Deeptech Startup Astrome Bags $10 Million to Expand Wireless & Space Communication

Deeptech startup Astrome Technologies has secured $10 million in a funding round led by Appollo Fund, with additional investments from the IAN Group. 

The funding will support the expansion of the company’s wireless connectivity technologies, product lines, and market presence in both terrestrial and satellite communications, the company announced on LinkedIn.

Astrome Technologies aims to leverage this investment to expand its role in the evolving wireless and space communication industries. Further plans include developing new product lines, scaling operations, and strengthening market presence. 

Investors from India, Singapore, and Dubai contributed to the round, reflecting the growing global interest in advanced wireless technologies.  

Apollo Funds described Astrome as a leader in wireless communication innovation. Bandana Kankani, banker at Nexxt Mile who led the funding round, emphasised the demand for high-bandwidth, reliable communication solutions and expressed confidence in the company's future growth.  

Neha Satak, CEO of Astrome, highlighted the funding as a step towards realising the company’s vision of transforming connectivity. 

“This foray into the satcom (satellite communications) market represents the timely realisation of the vision with which this company was founded to drive innovation and create solutions that enhance connectivity on a global scale,” she reportedly said.

In her LinkedIn post, she acknowledged the support of government policies, institutional backing, and investor confidence in the company’s journey. 

She credited Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and key ministers, including Ashwini Vaishnaw, Jyotiraditya M Scindia, Rajnath Singh, and Priyank M Kharge, for fostering a favourable ecosystem for deep-tech and hardware startups in India.

She also highlighted the support of institutions such as the Ministry of Defence (iDEX-DIO), Department of Telecommunications, Technology Development Board, and Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) for their role in implementing policies that promote indigenous hardware innovation. 

The Karnataka government’s Electronics System Design and Manufacturing (ESDM) policy was specifically mentioned for aiding Astrome’s growth. This raises expectations and extensively highlights the importance of investment in deep-tech policies in the upcoming Union Budget. 

Astrome operates from Bengaluru and California and previously raised $3.4 million in a bridge round in 2021. Investors from India, Singapore, and Dubai participated in the latest round, showcasing a global interest in advanced wireless solutions.  

Astrome, founded in 2015 by Satak and Prasad (HL) Bhat, specialises in millimetre-wave E-band radios and satellite communication products aimed at enhancing 5G and rural telecommunication infrastructure. 

The company plans to use the funds to increase production capacity, develop next-generation solutions, and supply its flagship GigaMesh product to international markets through partnerships with global original equipment manufacturers (OEM).  

GigaMesh, designed to work with optical fibre systems, supports 5G and 6G connectivity and incorporates features such as electronic auto link alignment and point-to-multipoint connectivity. 

These innovations enable quicker deployment, lower costs, and improved network performance for digital infrastructure across land, sea, and air.