Digantara Research & Technologies, a Bengaluru-based space situational awareness (SSA) firm, has successfully raised $10 million in a Series A1 funding round to advance its pioneering Space-Mission Assurance Platform (Space-MAP), a significant milestone announced on Tuesday. This funding, spearheaded by Peak XV Partners, formerly Sequoia Capital India, along with participation from Kalaari Capital, Global Brain, Campus Fund, and the founders of IIFL Wealth, marks a major stride in Digantara’s mission to revolutionize the spacetech industry.
The infusion of funds will not only facilitate the deployment of the first phase of Digantara’s space-based surveillance satellite constellation but also expedite the development of downstream SSA services. These services are anticipated to be offered comprehensively by the second quarter of 2024, an ambitious goal backed by an agreement with the government of Uttarakhand.
Digantara’s Co-founder & CEO, Anirudh Sharma, expressed the company’s commitment to enhancing space technology infrastructure, thus enabling the tracking of previously unobservable celestial objects and substantially increasing data points. This expanded capability is poised to empower stakeholders with comprehensive insights, facilitating efficient decision-making amidst the complexities of the evolving space environment.
Shailesh Lakhani, Managing Director of Peak XV Partners, emphasized the pioneering work of Digantara in creating an advanced SSA data collection infrastructure. He highlighted how this innovation will significantly impact satellite management, a rapidly growing market within the industry.
The Bengaluru and Singapore-based firm, established in 2018, boasts a team of 30 experts spanning the domains of astrodynamics, photonics, and space weather. This collaborative expertise has fueled the development of Digantara’s end-to-end infrastructure, aimed at tackling the challenges inherent in space operations and traffic management. The Space-MAP, envisioned as a comprehensive solution for global space launches, positions Digantara at the forefront of India’s spacetech revolution.
Digantara’s visionary journey has garnered increasing support from investors, with a seed round of $2.5 million secured from Kalaari Capital in 2021. As the company propels the boundaries of spacetech innovation, its mission aligns with the broader vision of advancing India’s presence and capabilities in space exploration and management.
