India has created history as Skyroot Aerospace successfully launched Vikram-1, the country's first privately developed orbital rocket, from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota. The landmark mission marks a major milestone for India's rapidly growing private space sector. Developed by former ISRO scientists, Vikram-1 successfully progressed through multiple flight stages, crossed the 100 km Kármán Line, ignited all stages as planned, and moved toward deploying its payloads into orbit. The mission demonstrates India's expanding capabilities in commercial space launches and opens new opportunities for startups, universities, and global satellite customers.

Vikram-1 launch success: India’s first private rocket reaches space | skyroot creates history

India has scripted history as Skyroot Aerospace's Vikram-1 successfully completed its landmark mission, becoming the country's first privately developed orbital rocket to reach space from Indian soil. Launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, the mission marks a defining moment for India's rapidly expanding private space ecosystem.

Historic moment! India's first private rocket Vikram-1 takes off into space | Skyroot launch

India has achieved a historic milestone in space exploration as Skyroot Aerospace successfully launched Vikram-1, the country's first privately developed orbital rocket from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota. The successful liftoff marks a major breakthrough for India's rapidly growing private space industry following the government's space sector reforms. The four-stage Vikram-1 rocket completed key mission objectives, including successful ignition, stage separation, and payload fairing separation, while carrying multiple payloads toward orbit. The mission places India among leading nations encouraging private participation in space launches and commercial space exploration.

Skyroot Aerospace launches Vikram-1, India’s first private orbital rocket, successfully lifts off

<p>An Indian startup is planning to script history by launching a 'space habitat' by 2027 in collaboration with Elon Musk's SpaceX.</p>

<p>As the name suggests, these ‘expandable space habitats’ will serve as living quarters for space tourists, astronauts and researchers.</p>

<p>The Bengaluru-based company AkashaLabdhi, which was incubated at&nbsp;IIT Roorkee, has been designing these proposed space habitats.</p>

<p>The company calls itself a ‘home among the stars’ on LinkedIn and says that its area of expertise is cutting at signal processing, seamless automation and robust power electronics.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/when-will-sunita-williams-return-home-from-space-indian-origin-astronaut-speaks-from-space-739714">When will Sunita Williams return home? Indian-origin astronaut speaks from space</a></p>

<p>They wrote on LinkedIn, “AkashaLabdhi is as engineering firm providing solutions for modern engineering challenges. We specialize in delivering comprehensive solutions encompassing both Software and Hardware domains. Our proficiency extends to signal processing, PCB design, power electronics, and automation, positioning us as a versatile engineering firm.”</p>

<h2><strong>Here's what the space habitat will look like</strong></h2>

<p>The space habitat will become a home for anyone visiting the space and will accommodate&nbsp;six to 16 people.</p>

<p>According to a report published by The Times Of India, AkashaLabdhi has at present made a prototype model of the habitat, which is known as ‘Antariksh HAB’.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Antariksh HAB boasts features like an expandable shell which ensures ‘exceptional orbital debris and radiation protection’. The design can also serve multiple purposes apart from being a space habitat.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Starliner astronauts 'confident' on return trip, Sunita Williams &amp; Billy Wilmore address press</strong></p>

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<p>The scientists can use Antariksh HAB for microgravity experiments, satellite maintenance, orbital logistics storage, said the company on its website.</p>

<p>“With a forward-looking perspective, this adaptable habitat holds potential for long-term lunar surface exploration," it added.</p>

<p>Speaking to the newspaper, the company's CEO Siddarth Jena said that the space habitat will need nearly seven days to fully inflate after reaching its destination.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to the report, the company has been discussing the project with billionaire Elon Musk’s SpaceX with the aim of booking a slot for the mission.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


An Indian startup is planning to script history by launching a 'space habitat' by 2027 in collaboration with Elon Musk's SpaceX. As the name suggests, these ‘expandable space habitats’ will serve as living quarters for space tourists, astronauts and researchers.

