India’s private space sector has reached another milestone as Skyroot Aerospace secured nearly $60 million in fresh funding, pushing its valuation to $1.1 billion. The latest investment comes at a crucial moment as the Hyderabad-based startup prepares to launch Vikram-1, India’s first privately developed orbital rocket.
Indian private space launch company Skyroot Aerospace has officially joined the unicorn club after raising close to $60 million in a fresh funding round. The company announced that the investment values Skyroot at a pre-money valuation of $1.1 billion, making it one of India’s fastest-growing spacetech firms.
The funding round was co-led by Sherpalo Ventures and GIC, the global institutional investment giant. Several existing investors also participated in the round, including the founders of Greenko Group and venture capital firm Arkam Ventures.
The latest capital infusion reflects growing global investor confidence in India’s emerging private space industry and Skyroot’s ambitions to become a major launch service provider worldwide.
The funding round also attracted participation from some of the world’s leading investment firms and family offices. Funds managed by BlackRock, the world’s largest asset management company, joined the cap table alongside Playbook Partners and the Shanghvi Family Office.
One of the most notable developments from the round is the entry of Ram Shriram, founder of Sherpalo Ventures and a board member at Alphabet Inc., into Skyroot’s board. Shriram is widely known for backing major global technology companies and startups during their early growth stages.
His involvement is expected to strengthen Skyroot’s international positioning as the company expands its commercial launch capabilities.
Industry analysts believe the investment signals increasing global recognition of India’s private space ecosystem, which has rapidly evolved following government reforms and private sector participation.
Skyroot said the newly raised funds will primarily support the development and scaling of its Vikram rocket programme. The company plans to establish a high-frequency launch schedule for Vikram-1 while also expanding manufacturing capabilities.
A major portion of the capital will also be used for the development of Vikram-2, a next-generation one-tonne-class launch vehicle powered by an advanced cryogenic engine stage.
The upcoming Vikram-2 rocket is expected to significantly expand the range of missions Skyroot can undertake, including larger payload deployments and more complex orbital operations.
The company stated that scaling launch frequency and manufacturing efficiency remains essential as global satellite deployment demand continues to rise rapidly.
The funding announcement comes just weeks before Skyroot’s much-anticipated Vikram-1 launch. The rocket is being positioned as India’s first privately developed orbital launch vehicle.
According to the company, Vikram-1 is designed to provide dedicated and customizable satellite launch services for global customers. The rocket will be capable of deploying small satellites weighing up to 350 kilograms into low Earth orbit.
Skyroot’s co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Pawan Kumar Chandana described the upcoming mission as a major milestone for both India and the global commercial space sector.
He stated that the investment from globally reputed investors reflects strong confidence in Skyroot’s vision and long-term growth potential.
The launch of Vikram-1 is expected to further strengthen India’s presence in the rapidly expanding global small satellite launch market.
Skyroot first gained international attention in 2022 after successfully launching Vikram-S, India’s first privately built rocket to reach space.
The mission marked a turning point for India’s private space sector and demonstrated the growing capabilities of domestic spacetech startups. Vikram-S validated several critical technologies and established Skyroot as a pioneer in India’s commercial launch ecosystem.
The upcoming Vikram-1 mission represents the company’s next major technological leap as it moves from suborbital missions toward full orbital launch capabilities.
Industry experts view this transition as a significant achievement for India’s growing private aerospace sector, especially at a time when satellite launches and commercial space missions are witnessing increasing global demand.
Skyroot Aerospace has built a strong reputation for developing advanced launch technologies internally. The company’s rocket systems use carbon composite structures designed to reduce overall weight while improving efficiency and durability.
The propulsion systems powering Skyroot’s rockets are also developed entirely in-house. These include the Kalam series solid propulsion systems, Raman series liquid propulsion systems, and Dhawan series cryogenic engines.
One of the company’s standout innovations is the use of 3D-printed rocket engines, which significantly reduce manufacturing time and costs while improving production flexibility.
Skyroot develops and tests its technology at its large-scale Max-Q and Infinity campuses located in Hyderabad, Telangana. Spread across nearly 250,000 square feet, the facilities support research, testing, manufacturing, and launch preparation activities.
The company aims to leverage rapid manufacturing methods to increase launch cadence and reduce overall mission costs.
Ram Shriram praised the Skyroot team for its progress and reiterated his confidence in the company’s long-term vision. He said access to space remains one of the defining technological challenges of the modern era and highlighted Skyroot’s ability to deliver cost-effective orbital launch services.
He added that Skyroot is building foundational infrastructure for the future of commercial space transportation with a strong cost-to-performance advantage.
The global commercial space industry has witnessed strong growth in recent years due to rising satellite deployments, Earth observation missions, communication networks, and defense-related space activities.
India’s lower launch costs and growing engineering expertise are increasingly positioning the country as an attractive destination for commercial space innovation.
Founded by Pawan Kumar Chandana and Naga Bharath Daka, Skyroot Aerospace was created with the vision of democratizing access to space. The company’s long-term mission is to make space launches as reliable, frequent, and affordable as commercial air travel.
With nearly $100 million raised from leading global investors including GIC and Temasek, Skyroot has emerged as one of India’s most prominent spacetech startups.
As the country continues opening its space sector to private participation, companies like Skyroot are expected to play a key role in shaping India’s future in global aerospace and satellite launch services.