India’s Private Space Race Accelerates as Billionaire Mukesh Ambani Bets Big on Homegrown Innovation
Bengaluru, India | August 2025 — In a bold move reflecting India’s rapidly growing interest in private space exploration, Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries is reportedly in advanced discussions to spearhead a $50 million funding round for Bengaluru-based spacetech startup Digantara Research & Technologies. The round, expected to include participation from existing investors like Peak XV Partners, marks a significant milestone in the startup’s journey and the evolution of India’s private space ecosystem.
According to sources cited by The Economic Times, a substantial portion of the funding will be allocated towards building critical space infrastructure, part of Digantara’s broader mission to create scalable, data-led solutions for Space Situational Awareness (SSA). This emerging field is crucial for monitoring, managing, and securing increasingly congested low-earth orbits (LEO), especially as global satellite launches surge.
A Billionaire Bet on India’s New Space Frontier
Reliance’s interest in Digantara is more than just a financial endorsement — it’s a signal that India’s biggest conglomerates are pivoting toward strategic innovation in deep-tech sectors. “Reliance has evaluated multiple startups in the spacetech segment. It is looking at companies building novel solutions in the sector,” a source close to the matter reported. “Given the volatility in global geopolitics, every country is focused on having its own indigenous sovereign solutions that can be controlled in times of crisis. That’s where the opportunity lies for startups like Digantara.”
Founded in 2018 by Anirudh Sharma, Rahul Rawat, and Tanveer Ahmed, Digantara is a pioneer in India’s private space sector. The company focuses on building end-to-end infrastructure to address key challenges in space operations. Its core innovation lies in a proprietary SSA platform that tracks and analyzes space debris, orbital congestion, and satellite movements — essential technologies in today’s increasingly complex orbital landscape.
A Sector on the Rise: What’s Fueling India’s Space Ambitions?
India’s spacetech sector is witnessing unprecedented momentum. The market is currently growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12%, with projections estimating its worth at ₹1.2 lakh crore by 2025. Much of this growth is being catalyzed by progressive policies such as the Indian Space Policy 2023, which aims to open the space ecosystem to private players, and the ‘Make in India’ initiative, encouraging domestic innovation and manufacturing.
The strategic significance of Digantara’s work has not gone unnoticed. Earlier in February 2024, Aditya Birla Ventures, the venture capital arm of billionaire K.M. Birla-led Aditya Birla Group, also made its maiden investment in the spacetech sector by backing Digantara. “Space tech is indeed the next frontier for innovation, offering unprecedented opportunities for growth,” said Aryaman Vikram Birla, Founder of Aditya Birla Ventures. “We have a strong belief in Digantara’s ability to develop advanced data-led space situational awareness solutions for clients globally.”
Why Digantara? Why Now?
The convergence of global geopolitical tensions, rising defence expenditure, and the commercial boom in satellite deployment has highlighted the urgent need for reliable SSA solutions. Countries and corporations alike are now recognizing that space security and traffic management will define the sustainability of orbital operations in the coming decades.
Digantara’s innovative approach — combining data science, predictive analytics, and real-time monitoring systems — puts it in a prime position to become a global leader in this niche. As India continues to open its space sector and attract investments from both public and private domains, startups like Digantara are expected to play a pivotal role in driving the next wave of sovereign space capabilities.
About Digantara
Digantara Research & Technologies Pvt. Ltd., founded in 2018, is an Indian spacetech startup specializing in Space Situational Awareness (SSA). Headquartered in Bengaluru, the company is building a next-gen space infrastructure ecosystem to ensure safe, reliable, and sustainable space operations.
Website: https://www.digantara.co.in
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