An Indian startup is planning to script history by launching a 'space habitat' by 2027 in collaboration with Elon Musk's SpaceX. As the name suggests, these ‘expandable space habitats’ will serve as living quarters for space tourists, astronauts and researchers. The Bengaluru-based company AkashaLabdhi, which was incubated at IIT Roorkee, has been designing these proposed space habitats. The company calls itself a ‘home among the stars’ on LinkedIn and says that its area of expertise is cutting at signal processing, seamless automation and robust power electronics. Also Read: When will Sunita Williams return home? Indian-origin astronaut speaks from space They wrote on LinkedIn, “AkashaLabdhi is as engineering firm providing solutions for modern engineering challenges. We specialize in delivering comprehensive solutions encompassing both Software and Hardware domains. Our proficiency extends to signal processing, PCB design, power electronics, and automation, positioning us as a versatile engineering firm.” Here's what the space habitat will look like The space habitat will become a home for anyone visiting the space and will accommodate six to 16 people. According to a report published by The Times Of India, AkashaLabdhi has at present made a prototype model of the habitat, which is known as ‘Antariksh HAB’. The Antariksh HAB boasts features like an expandable shell which ensures ‘exceptional orbital debris and radiation protection’. The design can also serve multiple purposes apart from being a space habitat. Watch: Starliner astronauts 'confident' on return trip, Sunita Williams & Billy Wilmore address press The scientists can use Antariksh HAB for microgravity experiments, satellite maintenance, orbital logistics storage, said the company on its website. “With a forward-looking perspective, this adaptable habitat holds potential for long-term lunar surface exploration," it added. Speaking to the newspaper, the company's CEO Siddarth Jena said that the space habitat will need nearly seven days to fully inflate after reaching its destination. According to the report, the company has been discussing the project with billionaire Elon Musk’s SpaceX with the aim of booking a slot for the mission. (With inputs from agencies)

House for astronauts? Indian startup discusses launch of 'space habitat' by 2027 with SpaceX

Explore an innovation dedicated to assisting individuals with mobility impairments, particularly addressing the challenges faced by wheelchair users when navigating new locations. This Indian startup presents a solution, empowering differently-abled individuals with the freedom to move independently. Tune in for the full story.

Wheelchairs that turn into electric vehicles

<p>The Indian startup ecosystem is currently experiencing a challenging funding landscape as we reach the halfway point of 2023. Global uncertainty, economic fragility, and a freeze on venture capital investments have combined to create a significant hurdle for these innovative companies. With the total value of VC investments barely reaching $4 billion between January and June, a five-fold decrease compared to the previous year, startups are finding it increasingly difficult to secure the necessary funding for growth and development, CNBC reported.</p>

<p><strong>Funding Drought and Tech Downturn</strong></p>

<p>Since mid-2022, the funding well has been running dry for Indian startups, marking the end of an era of easy money. This trend has become more apparent as Q2 of 2023 records the worst quarter in the last three years, highlighting a significant decline in funding. In fact, June 2023 hit a 34-month low, as per CNBC, reflecting the severity of the funding shortage. Both early-stage and growth-stage companies are affected, but growth-stage firms struggling to achieve profitability face the greatest challenges in securing investment.</p>

<p><strong>Investor Scrutiny and Changing Landscape</strong></p>

<p>Venture capitalists have become increasingly cautious and meticulous, scrutinising startups right from the entry stage. This rigorous approach has prompted concerns surrounding corporate governance, product-market fit, and unit economics. While seed and Series A investments remain relatively accessible, Series B and subsequent funding rounds have become increasingly challenging to secure. This has left growth-stage and late-stage companies in a precarious position, heavily reliant on a substantial capital runway to sustain their operations.</p>

<p><strong>Sectors and Investors</strong></p>

<p>The funding shortage has impacted startups across sectors, but certain industries have shown more resilience. E-commerce continues to lead in funding, while enterprise tech and software-as-a-service (SaaS) startups have attracted considerable interest. Artificial intelligence and machine learning startups hold the third position, reflecting the influence of the Chat GPT revolution. However, being an AI startup is no longer sufficient; venture capitalists now demand a strong business model and defensibility to ensure long-term success. Notably, climate tech startups in the electric vehicle (EV) sector have managed to secure over $1 billion in investments, with companies like Ola Electric leading the way. However, such deals have become scarcer, and the emergence of new unicorns has stalled.</p>

<p><strong>Global Comparison and Hope for Recovery</strong></p>

<p>While the Indian startup ecosystem faces funding challenges, India ranks globally among the top three funded geographies, trailing only the United States and the United Kingdom. Although the global decline in funding has had an impact, there is a silver lining, as India's position reflects investor confidence in its potential.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With Inputs from Agencies)</em></p>


The Indian startup ecosystem is currently experiencing a challenging funding landscape as we reach the halfway point of 2023. Global uncertainty, economic fragility, and a freeze on venture capital investments have combined to create a significant hurdle for these innovative companies.

