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The Skyroot Aerospace Success Story is not just about rockets; it is about shattering the belief that space belongs only to governments. They said space was a sovereign monopoly. They said rockets were too complex, too dangerous, and too expensive for a startup in Hyderabad. In 2018, when most Indian founders were chasing 10-minute grocery delivery, Pawan Chandana and Bharath Daka were trying to defy gravity.
But they knew one secret: The “ISRO” Dividend.
While the world saw ISRO as a government giant, these two former scientists saw it as a university. They didn’t just leave the organization; they carried its DNA of “Frugal Engineering” into the private sector. They didn’t build a massive campus first; they built the Vikram-S—a rocket made of carbon composites, 3D-printed engines, and sheer audacity.
And on November 18, 2022, they silenced the skeptics.
As Mission Prarambh roared into the sky from Sriharikota, it wasn’t just a metal tube breaking the sound barrier; it was the shattering of a 50-year-old glass ceiling. India had officially entered the private space race.
Today, Skyroot isn’t just a startup; it is the flag-bearer of Deep Tech Bharat. With backing from global giants like GIC and Temasek, they are building the “Uber for Space”—an on-demand launch service for the thousands of small satellites waiting for a ride.
Is Skyroot the SpaceX of the East, or is the orbital leap to Vikram-1 their biggest test yet?
Let’s decode the Indicorn reality.
Skyroot
[Mission Prarambh Telemetry]The “ISRO Bridge” Strategy: Why Skyroot Won
Most deep-tech startups fail because they try to reinvent the wheel. Skyroot succeeded because they stood on the shoulders of giants. The founders, Pawan and Bharath, didn’t just “leave” ISRO; they leveraged the IN-SPACe policy to use ISRO’s launchpads and testing facilities.
Why does this matter? Building a launchpad costs millions. Testing a cryogenic engine costs millions more. By using existing national infrastructure, Skyroot turned a CAPEX-heavy industry into an OPEX-efficient model. This “Asset-Light Deep Tech” approach allowed them to launch India’s first private rocket in just 4 years—a timeline that even global competitors struggle to match.
Conclusion: The Indicorn Reality
Skyroot has proven that “Made in India” isn’t just for software or textiles—it’s for the cosmos. By mastering 3D-printed engines and solid propulsion, they have positioned themselves as the most cost-efficient taxi to Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
As they prepare for the orbital launch of Vikram-1 in 2026, the question is no longer “Can they do it?” It is “How fast can they scale?” Skyroot has successfully turned the final frontier into Bharat’s new backyard.
Read Next: Skyroot conquered gravity, but Lenskart conquered the supply chain. Read The Vision Factory: Decoding the Lenskart Success Story & The Robot Pivot.
Reference: This milestone aligns with the Indian government’s projection of the space economy reaching $44 Billion by 2033.
FAQ
Who are the founders of Skyroot Aerospace?
Skyroot Aerospace was founded by Pawan Kumar Chandana and Naga Bharath Daka, both former scientists at ISRO. They launched the company in 2018 with a vision to democratize space access, operating out of Hyderabad.
What is the Vikram-S rocket?
Vikram-S is India’s first privately developed rocket. It is a single-stage, spin-stabilized solid propellant rocket. It successfully launched on November 18, 2022, marking a historic milestone for the Indian private space sector.
How much funding has Skyroot Aerospace raised?
As of late 2025, Skyroot has raised nearly $100 Million in total funding. Key investors include Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund GIC, Temasek, Sherpalo Ventures, and Graph Ventures. It is one of the highest-funded spacetech startups in India.
What was Mission Prarambh?
Mission Prarambh (meaning “The Beginning”) was the code name for Skyroot’s maiden launch mission. It successfully demonstrated the flight of the Vikram-S rocket from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, proving that private players could execute space missions in India.
Is Skyroot Aerospace considered the SpaceX of India?
While distinct in its approach, Skyroot is often compared to SpaceX because it pioneered the private space sector in India. Like SpaceX, it focuses on cost-effective, reusable launch vehicles (the Vikram series) to make satellite deployment affordable for global customers.
