Spacetech In 2026, Astrotalk’s Ecommerce Engine & More

The 2026 Rule Book For Spacetechs

Indian spacetech startups had a breakout 2025. The sector transcended government-led missions, funding soared, policy push continued, and cost advantage attracted global demand. Now that we have entered 2026, what’s in store for India’s cosmic ambitions?

Proof Over Promise: The era of raising funding on engineering potential alone is ending. In 2026, capital will become increasingly selective, and the focus will shift toward ‘commercial validation’. As a result, spacetech players will be required to demonstrate that they can generate consistent, near-term revenue.

Who Will Get Funded? The investor interest in 2026 will likely crystallise around three high-pull segments – low earth orbit (LEO) technologies, earth-observation data platforms, and cost-efficient launch services for small satellites. These segments will attract the lion’s share of funding this year due to faster deployment cycles and immediate applications.

The Execution Milestone: Execution will become the primary metric of success in 2026. Investors will track concrete operational milestones such as launch cadence, payload success rates, and the ability to secure multi-year commercial contracts. Startups that can prove operational readiness will be the ones that will carve a niche.

The year will also mark a critical phase in which India’s cost and engineering advantage will need to scale up. Industry insiders foresee that the challenge for spacetech startups in 2026 will be converting price advantage into global market share. They also want the ecosystem to move from small-scale experimentation to high-volume manufacturing and downstream monetisation. 

So, can Indian spacetech startups transition from being experimental to profitable? Let’s find out…

From The Editor’s Desk

Astrotalk’s Ecommerce Bet Pays Off 

• The spiritual tech startup’s ecommerce arm, AstroTalk Store, clocked INR 140 Cr in revenue within 12 months of its launch. The platform hit INR 20 Cr in monthly run rate, selling gemstones, Rudraksha and bracelets.
• The startup attributes the surge to the vertical’s independent operations, high repeat rates, skeletal staff and strong demand from Tier II and III cities. 
• With an offline outlet in Delhi NCR and an upcoming international store in the US, the ecommerce platform is also mirroring the phygital playbook of consumer services giants to validate trust in high-consideration spiritual purchases.

Shadowfax’s INR 856 Cr Anchor Round

• Ahead of its IPO, the logistics unicorn has raised INR 856 Cr from 39 anchor investors. The startup allocated 6.9 Cr equity shares at INR 124 each. 
• The startup’s Cr IPO opens today and closes on January 22. The public issue comprises a fresh issue of INR 1,000 Cr and an OFS of up to INR 907 Cr by Flipkart, Eight Roads, Qualcomm, and NewQuest.
• Founded in 2015, Shadowfax offers third-party logistics services to ecommerce and quick commerce platforms. At the upper end of its INR 118-124 price band, the IPO values the company at INR 7,168 Cr.

AssetPlus Nets INR 175 Cr

• The fintech major has raised $21 Mn in a round led by Nexus Venture Partners to upgrade mutual fund distribution tech, expand product suite and deepen its wealth management solutions.
• Founded in 2016, AssetPlus offers digital tools that enable financial advisors to distribute mutual funds, insurance, NPS and other financial products. It claims to have onboarded over 18,000 distributors so far, who manage more than INR 7,250 Cr in AUM.
• AssetPlus operates in the broader Indian wealthtech segment, which is projected to grow to $95 Bn by FY30 on the back of an expanding investor base, rising SIPs and the digitisation of tier-II advisory services.

Jio’s $4 Bn IPO Countdown Begins

• A senior Reliance executive has confirmed that Jio Platforms’ IPO could happen within months. The only roadblock appears to be the pending regulatory nod for slashing minimum dilution to 2.5% for firms with INR 50,000 Cr+ mcap.
• This follows SEBI chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey confirming that the Centre had approval for minimum dilution cuts.
• Last year, Reliance MD Mukesh Ambani confirmed that Jio would hit the bourses by mid-2026. While a listing was teased back in 2019, Reliance strategically delayed the launch to scale its digital ecosystem. 

RBI’s BRICS CBDC Bet

• The Reserve Bank of India has proposed interconnecting the digital currencies of the BRICS member countries to simplify cross-border trade and travel payments among Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.
• Unified CBDC aims to overcome member hesitancy to adopt each other’s platforms, address governance issues, improve tech interoperability, and balance trade volumes.
• India’s CBDC adoption has grown to a mere 7 Mn retail users since going live in December 2022. The e-rupee adoption lags amid waning global interest in CBDCs and the RBI’s clampdown on cryptocurrencies. 

Inc42 Markets

Inc42 Startup Spotlight

Can Indrajaal Become India’s Frontline Defence Against Drone Threats?

Rogue drones can breach airspace undetected, threatening critical infrastructure across a vast area. Traditional defence systems are stationary and cover limited zones. Solving these vulnerabilities is Indrajaal’s AI-powered systems. 

Combat-Tested: Founded in 2023, Indrajaal builds AI-driven anti-drone systems that are capable of protecting areas up to 4,000 sq km against drone swarms and autonomous threats. Operation Sindoor validated its technology under live combat conditions, securing strategic installations like power plants and military sites.

Building Mobile Defence: Last year, it also unveiled Ranger, India’s first fully mobile, AI-powered anti-drone patrol vehicle. Unlike stationary systems, Ranger detects, tracks and neutralises hostile drones on the move via GNSS spoofing, RF jamming and spring-loaded kill switches. This enables urban patrols, border roads and critical corridor protection with real-time aerial threat response.

Scaling Steadily: Backed by India Accelerator and Finvolve, the startup recently pushed the pedal on order execution, regulatory certifications, product completion and team expansion. With this, the startup is eyeing a piece of the homegrown anti-drone market, which is projected to become a $496.7 Mn opportunity by 2031. Can Indrajaal scale fast enough to become India’s frontline defence against drone threats?

Infographic Of The Day

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