The Indian startup ecosystem is currently experiencing a challenging funding landscape as we reach the halfway point of 2023. Global uncertainty, economic fragility, and a freeze on venture capital investments have combined to create a significant hurdle for these innovative companies. With the total value of VC investments barely reaching $4 billion between January and June, a five-fold decrease compared to the previous year, startups are finding it increasingly difficult to secure the necessary funding for growth and development, CNBC reported. Funding Drought and Tech Downturn Since mid-2022, the funding well has been running dry for Indian startups, marking the end of an era of easy money. This trend has become more apparent as Q2 of 2023 records the worst quarter in the last three years, highlighting a significant decline in funding. In fact, June 2023 hit a 34-month low, as per CNBC, reflecting the severity of the funding shortage. Both early-stage and growth-stage companies are affected, but growth-stage firms struggling to achieve profitability face the greatest challenges in securing investment. Investor Scrutiny and Changing Landscape Venture capitalists have become increasingly cautious and meticulous, scrutinising startups right from the entry stage. This rigorous approach has prompted concerns surrounding corporate governance, product-market fit, and unit economics. While seed and Series A investments remain relatively accessible, Series B and subsequent funding rounds have become increasingly challenging to secure. This has left growth-stage and late-stage companies in a precarious position, heavily reliant on a substantial capital runway to sustain their operations. Sectors and Investors The funding shortage has impacted startups across sectors, but certain industries have shown more resilience. E-commerce continues to lead in funding, while enterprise tech and software-as-a-service (SaaS) startups have attracted considerable interest. Artificial intelligence and machine learning startups hold the third position, reflecting the influence of the Chat GPT revolution. However, being an AI startup is no longer sufficient; venture capitalists now demand a strong business model and defensibility to ensure long-term success. Notably, climate tech startups in the electric vehicle (EV) sector have managed to secure over $1 billion in investments, with companies like Ola Electric leading the way. However, such deals have become scarcer, and the emergence of new unicorns has stalled. Global Comparison and Hope for Recovery While the Indian startup ecosystem faces funding challenges, India ranks globally among the top three funded geographies, trailing only the United States and the United Kingdom. Although the global decline in funding has had an impact, there is a silver lining, as India's position reflects investor confidence in its potential. (With Inputs from Agencies)

Funding Freefall: Indian startups take a dive in 2023

<p><meta name="uuid" content="uuidIlOLRDuxayM3" /><meta charset="utf-8" /></p>

<p>Whilst COVID-19 emerged to spell doom for the global economy back in 2019, it induced a golden period for the Indian startup ecosystem. Indian companies suddenly became the favourites of global investors as they kept pouring in massive funding incessantly. It’s evident from the fact that Indian startups raised $13.2 billion in funding in 2019 and $10.9 billion in 2020. Then, 2021 turned out to be a ‘year of unicorns’ for the Indian economy, which saw Indian startups raising a record $35.2 billion in funding and producing at least 34 unicorn startups.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, the golden period seems to have come to a grinding halt now. Just two years down the line, the Indian startup ecosystem is facing a grave funding crisis. To put things in perspective, Indian companies have raised a mere $2 billion in the first quarter of 2023. This amount is 75 per cent lower than the same period last year, as per Reuters.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Private equity and venture capital funding have also seen a drop of 60 per cent during the Q4 of FY23. At this miserable run rate, Indian companies might end this year with just $10 billion in funding, far less than $35.2 billion in 2021 and $20 billion in 2022. Experts say the Indian economy won’t see a repeat of the 2021-like funding boom in the coming decade.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Reasons behind the funding crisis</strong></h2>

