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Deepinder Goyal in talks to invest $1M in drone startup Kalam Labs
Zomato founder may join $5–7M funding round for stratospheric UAV developer
MUMBAI: Zomato founder Deepinder Goyal is reportedly in advanced discussions to invest around $1 million (Rs 9 crore) of his personal wealth in Kalam Labs, a Lucknow-based startup developing near-space drones. The company is currently raising a larger funding round estimated between $5 million and $7 million, according to reports.
Founded in 2018 by BITS Pilani graduates Harshit Awasthi, Sashakt Tripathi and Ahmad Faraaz, Kalam Labs initially started as an educational technology platform before pivoting to the aerospace and defence sector. The company now focuses on developing advanced unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) designed for high-altitude operations.
The startup’s drones are designed to operate in the stratosphere, significantly higher than typical commercial UAVs. According to the founders, the drones have minimal thermal signatures and low radar cross-sections, making them difficult to detect. They also claim the systems can deliver capabilities comparable to mini fighter jets while maintaining the manufacturing costs of traditional drones.
Investor interest in India’s drone and defence technology sector has grown in recent years, particularly as autonomous systems gain strategic importance in modern security operations.
Kalam Labs has already attracted backing from venture capital firms including Lightspeed Venture Partners and Y Combinator. The startup also gained wider visibility after appearing on Shark Tank India, where it secured investment from Aman Gupta, and through a technical collaboration for the aerial action film Fighter.
The potential investment reflects Goyal’s increasing focus on frontier technologies through his personal investments. He has backed several ventures across space, aerospace, health, and hardware innovation.
His notable investments include Pixxel, a space technology company where he reportedly invested $25–30 million, Temple, a wearable technology startup that recently raised $54 million from Vy Capital and others, LAT Aerospace, focused on specialised aviation engineering, and Continue, a research-driven venture exploring longevity and human health.
The ongoing funding round for Kalam Labs is also expected to include participation from Globaz Technologies, as the startup looks to scale its manufacturing capacity and research and development capabilities.
Brands
Abhinav Rastogi named global marketing director for YouTube Shopping
Google veteran to scale creator commerce and expand shopping across global markets
SINGAPORE: Abhinav Rastogi has stepped into a new role as global marketing director for YouTube Shopping, marking the latest chapter in a more than decade-long career at Google.
Rastogi, who took on the position in February and is based in Singapore, will lead global marketing for YouTube Shopping, a platform designed to connect creators, viewers and merchants in a single ecosystem. His remit includes expanding the service into new markets and strengthening its positioning as a growth channel for both creators and brands.
In a reflective note on the transition, Rastogi pointed to a simple but powerful idea driving the role. For years, creators have quietly built trust with audiences through consistent and authentic content, and that trust often shapes purchasing decisions. What is changing now, he said, is the infrastructure around that behaviour. YouTube Shopping aims to make it easier for viewers to discover and buy products recommended by creators they already follow.
The scale is already significant. More than half a million creators have joined the programme, with recent expansion into Japan through a partnership with Rakuten signalling further global ambitions.
Rastogi believes the future of shopping on YouTube will be driven by a blend of creators, content and communities. In his view, it is the human voice behind the screen, not just the product, that ultimately builds trust and drives discovery.
Prior to this role, he served as director of marketing, YouTube Asia Pacific, where he led regional marketing across creator engagement, brand building and reputation. During that time, he played a key role in launching and scaling YouTube Shopping across eight markets in the region.
Earlier stints at Google include group product marketing manager, consumer apps, overseeing growth for products such as Search, Maps and Assistant across India and Southeast Asia, and product marketing manager roles spanning consumer apps and YouTube, where he contributed to launches including YouTube Music, YouTube Originals and YouTube Shorts.
Rastogi began his career in consulting with Boston Consulting Group and A.T. Kearney, before moving into the technology sector. He is an alumnus of Indian Institute of Management Calcutta and Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur.
Alongside his corporate role, he is also an active angel investor, backing early-stage startups in consumer technology and electric mobility across India and Southeast Asia.
As he settles into the new role, Rastogi is betting on a future where every video can double up as a storefront, and where commerce feels less like a transaction and more like a recommendation from a trusted voice.
