Dhruva Space: Innovation to power Space-based Full-Stack applications!

Abhay Egoor, CTO; Sanjay Nekkanti, CEO; Chaitanya Dora, CFO; and Krishna Teja Penamukuru, COO

In the contexts of disruption, nurturing emerging talent, and space-tech, Dhruva Space has become a popular name.

Disrupting the space tech industry with their out-of-the-box innovation, Hyderabad-based startup Dhruva Space Private Limited has become a promising and trusted name in the space tech industry. Winner of the National Startup Awards 2020 in the Space Category, Dhruva Space is a full-stack space engineering Solution Company that remains focussed on crafting the best-in-class satellites, ground, and launch stations.

Dhruva Space has evolved under the visionary leadership of CEO Sanjay Nekkanti, CTO Abhay Egoor, CFO Chaitanya Dora, and COO Krishna Teja Penamakuru since 2019. The quad is not just collaborators but also close friends since before the inception of the company.

To date, the company’s endeavors have deeply impacted and disrupted the space tech ecosystem, keeping in mind a ‘Make in India for the World’ ethos.

Dhruva Space’s P-DoT satellite platform.

With a robust team of space-tech talent (affectionately called ‘the crew’) and cutting-edge technologies, Dhruva Space is building application-agnostic satellite platforms, satellites, and Earth stations. The company is active in Space (spacecraft platform & subsystems such as onboard computer, attitude determination & control system, communication systems, power systems, solar panels) and Launch segments (Dhruva Space Orbital Deployers – DSOD).

Since its inception, continual pivoting and innovation paved the way for significant support for Dhruva Space. In December 2019, they bagged around ₹5 crore angel funding from Mumbai Angels Network and other investors. In October 2021, the company scored green again by securing ₹22 crores in a funding round led by Indian Angel Network (IAN) Fund and Blue Ashva Capital. This funding is utilized to expand their operations globally, penetrate new markets, and undertake in-orbit demonstrations.

Dhruva Space was the only space-tech startup selected from India to present at the prestigious Interplanetary Small Satellite Conference held in 2020. The team showcased how to foster ‘outside the box thinking that will be critical to future interplanetary small satellite missions.

This proactive interest in research and development, as well as academia, soon saw Dhruva Space’s collaboration with BITS Pilani, Hyderabad, to build a Satellite Communication Technologies Research and Development Centre.

Sanjay Nekkanti, CEO, Dhruva Space, with Dr Radhakrishnan Durairaj, Chairman & Managing Director, NewSpace India Limited at the signing of the commercial launch services agreement on March 16, 2022.

What else is Dhruva Space up to now?

The company, keen to address the key issues of infrastructure and access, has partnered with Larsen & Toubro Ltd. (L&T) to work on a project that intends to solve the increasing global demand for affordable access to space.

While leading a well-rounded and informed dialogue around space satellite technologies, the company is also interested in exploring new business opportunities, targeting UAE and US.

The year 2022 has proven an exciting start for Dhruva Space, as they continue to strive towards future integration and launch services. On March 16th, 2022 the company signed a commercial launch services agreement with NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), for in-orbit demonstration of various technologies developed in-house.

The plaudits do not end there; on March 4, Entrepreneur India Magazine awarded Dhruva Space with ‘Best SpaceTech Startup’ for their StartUp 2022 Awards for which the ceremony will take place in July.

Right on the heels of this accolade, Dhruva Space won the Qualcomm Design for India Program 2021, bagging a ₹65 lakh prize as well as a host of other benefits such as patent-filing incentives, accelerator services, Government interactions, participation at industry events, dedicated engineering support and access to the Qualcomm Innovation Lab. As part of their proposal for QDIC, they worked with Qualcomm to develop a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Satellite to enable a 5G Space Radio Access Network (RAN).

Embracing the world of Web 3.0, the Emerging Technologies Wing of Telangana State Government’s Information Technology Electronics and Communications Department has formulated a SpaceTech Framework, which will be launched in a metaverse event on April 18. In this upcoming new chapter, Dhruva Space will be a key player.

Dhruva Space is just getting started to drive the success of its mission to connect Earth and Space by leveraging indigenously-developed in the Space, Launch, and Ground Segments – do not miss out on what is to come.

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