SatLeo Labs, a leading space-tech startup focused on capturing high-resolution thermal & visible data from Low Earth Orbit (LEO), has raised $3.3 million in its pre-seed funding round by Merak Ventures, with Huddle Ventures.
The round saw participation from GVFL, Java Capital, IIMA Ventures, PointOne Capital, and angel investors Manish Gandhi and Dheer Baldua.
The funds raised will be used for the development of its proprietary thermal imaging payload, conducting critical feasibility studies, and securing regulatory approvals. Additionally, the capital will support team expansion, infrastructure setup, and pilot testing, enabling the startup to validate its technology and strengthen industry partnerships.
Founded in 2023 by Ranendu Ghosh and Shravan Bhati, SatLeo Labs is an Ahmedabad-based space-tech startup developing thermal and optical imaging from Low Earth Orbit (LEO). SatLeo delivers high-impact insights to drive sustainable innovation across agriculture, urban infrastructure, energy, climate monitoring, and national security.
SatLeo Labs aims to launch its first thermal imaging satellite in the near future. SatLeo Labs claims to have secured over $25 million in Letters of Intent (LOIs) from potential clients.
“Each 1°C rise in temperature can reduce global GDP by up to 10%. Our thermal data helps detect risks before they turn into billion-dollar losses — from crop failures to wildfires. At Satleo, we’re transforming space data into real-world resilience. This funding underscores the growing confidence in our vision to position India as a global leader in space-based intelligence by delivering cost-effective and reliable solutions,” said Shravan Bhati, Co-founder & CEO of SatLeo Labs.
“Earth Observation (EO) data is projected to exceed $700 billion by 2030, contributing $3.8 trillion to global GDP. Beyond economics, thermal EO can help cut 2 Gigaton of GHG emissions annually and drive nature-positive action,” said Urmil Bakhai, Co-founder & CSO of SatLeo Labs.
“We are pioneering a dual-band, high-resolution thermal payload designed for fused multispectral imaging – empowering sustainable solutions across agriculture, environmental conservation, climate-resilient urban planning, and strategic defence,” said Dr. Ranendu Ghosh, Co-founder & CTO of SatLeo Labs.
“Our investment in SatLeo Labs is rooted in a clear thesis – thermal imagery from space is still vastly underutilised, and its commercial applications are only set to grow in ways we may not yet fully grasp. We’re backing them for a genuine tech breakthrough that makes thermal data more useful, accessible and affordable. Just as importantly, they bring a rare combination of DeepTech expertise and real-world application insights,” said Sheetal Bahl, Partner at Merak Ventures.
