SatLeo Labs, a spacetech startup, has successfully raised $2.2 million in a seed funding round led by Unicorn India Ventures. This round also saw participation from existing investors, including Merak Ventures and Java Capital.
The startup intends to use the new funds to further develop its thermal satellite mission and enhance its AI-driven platform focused on thermal intelligence applications.
With this funding, SatLeo Labs has now accumulated a total of $5.5 million, which includes a previous $3.3 million pre-Series A round in 2025.
Over the next year, SatLeo Labs aims to bolster its space-based thermal intelligence capabilities by prioritizing satellite launch readiness, expanding its commercial reach, and scaling its technology.
Founded in 2023 by Shravan Bhati, Urmil Bakhai, and Ranendu Ghosh, SatLeo Labs specializes in constructing satellites capable of capturing both thermal and visual imagery of Earth. This technology is designed to monitor climate changes, agricultural conditions, disasters, and defense activities in real time.
Based in Ahmedabad, the startup leverages proprietary technology to gather data from low Earth orbit (LEO). Its satellites are capable of detecting heat signals, which aids in tracking crop health, temperature fluctuations, wildfire risks, and weather patterns, as well as supporting defense surveillance.
SatLeo Labs has reported significant growth over the past year, expanding its team from 8 to 30 members, including engineers and researchers with expertise in satellite missions, thermal sensing, and geospatial analytics driven by AI.
The company has also achieved a milestone by developing and delivering its first experimental thermal payload, TAPAS-1, within six months, reaching TRL-8 readiness for launch. Additionally, it has initiated pilot projects for monitoring urban heat and air pollution in Ahmedabad and Tumkur, benefiting over 400,000 citizens.
Furthermore, the startup's commercial pipeline has expanded, with letters of intent increasing from approximately $15 million to over $42 million in just one year.
SatLeo Labs competes with other notable players in the Indian spacetech sector, such as PierSight, GalaxEye, and SatSure. This funding comes at a time when investment in spacetech is accelerating both in India and globally, driven by a growing demand for satellite data and analytics.
In 2025, funding in the Indian spacetech sector nearly doubled, reaching $157 million, up from $81 million the previous year. Currently, India hosts more than 200 private spacetech companies engaged in various aspects of satellite technology, launch vehicles, and data services, reflecting the increasing global demand for efficient and reliable space technologies.
