Orbitt Space, an Ahmedabad-based space-tech startup, has raised $1 million in a pre-seed funding round led by pi Ventures, with participation from IIMA Ventures.
The fresh capital raised will be used to accelerate the design and development of Orbitt’s proprietary electric propulsion technology and avionics systems, to build a core team of scientists and engineers, and to begin rigorous testing of its first prototype.
Founded in 2025 by Christopher Parmar and Anupam Kumar, Orbitt Space is building an Air-breathing Electric propulsion system and satellite bus platform designed for Ultra Low Earth Orbit (ULEO) below 250 km altitude.
Orbitt is developing a proprietary technology that enables satellites to operate sustainably for 5–7 years, even in high-drag environments. Their electric propulsion system uses residual atmospheric gases as propellant, eliminating the need for onboard fuel.
Orbitt Space is currently in the development phase focused on building and qualifying its core propulsion and avionics systems. The next phase will involve in-orbit demonstrations to validate performance, followed by the commercial rollout of Orbitt’s ULEO satellite platform.
Christopher Parmar, Co-founder & CEO of Orbitt Space, said, “ULEO is the cleanest and most strategic orbit around Earth, yet it has remained inaccessible until now. Our electric propulsion system will change that, enabling satellites to operate longer missions at low altitudes while delivering advanced imaging and data capabilities without contributing to orbital pollution. With this funding, we take our first step towards making sustainable, fuel-free satellite operations a reality.”
Anupam Kumar, Co-founder & CTO of Orbitt Space, said, “For us, this isn’t just about building electric propulsion and satellite platform technologies, it’s about reshaping how we access space. Having spent initial years at ISRO in satellite environment testing, I have seen firsthand the challenges of satellite longevity in orbit. With Orbitt, we aim to build platforms that redefine global standards for performance, cost-efficiency, and sustainability.”
“India’s deep-rooted excellence in spacetech, led by ISRO, is now fuelling a new wave of private innovation. Orbitt Space is poised to disrupt the satellite market by pioneering access to ULEO to deliver better performance and lower costs for satellite operators. Founders Christopher and Anupam, with a decade of hands-on experience at ISRO building, testing and deploying mission-critical systems, are reimagining in-space propulsion by replacing traditional fuel with atmospheric gases. We’re thrilled to back this bold vision for a cleaner, more efficient future in spacetech,” said Shubham Sandeep, MD at pi Ventures, lead investor.
