Aum Ventures has led a ₹17 crore funding round in OXG Space, a Bengaluru-based SpaceTech startup developing edge cell towers in orbit for Earth-observation (EO) satellites. The round was backed by India Innovation Fund II and also saw participation from Pawan Kumar Chandana and Bharath Daka, co-founders of Skyroot Aerospace, and Dr. Chiran Phanindra, founder of Cosmoserve.
OXG Space is building an orbital network that combines connectivity inspired by 5G non-terrestrial networks (NTN) with in-orbit computing. The system is designed to enable Earth-observation data to be relayed, processed and combined in space before being delivered to the ground as actionable intelligence in near-real time.
Addressing Delays in Earth-Observation Data
Earth-observation satellites capture valuable imagery and data used across defence, intelligence and commercial applications. However, much of this information remains stored onboard until a satellite passes over a ground station, delaying the delivery of insights.
According to the company, the journey from observation to insight typically takes between four and 12 hours. Even with premium ground-station access, satellites remain out of contact for approximately 74% of each day, while up to 90% of collected data can be unusable.
Traditional approaches to addressing these limitations have their own constraints. Ground stations cannot be established everywhere, particularly over oceans and remote regions, while installing processing equipment on individual satellites increases power and mass requirements and limits analysis to data collected by that satellite.
OXG Space aims to address these challenges through shared orbital nodes that maintain connectivity with customer satellites and combine data from multiple sources in space. By moving connectivity and computing closer to where the data is generated, the company seeks to reduce delays between observation and decision-making.
Focus on Defence and Intelligence Applications
The need for faster Earth-observation intelligence is particularly significant in defence and national security. India is expanding its sovereign space-based surveillance capabilities across optical, radar and signals-intelligence satellites.
The effectiveness of these systems can improve when information from multiple sensors is combined and used to direct further observations in near-real time. However, when data fusion depends on ground-based processing after satellite contact, the resulting delays can limit operational value.
OXG Space’s orbital infrastructure is designed to support this process by enabling persistent connectivity and in-orbit data processing. The company is targeting both India’s sovereign space programmes and international satellite operators seeking faster access to Earth-observation intelligence.
Mission Synapse to Demonstrate Core Technologies
The fresh capital will support Mission Synapse, OXG Space’s 12-month programme to demonstrate its core technologies in orbit.
The programme will focus on three key components:
- Ka-band phased-array antenna: Targeting an initial link capacity in the 1 Gbps class, with a roadmap towards 64 Gbps per spacecraft.
- Deployable mesh reflector: Designed to support the satellite’s ground-link requirements.
- Scalable deployable solar array: Intended to power the in-orbit computing and communications payloads.
Together, these technologies are expected to form the foundation of OXG Space’s orbital connectivity and computing network. The programme is aimed at demonstrating the capabilities required to relay and process Earth-observation data in orbit before delivering intelligence to ground-based users.
Founded by Former ISRO Engineers
OXG Space was founded by Akash Shetty and Sanjay Gorur, former ISRO engineers with more than 17 years of combined experience across India’s space programmes.
Their experience includes work on large deployable mesh reflector antennas and spacecraft systems for Chandrayaan-2 and Chandrayaan-3. Akash Shetty is an alumnus of BITS Pilani and INSEAD, while Sanjay Gorur studied at the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST), Thiruvananthapuram.
The founders believe that improving Earth-observation data delivery requires a shift from expanding ground infrastructure to building connectivity and computing capabilities directly in orbit.
Commenting on the company’s approach, Akash Shetty and Sanjay Gorur, co-founders of OXG Space, said that conventional solutions focused on increasing downlink capacity and ground-station infrastructure do not fully address the geometric constraints of satellite communication. They added that placing network and computing infrastructure in orbit could allow operators to reach satellites more consistently and act on observations while they remain relevant.
Aum Ventures Strengthens Its SpaceTech Portfolio
Aum Ventures invests in pre-seed and seed-stage deeptech companies developing intellectual-property-led, innovation-driven businesses with global ambitions. Its investment focus spans SpaceTech, semiconductors, DefenceTech, artificial intelligence, robotics, advanced manufacturing and energy transition.
The firm has previously backed SpaceTech companies including Skyroot Aerospace, Cosmoserve, Sanyark Space, Gimbal Space and Helogen. It is currently raising its ₹750 crore India Innovation Fund II.
Chetan Mehta, founding partner of Aum Ventures, said that the rapid growth of Earth-observation constellations has increased the need to turn satellite data into intelligence more quickly. He described OXG Space’s combination of in-orbit connectivity and computing as a missing layer in the space infrastructure stack, with potential applications across India’s sovereign programmes and global satellite operations.
The investment reflects Aum Ventures’ focus on supporting Indian deeptech companies developing technology-intensive solutions for global markets.
Building the Next Layer of Space Infrastructure
With the ₹17 crore round, OXG Space plans to advance Mission Synapse and demonstrate the technologies required for its proposed orbital network. Its approach aims to shift part of the Earth-observation data processing workflow from ground infrastructure to space, potentially reducing delays and enabling information from multiple satellites to be combined more efficiently.
As satellite constellations expand and demand for timely intelligence grows, infrastructure that combines persistent connectivity with in-orbit computing could become an important component of future space systems. OXG Space is positioning itself in this emerging segment, with an initial focus on Earth-observation, defence and commercial satellite operators.
By : Vanshika Tayal
