• Ahmedabad-based space-tech startup Orbitt Space has raised $1 million in a pre-seed round led by pi Ventures and IIMA Ventures.
  • Orbitt Space will allocate nearly 50% of its funds to hiring 8–10 core scientists and engineers, prioritizing candidates with ISRO experience.

In a pre-seed fundraising round managed by pi Ventures and including IIMA Ventures, Orbitt Space, a space-tech business based in Ahmedabad and created by a former ISRO scientist/engineer, has raised $1 million.

The $1 million that was raised will be carefully used for technological development and team building. About half of the funds would be used to hire 8–10 core scientists and engineers, with a focus on former ISRO employees with 4-6 years of expertise.

Founded in early 2025 by Christopher Parmar and Anupam Kumar, who bring ISRO-honed expertise in designing and developing high-reliability satellite systems, Orbitt Space is developing a next-generation satellite bus platform and a groundbreaking air-breathing electric propulsion system for Ultra Low Earth Orbit (ULEO) below 250 km altitude, an unexplored region due to high atmospheric drag and fuel constraints.

With over 40,000 tracked objects and an estimated 1.2 million smaller debris fragments that could cause collisions, Low Earth Orbit (LEO), where satellites currently operate largely, is quickly getting crowded and dangerous. ULEO offers a self-regulating solution to space debris by allowing satellites to naturally deorbit after their mission.

Orbitt has outlined a three-phase development timeline over the upcoming three years. The present phase focuses on developing prototypes and ground-testing them in preparation for the first space demonstration mission using PSLV’s Orbital Experimental Module (POEM) platform, which is scheduled for mid-2026.

“We love partnering with such audacious teams. Christopher and Anupam, welcome to the pi family! We can’t wait to see you redefine what’s possible above our planet!” said Pi Ventures on LinkedIn.
We’re thrilled to lead Orbitt Space’s $1 million pre-seed round, backing… | pi Ventures
We’re thrilled to lead Orbitt Space’s $1 million pre-seed round, backing Christopher Parmar and Anupam Kumar, former ISRO scientists on their mission to unlock ultra-low Earth orbit (ULEO) with next-gen satellite tech. Orbitt is building satellites that “breathe” the ultra-thin air up in low Earth orbit turning what used to be a drag into a lift. Their technology will enable sharper images, instant data communication, and round-the-clock climate monitoring all at a fraction of today’s cost. We love partnering with such audacious teams. Christopher and Anupam, welcome to the pi family! We can’t wait to see you redefine what’s possible above our planet! 🌏 🛸
LinkedInpi Ventures

By creating a new class of effective, sustainable space infrastructure and opening the door to a new era of continuous, high-resolution earth observation and faster data rates, the company hopes to lead India's foray into this developing orbital frontier and bolster its strategic capabilities.

Edited by Harshajit Sarmah