<p>Both global as well domestic factors have triggered the dry funding spell for Indian companies. High interest rates, inflation, the banking crisis and the global economic slowdown have left global investors anxious. It must be noted that Indian startups have raised the majority of their capital from foreign investors only, so global factors directly impact the funding climate in India.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Central banks around the world have resorted to increasing interest rates to tackle inflation; however, this has ratcheted up the borrowing cost. Adding to that, the banking crisis in the US has further tightened liquidity. The imminent recession in Western countries has further exacerbated the woes of global investors. It’s speculated that the US economy, along with Germany and UK, will enter recession in FY24.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Domestic factors that have led to the funding crunch</strong></h2>

<p>On the other hand, there are also some domestic factors to blame. Of all, the biggest factor is the faltering consumption growth in India. As per a report by Indian VC firm Blume Ventures, the consumption growth in India is driven by a “tiny superuser set.” Consumption outside the top layer of 30 million households has actually dropped sharply. As a result of this, the target market for Indian startups has reduced to a mere 100 million people, below 10 per cent of India’s total population of 1.4 billion.</p>

<p>Moreover, global investors are fast realising the fact that many Indian startups which they funded earlier were massively overvalued. For instance, Blackrock cut the valuation of Indian EdTech company&nbsp;<em>Byju’s</em>&nbsp;by half from $22 billion to $11.15 billion. Similarly,&nbsp;<em>Swiggy</em>’s valuation was also slashed by a quarter by Invesco. Investors are waiting for further correction in the valuations of Indian companies. For example, Softbank has steered clear of Indian companies during the last year after leading the funding boom in earlier years.</p>

<p><strong>Watch</strong>:&nbsp;<strong>Gravitas Plus: Why are Indian Startups struggling?</strong></p>

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<p>According to SME futures, the slowdown in funding activity can also be attributed to the changed norms for foreign direct investment (FDI) introduced by the government of India in 2020. This has led to confusion among several foreign investors, making it even more difficult for Indian fund-seekers to raise capital from international VC firms.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Rachit Poddar, Co-Founder of IVY Growth Associates, was quoted by SEM Futures as saying, “One of the main challenges that Indian start-ups face when seeking foreign investment is a lack of understanding of the Indian market by foreign investors. Additionally, regulatory hurdles and the complexity of the Indian tax system can be deterrents for foreign investors.”</p>

<h2><strong>Indian government must do more</strong></h2>

<p>Although the Indian government has launched several programmes to shore up the Indian startup ecosystem, such as the Start-up India Programme and the Fund of Funds for Start-ups; experts believe that might not be enough. There is still much to be done to make regulations simpler, lower administrative barriers, and encourage investors to fund early-stage start-ups. The government needs to work towards promoting private investment in startups.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/indias-biggest-startup-scandal-how-one-event-in-indias-noida-scarred-indias-entrepreneurial-ambitions-578023">‘Biggest startup scandal’: How one event in India’s Noida scarred India’s entrepreneurial ambitions</a></strong></p>

<p>Despite all odds, it remains a fact that the Indian economy continues to be a bright spot in a world fast slipping into economic turmoil. As per projections made by IMF, India and China will contribute half of the global growth in FY24. India remains the world’s fastest-growing major economy, which is expected to grow at 6.8 per cent in the ongoing fiscal year. As relations between China and the West continue to deteriorate due to geopolitical tensions, India will clearly emerge as the only promising investment destination for international VC firms.&nbsp;</p>

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Whilst COVID-19 emerged to spell doom for the global economy back in 2019, it induced a golden period for the Indian startup ecosystem. Indian companies suddenly became the favourites of global investors as they kept pouring in massive funding incessantly.

