Aadyah Aerospace: India Self-Reliance in Space & Defense Engineering

Aadyah Aerospace, founded by Shaju Stephen in 2016, is a leading player in India’s aerospace and defense engineering sector. The company specializes in high-reliability satellite components, unmanned aerial systems, and advanced launch-support hardware. Under Stephen’s leadership, Aadyah Aerospace is shaping India’s space ecosystem with innovation and precision engineering. The company has expanded into satellite subsystems, designing lightweight bus structures and deployers to reduce launch costs. Aadyah Aerospace has forged partnerships with public and private sector players to advance indigenous satellite technologies. Under Stephen’s leadership, the company is scaling up to tackle larger projects and accelerating innovation across India’s aerospace ecosystem.

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S. Ravichandran: The Force Behind Agnikul Cosmos

Srinath Ravichandran, an aerospace engineer, co-founded Agnikul Cosmos in 2017 to address the global need for flexible, affordable, and on-demand access to space. The company focuses on modular, customizable launch vehicles designed for small satellites into low Earth orbit (LEO). The flagship rocket, Agnibaan, is a two-stage vehicle capable of carrying up to 100 kg to LEO. Agnikul’s engines are manufactured quickly using additive manufacturing (3D printing), reducing time-to-launch and mission costs. The company has achieved milestones such as raising ₹23.4 crore in pre-Series A funding, successfully testing Agnilet, and raising $11 million in Series A funding. Agnikul Cosmos is also the first private company to sign a framework agreement with ISRO and IN-SPACe for access to launchpads, testing facilities, and technical guidance.

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