From Sarabhai’s Legacy to Startup Stardust: Ahmedabad’s Spacetech Renaissance Takes Off

Ahmedabad is rapidly transforming into a spacetech startup hub, thanks to the combined efforts of ISRO, IN-SPACe, and IIMA Ventures. The city, long associated with India's space legacy—dating back to Vikram Sarabhai's founding of the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL)—is now fostering a new wave of spacetech entrepreneurs, many of whom are former ISRO scientists.

Why Ahmedabad?

Ahmedabad houses ISRO’s Space Applications Centre, IN-SPACe headquarters, and IIMA Ventures, creating a dense ecosystem for space innovation. Startups like PierSight, SatLeo Labs, and Orbitt Space are leveraging this infrastructure to develop cutting-edge satellite technologies, including:

• Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) for maritime surveillance.
• Thermal imaging satellites for commercial applications.
• Air-breathing electric propulsion systems for ultra-low Earth orbit (ULEO) missions.

Key Developments

• PierSight is building a SAR-enabled satellite constellation for persistent maritime surveillance, with plans to launch 32 satellites by 2028.
• Orbitt Space, founded by ex-ISRO scientists, is working on ULEO propulsion technology, using residual atmospheric gases as propellant to extend satellite lifespans. The newly founded space tech startup has recently raised $1 million from in pre-seed funding led by pi Ventures, with support from IIMA Ventures. 
• SatLeo Labs secured $3.3 million in funding to advance thermal imaging payloads, aiming to revolutionize commercial space applications.

Institutional Support

IN-SPACe is actively facilitating testing facilities, regulatory approvals, and funding access for startups, while IIMA Ventures is incubating many of these companies, providing strategic mentorship and investment.

Ahmedabad’s scientific heritage, regulatory backing, and entrepreneurial momentum are positioning it as a key player in India’s commercial space race.

Besides Ahmedabad, Pune in Maharashtra is also emerging as a space-tech research hub, with startups working on satellite propulsion systems.

Additionally, Assam in north east of India has recently became home to the Assam State Space Application Centre (ASSAC), which focuses on remote sensing and GIS applications for governance and resource management. The state also boast of AssamSat, the state's first satellite, developed in collaboration with ISRO. 

India is ramping up its space activities, with 30 missions planned for 2024-2025, including launches by Skyroot Aerospace and Agnikul Cosmos. 

Top Image - Prajwal Dwivedi

Over 100 Gujarat Engg. College Students Duped by Gurugram Startup, Misused Documents for ₹2.5 Crore Loan

Over 100 students of a reputed engineering college in Ahmedabad, Gujarat have been caught in the scam of a dubious startup in Gurugram, said a report by iamGujarat.com authored by Ashish Chauhan. The students claim that the alleged startup took their documents and misused them on the pretext of giving them jobs. The startup took an education loan of Rs 2.1 lakh in the name of each student while keeping students in dark. When the students started getting calls from the bank for EMI, the students then came to know that the loan was taken in their name. Loans of more than 2.5 crore rupees have been taken in the name of 124 students.

The Gujarat Police has not yet registered a complaint in this matter because they say that this is a civil case, said the report. 

Citing the students, the report further said that these 124 students were selected in the group through campus placement in 2021. Two supposed representatives of the startup came to the Engineering college located in Sola, a suburb area of Ahmedabad city. The students says that the loan was taken two months after the students were hired. The startup claimed that they provide business consultancy to firms. This Gurugram-based startup,  the name which remain undisclosed in the report, was paying students irregularly. However, when reminders for EMIs of Rs 5,000 started coming from a well-known bank, these
students realized that the loan had been taken without their knowledge and consent.

The EMI amount was deducted from the account of the students who had balance in their bank account. While the CIBIL (credit rating) score of those who did not have a balance in their account was adversely affected. Students were not able to repay the loans, which they had not taken in first place, so their credit rating was going down. Students were mostly given work from home by this startup.

When the students confronted the representatives of the alleged company, the representatives said that the issue would be resolved quickly and that they need not worry.

One of the selected students in 2021 was automobile engineer Alwaz Pathan. He has recently filed a complaint at the Shahpur police station in Ahmedabad and has alleged fraud against two representatives of the company. "During the selection, he made us sign an agreement and took our digital signatures besides taking several documents.

"During the selection, he made us sign an agreement and took our digital signatures besides taking several documents. We were told that the job would be confirmed after a one-year probation period. Few days after my probation started, I received an SMS regarding EMI. When I asked the company about the EMI, they said that they will settle the amount in my salary. They neither gave us salary nor nor reimbursed us any amount", said Pathan.

Alwaz Pathan then realized that this startup had taken an education loan of Rs 2.10 lakh in the name of each student by misusing his documents and digital signature. Alwaz resigned from the firm but later came to know that the company had cheated 100 more students who graduated from the batch between 2021 and 2023 in this manner.

According to Alwaz Pathan, the future of the recruited students is uncertain as the company recently declared bankruptcy. "Many students do not have funds in their bank accounts. The CIBIL scores of students unwittingly caught in the scam have deteriorated." Alwaz Pathan's lawyer Irshad Mansoori said that he approached the Sola police but they refused to register a complaint. "We also approached the cyber crime police but they also did not take up the complaint.

According to information collected by Times of India from police sources, "Many students do not have funds in their bank accounts. The CIBIL scores of students unwittingly caught in the scam have deteriorated." Alwaz Pathan's lawyer Irshad Mansoori said that he approached the Sola police but they refused to register a complaint. "We also approached the cyber crime police but they also did not take up the complaint. After which we approached the Shahpur police but they refused to register an FIR as it was a civil case", said Irshad Mansoori.

Visaka Industries To Build First-of-Its-Kind Climate Lab for Anant University's Ahmedabad Campus

Visaka Industries Limited, a leading name in indigenous sustainable construction materials, has collaborated with Anant University, to help build a first-of-its-kind Climate Lab for their Ahmedabad campus. The lab will be fabricated using Visaka’s Vnext Fibre Cement Boards, which are an eco-friendly alternative to climate-damaging plywood & gypsum and the entire lab will be powered using Visaka’s proprietary and patented ATUM Solar – World’s 1st Integrated Solar Roof.

Commenting on the launch of this collaboration programme, Vamsi Gaddam, Joint Managing Director, Visaka Industries – “There is no denying the impact of climate change. It affects us every day and in every aspect of our lives. We applaud Anant National University for taking the initiative to build this Climate Lab and are extremely proud to have been involved in its construction with our eco-friendly boards and integrated solar roof. We have been in the sustainable building materials industry for four decades and have no doubt that THIS is the need of the hour - to educate our students, and our future, and pass the baton of responsibility to them. Congratulations, Anant U. "Here's to a more sustainable tomorrow.”

Furthering the thought, Dr Anunaya Chaubey – Provost, AnantU, said, “As the world is realising the severity and impact of climate change, we have to intensify efforts to study, research and build sustainable solutions. Anant Climate Lab is our effort in that direction. Here the students will get a chance to experiment, test and build on their ideas. Hand-on experience is crucial for such new and evolving sectors as climate sciences and technology”.

About Visaka Industries Limited

Visaka Industries Limited was established in 1981. The company is publicly listed with an annual turnover of 1500 Cr. Their brands include Vnext – India’s Largest Selling Brand of Fibre Cement Boards, ATUM Solar – The World’s 1st Electricity Generating Solar Roof, The Wonder Yarn – Sustainable Yarn Made from Recycled PET Bottles and ATUM Charge Solar Powered EV Charging Station and ATUM Life – First-of-its-kind Sustainable Experience Centre.