MAM
Scapia launches Leap Year to fund year-long global trip for two Indians
MUMBAI: Who says you can’t buy time? Scapia, India’s travel fintech disruptor, is offering two lucky Indians the chance to trade in deadlines for departure gates with The Leap Year, a fully funded, 12-month adventure spanning four continents. Think flights, stays, visas, a daily stipend, curated experiences, and even mentorship all covered.
The initiative reimagines the old-school “gap year” as a bold, purposeful leap into self-discovery. Open to all Indians aged 23 and above, including existing and future Scapia users, the contest requires applicants to upload a short video at scapia.cards/leapyear explaining what travel means to them and why they’re ready to take the plunge. The deadline is 31 August, with the two winners set to be revealed in September 2025.
To ensure authenticity, Scapia has roped in a diverse jury: celebrity chef Sarah Todd, solo traveller Aakanksha Monga, and storyteller Gaurav Sharma (Wanderda), alongside its own team. Their task? To select two individuals whose stories capture travel’s power to transform lives. The prize isn’t just sightseeing, winners will co-design their itineraries with Scapia, ensuring each journey reflects their passions and personal goals.
The campaign launches with a digital film reminding young Indians that “there’s never a perfect time to take the leap,” a message backed by a high-impact social push and teaser content designed to spark wanderlust. With over 7,500 plus pincodes already in its user base and a growing suite of credit and travel-first features from rewards to visa services Scapia isn’t just funding trips, it’s reframing travel as an investment in self. For the chosen pair, 2025 won’t just be another calendar year, it’ll be the leap of a lifetime.
Brands
SatLeo Labs raises $5.5m seed funding led by Unicorn India Ventures
Fresh capital to power thermal satellite mission and AI data platform
MUMBAI: SatLeo Labs has raised $2.2 million in a fresh seed round led by Unicorn India Ventures, taking its total funding to $5.5 million as it steps up efforts to scale its space-based thermal intelligence platform.
The funding round also saw participation from existing backers including Merak Ventures, Java Capital, IIMA-CIIE and deep-tech investor Manish Gandhi.
The capital will be used to accelerate SatLeo’s flagship thermal satellite mission and further develop its AI-powered platform designed to deliver high-resolution thermal and visible data from low Earth orbit. The company aims to turn this data into actionable insights for sectors ranging from climate monitoring to urban planning.
Over the past year, SatLeo has scaled rapidly, growing its team from 8 to 30 specialists across satellite engineering, thermal sensing and AI-led geospatial analytics. It has also achieved a key milestone with the development of its first experimental payload, TAPAS-1, which reached near flight-ready status within six months and is now positioned for launch.
On the ground, the startup has begun translating its technology into real-world use cases. Pilot projects in cities such as Ahmedabad and Tumakuru have focused on monitoring urban heat islands and air pollution, impacting over 400,000 citizens. At the same time, its commercial pipeline has expanded sharply, with letters of intent rising from around $15 million to over $42 million within a year.
SatLeo Labs co-founder and CEO Shravan Bhati said, “Sustainability has become imperative amid accelerating climate change and rapid urbanisation. This fundraise represents a critical milestone as we move into the execution phase of our next mission.”
He added that the company is focused on scaling its satellite constellation and enhancing payload performance to deliver thermal intelligence at a global level.
Backing the startup, Unicorn India Ventures managing partner Bhaskar Majumdar said, “Space is an arena where the next wave of technological innovation will emerge. SatLeo’s ability to combine thermal and visible satellite data into real-time insights positions it strongly for long-term growth.”
Looking ahead, SatLeo plans to focus on launch readiness, expanding commercial deployments and scaling its technology stack over the next 12 months.
As demand for climate and environmental intelligence grows, SatLeo’s latest fundraise signals rising investor confidence in space-tech solutions that bring data from orbit down to everyday decision-making.
