SatLeo Labs raises US$3.3 million to fuel India’s thermal space tech

30 Apr 2025 CW Team

The funding will be used to accelerate the development of SatLeo Labs’ proprietary thermal imaging payload, conduct key feasibility studies, and secure regulatory approvals. It will also support team expansion, infrastructure setup, and pilot testing to validate the company’s technology and strengthen industry partnerships.

“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,” said Shravan Bhati, Co-founder & CEO of SatLeo Labs.

“Earth Observation (EO) data is projected to exceed USD 700 billion by 2030, contributing USD 3.8 trillion to global GDP. Beyond economics, thermal EO can help cut 2 Gigatonnes of GHG emissions annually and drive nature-positive action,” added Urmil Bakhai, Co-founder & CSO.

Dr. Ranendu Ghosh, Co-founder & CTO, stated, “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.”

SatLeo Labs has already secured over USD 25 million in Letters of Intent (LOIs) from potential clients. With an experienced team, including former ISRO scientists, and collaborations with ISRO and IN-SPACe, the startup is well-positioned to disrupt the geospatial analytics sector with its cutting-edge thermal imaging technology.

“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.

SatLeo Labs aims to launch its first thermal imaging satellite soon, strengthening India’s position in commercial space technology and targeting global markets.

SatLeo Labs, a space-tech startup focused on capturing high-resolution thermal and visible data from Low Earth Orbit (LEO), has raised USD 3.3 million in its pre-seed funding round. The round was led by Merak Ventures, with participation from Huddle Ventures, GVFL, Java Capital, IIMA Ventures, PointOne Capital, and angel investors Manish Gandhi and Dheer Baldua. The funding will be used to accelerate the development of SatLeo Labs’ proprietary thermal imaging payload, conduct key feasibility studies, and secure regulatory approvals. It will also support team expansion, infrastructure setup, and pilot testing to validate the company’s technology and strengthen industry partnerships. “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,” said Shravan Bhati, Co-founder & CEO of SatLeo Labs. “Earth Observation (EO) data is projected to exceed USD 700 billion by 2030, contributing USD 3.8 trillion to global GDP. Beyond economics, thermal EO can help cut 2 Gigatonnes of GHG emissions annually and drive nature-positive action,” added Urmil Bakhai, Co-founder & CSO. Dr. Ranendu Ghosh, Co-founder & CTO, stated, “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.” SatLeo Labs has already secured over USD 25 million in Letters of Intent (LOIs) from potential clients. With an experienced team, including former ISRO scientists, and collaborations with ISRO and IN-SPACe, the startup is well-positioned to disrupt the geospatial analytics sector with its cutting-edge thermal imaging technology. “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. SatLeo Labs aims to launch its first thermal imaging satellite soon, strengthening India’s position in commercial space technology and targeting global markets.

Infrastructure Transport

17 Sep 2025

Gurgaon-Pataudi-Rewari Highway Set for Completion by December 2025

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has set a new target to complete the four-lane Gurgaon-Pataudi-Rewari highway by December 2025, following a two-year delay.Originally planned in 2018 to upgrade the two-lane state highway into a national highway, the project is estimated to cost Rs 9 billion. Construction, which began in 2021, was initially scheduled for completion in November 2023. According to NHAI, around 70 per cent of the work is already complete, with two major structures still pending: a railway overbridge at Pahari village and a two-lane unidirectional flyover on Dwarka E..

Infrastructure Transport

17 Sep 2025

UP Plans Rs 900 Million Extensions to Hindon Elevated Road

The Uttar Pradesh state bridge corporation has prepared the detailed project report and cost estimates for two proposed extensions of the 10.3-km Hindon elevated road, officials said on Thursday. The road connects Raj Nagar Extension to UP-Gate near the east Delhi border, and the project is expected to cost around Rs 900 million.The two extensions, each 400 metres long, will be added to the existing elevated road to ensure smoother traffic flow. “One of the extensions will be from near the Kanawani culvert (near Indirapuram) to the elevated road for commuters heading towards Delhi. The other..

Infrastructure Urban

17 Sep 2025

Goa Likely to Miss October Deadline for Maritime Master Plan

Goa is expected to miss the October 31 deadline for submitting its maritime and waterways master plan, which covers the state’s 105 km coastline and river network. The delay is due to the project management consultant not yet being appointed. The plan is now anticipated to be completed by December, Captain of Ports Octavio Rodrigues stated at the India Maritime Week 2025 roadshow.“We have already selected the consultant and will bring them on board within a week. Only then can we begin drafting the master plan, which is essential to secure central government funding,” Rodrigues added.A c..