Kepler Aerospace secures $8 million seed funding for defence satellite push

MUMBAI: Bengaluru-based space infrastructure and mission operations company Kepler Aerospace has raised $8 million in a seed funding round led by Blue Ashva Capital and co-led by Finvolve India Accelerator and others.

The funding is the company’s first external investment since its founding in 2018 and will support the development and deployment of its space-based Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities, while scaling its Mission Operations as a Service and Avionics as a Service businesses.

Kepler has secured two IDEX prime contracts to provide swarming ISR constellations to India’s defence space ecosystem, supported by around $4 million in IDEX grants. A key use of the new funding will be the deployment of the first six swarming ISR satellites under these programmes.

The company is building an integrated space infrastructure stack spanning satellite systems, avionics, ground infrastructure, mission operations and intelligence delivery. Its Mission Operations as a Service platform serves nearly all Indian space companies and operates as the primary mission operator for several ISRO satellites.

Kepler operates a network of more than 70 ground stations, providing satellite communication, tracking, telemetry, command and mission operations capabilities.

The company was founded by Navneet Singh, founder and chief executive officer, and Kiran V. Sharma, co-founder and chief strategy officer. The founders first met at ISRO and bring experience across spacecraft systems and advanced space missions.

Over the next 12–24 months, Kepler plans to deploy its first six swarming ISR satellites, expand its mission and avionics-as-a-service businesses and strengthen its engineering capabilities. The company is also moving to a new facility and plans to add 40 employees to its existing team.