Indian IT giant Infosys made headlines with a strategic investment of Rs 17 crore (around $2 million) in Bengaluru-based spacetech startup GalaxEye, reflecting its deep commitment to driving technological innovation in India’s burgeoning space sector. This move, executed through the Infosys Innovation Fund, marks a significant milestone in the collaboration between deep tech startups and large IT corporations, as both seek to leverage each other’s strengths in emerging fields such as space technology and AI.
GalaxEye, founded in 2021 by a group of five IIT-Madras students and alumni, has been pioneering advanced multi-sensor satellite technology capable of collecting high-resolution data, even in adverse weather conditions. With applications spanning defense, agriculture, disaster management, urban planning, and beyond, this startup is quickly becoming a major player in India’s burgeoning space industry. The investment is expected to accelerate GalaxEye’s ambitious plans to launch its first satellite, the Drishti Mission, by 2025 and advance its multi-sensor technology to serve a wide range of industries.
GalaxEye’s Vision and Technology
GalaxEye’s technological approach sets it apart in the competitive spacetech landscape. The company is developing multi-sensor satellites, integrating radar and optical imaging technology to provide high-resolution data for clients across industries. Unlike traditional satellite technology, which often struggles in adverse weather conditions, GalaxEye’s multi-sensor approach ensures all-weather, day-and-night data collection, providing uninterrupted coverage for critical operations.
This data is invaluable for a range of industries:
- Defense: The startup’s collaboration with ideaForge, a leading drone manufacturer, aims to equip drones with radar payloads, offering defense organizations improved surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities. This allows for real-time, detailed imaging in challenging environments where traditional drones may falter.
- Agriculture: Farmers can use the data provided by GalaxEye’s satellites to monitor crops, assess soil conditions, and predict yields with greater accuracy. The ability to gather precise, real-time information allows for more effective resource allocation and timely interventions.
- Disaster Management: In the event of natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes, or hurricanes, GalaxEye’s satellites will provide governments and humanitarian organizations with real-time imagery to assess damage, coordinate relief efforts, and plan rescues. This capability can be a game-changer in minimizing the impact of disasters and saving lives.
- Urban Planning: With growing cities and expanding infrastructure needs, urban planners can use GalaxEye’s data to track land use, monitor urban sprawl, and ensure sustainable development.
The company’s goal is to offer comprehensive data-as-a-service (DaaS) solutions that can transform decision-making processes across these industries. GalaxEye envisions a future where data-driven decisions are not only faster but more accurate, ultimately helping industries optimize resources, reduce costs, and improve outcomes.
Infosys’ Strategic Investment and Vision for Spacetech
Infosys’ Rs 17 crore investment in GalaxEye comes at a time when the spacetech industry is gaining tremendous momentum, both in India and globally. Through its Innovation Fund, Infosys has traditionally focused on startups in the AI and deep tech sectors, and the decision to invest in GalaxEye represents a calculated move into space technology. This investment will see Infosys acquiring a minority stake in the startup, less than 20%, a deal expected to be finalized by 30 September 2024.
Pravin Rao, Infosys’ Chief Operating Officer, emphasized that the company views the partnership as an opportunity to explore new solutions for clients across industries. By combining GalaxEye’s cutting-edge satellite technology with Infosys’ expertise in artificial intelligence and analytics, the collaboration aims to create innovative solutions that help clients with business transformation, particularly in areas requiring real-time, high-resolution data.
Infosys’ announcement highlighted the broader potential of space technology as a platform for creating global business solutions. The synergy between spacetech and AI, according to Infosys, could unlock a wide range of applications beyond traditional sectors like defense and agriculture, extending to fields like transportation, logistics, environmental monitoring, and financial services.
GalaxEye’s Journey: From IIT-Madras to a Global Space-Tech Player
GalaxEye’s journey began at IIT-Madras, where the founding team of students and alumni recognized the growing demand for reliable, all-weather satellite data across sectors. Founded in 2021, the startup quickly gained traction, not only for its technology but also for its ability to fill a critical gap in the market. The global demand for high-resolution satellite imagery has been increasing steadily, but existing solutions often face challenges in adverse weather conditions or during nighttime operations.
To tackle these limitations, GalaxEye’s team developed its multi-sensor technology, integrating radar and optical sensors on a single satellite platform. This innovation allows GalaxEye to offer a more comprehensive data set to its clients, regardless of environmental conditions.
In addition to its technological advancements, GalaxEye’s growth has been fueled by successful funding rounds. Most notably, the company secured $6.5 million in a pre-Series A round earlier in 2024, led by Mela Ventures and Speciale Invest, with participation from key industry players like ideaForge and Rainmatter. This round provided GalaxEye with the capital needed to develop its Drishti Mission, set to launch in 2025.
The Drishti Mission aims to be GalaxEye’s flagship satellite, demonstrating the company’s full technological capabilities. Once operational, the satellite will provide multi-sensor data for clients across the globe, establishing GalaxEye as a major player in the satellite imaging market.
The Future of Space Technology and India’s Role
The Indian space industry has been undergoing a rapid transformation, thanks to increased private sector participation, government support, and advancements in technology. India’s Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has long been a key player in space exploration, but the country’s spacetech ecosystem is now witnessing the rise of private players like GalaxEye that are pushing the boundaries of innovation.
Infosys’ investment in GalaxEye reflects the growing confidence in the Indian spacetech ecosystem, as well as the global demand for advanced space technology solutions. As space technology becomes increasingly intertwined with artificial intelligence, big data, and analytics, companies like Infosys and GalaxEye are well-positioned to lead the charge in developing solutions that help businesses make more informed, data-driven decisions.
Moreover, India’s spacetech industry is expected to grow exponentially in the coming years, supported by government initiatives like the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center (IN-SPACe) and SpaceCom Policy that aim to foster collaboration between private players and ISRO. These initiatives provide a fertile ground for startups like GalaxEye to innovate, expand, and export their technology to global markets.
GalaxEye’s Strategic Collaborations and Inorganic Growth Plans
GalaxEye’s collaboration with ideaForge on developing radar payloads for drones represents a significant step forward in its mission to deliver innovative solutions across sectors. These radar payloads will offer defense organizations enhanced surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities, while also supporting commercial applications in industries like agriculture and infrastructure development.
Additionally, GalaxEye’s Chief Strategy Officer, Abhishek Mishra, has outlined the company’s plans for inorganic growth, which include pursuing mergers and acquisitions with community-driven education platforms and other companies that can complement its existing capabilities. These strategic moves will help GalaxEye build a comprehensive space-based data ecosystem, offering end-to-end solutions for its clients.
Conclusion: Infosys and GalaxEye Pioneering Space-Tech Innovation
The Rs 17 crore investment by Infosys in GalaxEye represents more than just financial support—it symbolizes a strategic partnership aimed at transforming how industries use real-time satellite data. As GalaxEye continues to innovate and expand its technological offerings, Infosys’ backing provides the company with the resources it needs to scale operations and deliver cutting-edge solutions to its clients.
Looking forward, the collaboration between Infosys and GalaxEye is poised to drive next-generation solutions that will revolutionize decision-making across sectors, from defense and agriculture to urban planning and disaster management. As both companies continue to push the boundaries of AI, analytics, and space technology, the potential for creating new business opportunities and improving global outcomes is immense.
With the launch of the Drishti Mission in 2025 and continued investment in AI-driven space solutions, GalaxEye is on track to become a major player in the global spacetech industry, and Infosys’ strategic involvement will only strengthen its position as a leader in this transformative sector.