Whilst COVID-19 emerged to spell doom for the global economy back in 2019, it induced a golden period for the Indian startup ecosystem. Indian companies suddenly became the favourites of global investors as they kept pouring in massive funding incessantly. It’s evident from the fact that Indian startups raised $13.2 billion in funding in 2019 and $10.9 billion in 2020. Then, 2021 turned out to be a ‘year of unicorns’ for the Indian economy, which saw Indian startups raising a record $35.2 billion in funding and producing at least 34 unicorn startups. However, the golden period seems to have come to a grinding halt now. Just two years down the line, the Indian startup ecosystem is facing a grave funding crisis. To put things in perspective, Indian companies have raised a mere $2 billion in the first quarter of 2023. This amount is 75 per cent lower than the same period last year, as per Reuters. Private equity and venture capital funding have also seen a drop of 60 per cent during the Q4 of FY23. At this miserable run rate, Indian companies might end this year with just $10 billion in funding, far less than $35.2 billion in 2021 and $20 billion in 2022. Experts say the Indian economy won’t see a repeat of the 2021-like funding boom in the coming decade. Reasons behind the funding crisis Both global as well domestic factors have triggered the dry funding spell for Indian companies. High interest rates, inflation, the banking crisis and the global economic slowdown have left global investors anxious. It must be noted that Indian startups have raised the majority of their capital from foreign investors only, so global factors directly impact the funding climate in India. Central banks around the world have resorted to increasing interest rates to tackle inflation; however, this has ratcheted up the borrowing cost. Adding to that, the banking crisis in the US has further tightened liquidity. The imminent recession in Western countries has further exacerbated the woes of global investors. It’s speculated that the US economy, along with Germany and UK, will enter recession in FY24. Domestic factors that have led to the funding crunch On the other hand, there are also some domestic factors to blame. Of all, the biggest factor is the faltering consumption growth in India. As per a report by Indian VC firm Blume Ventures, the consumption growth in India is driven by a “tiny superuser set.” Consumption outside the top layer of 30 million households has actually dropped sharply. As a result of this, the target market for Indian startups has reduced to a mere 100 million people, below 10 per cent of India’s total population of 1.4 billion. Moreover, global investors are fast realising the fact that many Indian startups which they funded earlier were massively overvalued. For instance, Blackrock cut the valuation of Indian EdTech company Byju’s by half from $22 billion to $11.15 billion. Similarly, Swiggy’s valuation was also slashed by a quarter by Invesco. Investors are waiting for further correction in the valuations of Indian companies. For example, Softbank has steered clear of Indian companies during the last year after leading the funding boom in earlier years. Watch: Gravitas Plus: Why are Indian Startups struggling? × According to SME futures, the slowdown in funding activity can also be attributed to the changed norms for foreign direct investment (FDI) introduced by the government of India in 2020. This has led to confusion among several foreign investors, making it even more difficult for Indian fund-seekers to raise capital from international VC firms. Rachit Poddar, Co-Founder of IVY Growth Associates, was quoted by SEM Futures as saying, “One of the main challenges that Indian start-ups face when seeking foreign investment is a lack of understanding of the Indian market by foreign investors. Additionally, regulatory hurdles and the complexity of the Indian tax system can be deterrents for foreign investors.” Indian government must do more Although the Indian government has launched several programmes to shore up the Indian startup ecosystem, such as the Start-up India Programme and the Fund of Funds for Start-ups; experts believe that might not be enough. There is still much to be done to make regulations simpler, lower administrative barriers, and encourage investors to fund early-stage start-ups. The government needs to work towards promoting private investment in startups. Also Read | ‘Biggest startup scandal’: How one event in India’s Noida scarred India’s entrepreneurial ambitions Despite all odds, it remains a fact that the Indian economy continues to be a bright spot in a world fast slipping into economic turmoil. As per projections made by IMF, India and China will contribute half of the global growth in FY24. India remains the world’s fastest-growing major economy, which is expected to grow at 6.8 per cent in the ongoing fiscal year. As relations between China and the West continue to deteriorate due to geopolitical tensions, India will clearly emerge as the only promising investment destination for international VC firms. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Explained: Why are foreign investors no longer funding Indian startups? 

Is India's Startup boom slowing down? From Byju's to Ola to Meesho, Unicorns in Indiaare on a firing spree. They're revising their growth projections & executing cost-cutting measures. Why? What went wrong? Priyanka Sharma explains on Gravitas Plus.

Gravitas Plus: Why are Indian Startups struggling?

Byju's, the India's startup is now in the news for all the bad reasons and for its mounting troubles. There has been a lot brewing lately at the Bangalore headquartered EdTech unicorn Byju's. The company has been facing a series of allegations recently pertaining to its finances.

Edtech Unicorn Byju's denies allegations of finance troubles, mass layoffs

Let's talk about an ecosystem that evolved rapidly - India's unicorn club. With their disruptive business models, many Indian startups have raked in millions of dollars in funding. They have witnessed a massive surge in valuation, but many of them are now struggling. Watch this video to know more.

Are Indian startups bracing for a tough future?

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