Bengaluru-based space-tech startup Astrogate Labs has raised $1.3 million in pre-Series funding led by Piper Serica Angel Fund. The fresh capital will be utilized to accelerate the development of its laser communication terminals for space, expand its use cases in terrestrial and airborne applications, scale operations, and strengthen partnerships with space agencies and defense organizations.
Founded by Nitish Singh, Yogeshwaran J, and Subhajit Chakraborty, Astrogate Labs is working towards transforming satellite communications with laser-based technology. The company has previously secured funding from Speciale Invest, SatSure, and Anicut Capital, which supported the early development of its cutting-edge solutions.
Nitish Singh, Founding Team & CEO of Astrogate Labs, said,
“This funding is a significant milestone in our growth trajectory, and we’re excited to have Piper Serica on-board. Laser-comm systems are rapidly gaining market traction for their unmatched throughput and efficiency. This capital will help us scale our solutions for additional use-cases in terrestrial mobile and air links.”
Astrogate Labs has earned recognition for its innovations, including being a winner of DRDO Dare to Dream 4.0 and graduating from the Seraphim Space Accelerator APAC Program in 2023. The company’s technology addresses a critical challenge in satellite communication, particularly in handling the growing data downlink demand from smallsat constellations. With over 25,000 small satellites expected to be in orbit by 2030, traditional radio frequency (RF) systems face bandwidth limitations and spectrum congestion. Astrogate’s laser communication technology offers a scalable alternative with high-speed data transmission of up to 10 Gbps and secure communication capabilities.
The company has also successfully demonstrated its indigenously developed laser-comm terminal for secure ship-to-ship communications, showcasing its potential in defense applications.
Abhay Agarwal, Founder of Piper Serica Angel Fund, expressed his optimism about the space economy, stating,
“We expect the space economy to develop at a rapid pace. We are delighted to back an amazing team of founders at Astrogate who have spent years developing a highly innovative solution that is being eagerly welcomed by early customers. We expect the laser-based communication to be a game changer for critical sectors, across the world, that are using space-based solutions. Overall, we are quite bullish on the SpaceTech space and will be soon investing in three more startups by end of April this year.”