This engagement reinforces our commitment to supporting India’s space sector with robust, high-performance, and indigenous technologies that meet stringent operational requirements.”

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

The round also saw participation from existing investors Merak Ventures, Java Capital, IIMA-CIIE, and Deep Tech Investor Manish Gandhi. The funding will be deployed to advance SatLeo’s flagship thermal satellite mission and develop its AI-powered platform for thermal intelligence applications.

The company has also begun translating its technology into real-world deployments through commercial pilot projects, including urban heat island and air-pollution monitoring initiatives with cities such as Ahmedabad and Tumakuru, impacting more than 400,000 citizens.

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