Bellatrix Aerospace, a Bengaluru-based spacetech startup, has raised $20 million (Rs 190 crore) in a funding round led by Cactus Partners as it aims to scale the commercial production of its satellite propulsion systems and expand global deliveries.
Additionally, the round attracted participation from Hero Investment Office, 35 North Ventures, Indusbridge Ventures, and Monarch Holdings. Existing investors, including Inflexor Ventures, Pavestone, GrowX Ventures, StartupXseed, and Survam Partners, also continued their support.
Founded in 2015, Bellatrix Aerospace develops electric and green propulsion systems for satellites. The company follows a vertically integrated model by managing design, manufacturing, and testing operations in-house, thereby ensuring greater control over quality and innovation.
Earlier, Bellatrix gained recognition after winning the Best on Campus award at the Economic Times Startup Awards 2020.
Commenting on the development, co-founder and CEO Rohan Ganapathy said the company has already flight-qualified its core technologies and is now focused on building a reliable production propulsion system. “This investment allows us to increase our annual production capacity significantly, ensuring we remain the most trusted partner for operators requiring propulsion at scale.”
Furthermore, Bellatrix plans to deploy the fresh capital to expand its manufacturing capacity and establish new production lines to meet the growing demand from satellite constellation operators in India and international markets. The funding will also support ongoing customer programmes.
Co-founder and COO Yashas Karanam highlighted the company’s progress, stating, “We’ve moved from flight-proven to factory-ready,” while adding that Bellatrix has reduced propulsion system lead times to under six months and improved unit economics.
The funding comes at a time when global demand for satellite propulsion systems continues to rise, driven by the rapid expansion of low-earth orbit satellite constellations. At the same time, several Indian and global startups are approaching key launch milestones, further accelerating demand for reliable propulsion technologies.
Sharing his perspective, Amit Sharma noted that Bellatrix represents a strong asset in the spacetech ecosystem. “Bellatrix is a unique asset with a robust history of space technology innovation. Rohan and Yashas have invested more than a decade in creating leading, cost-effective technologies for electric and green propulsion systems,” he said.
He further added that Bellatrix’s propulsion systems have the potential to de-risk a critical component of satellite missions, reinforcing its strategic importance in the global space industry.
As satellite deployments accelerate worldwide, the company’s focus on efficient and scalable propulsion systems could play a crucial role in shaping the future of space missions.
