Key takeaways
- Green Aero secures $1.6 million to develop hydrogen and defense aero engines.
- Launches small-category commercial engine within the next year, targeting civil aviation.
- Develops indigenous propulsion technologies to reduce reliance on imported turbine engines.
- Innovates with high-efficiency engines featuring proprietary turbine and fuel-flexible combustors.
- Incubated at IIT Delhi, supporting R&D and team expansion for future commercial pilots.
Green Aero, an Indian deep-tech startup, has raised $1.6 million in a seed funding round led by pi Ventures, with participation from Antler. The company announced that the funding will support research and development, team expansion, and the creation of an in-house testing facility as the company prepares for commercial pilots in the defence and civil aviation sectors.
It is currently incubated at IIT Delhi and is building propulsion technologies for aerospace, naval, and zero-emission hydrogen aviation applications.
Founded in 2023 by Prithwish Kundu, a former research scientist at the US Department of Energy, Green Aero recently test-fired India’s first hydrogen-based aero engine core, named The Blue Dragon. He was also previously the lead for computational studies and numerical analysis at AgniKul Cosmos, a private launch player in the Indian startup ecosystem.
Indigenous Propulsion Tech
India has long relied on imported turbine engines for aircraft and drones. Green Aero seeks to change this by developing core propulsion systems within the country, targeting defence and sustainable civil aviation markets.
The company is developing aero engines with twice the efficiency of current global models, featuring innovations such as a proprietary turbine, fuel-flexible combustors, swirl-stabilised injectors, and superalloy components created through additive manufacturing.
The startup is also exploring high-thrust supersonic propulsion and plans to launch a small-category commercial engine within the next 12 months. A larger engine platform is under development as part of its long-term roadmap.
Clean Aviation Future
“We are excited to be at the forefront of developing advanced aero engine technologies in India for the world,” said Kundu. “This funding advances our long-term vision to shape a more sustainable future for the transportation industry.”
Shubham Sandeep, managing director at pi Ventures, said, “Green Aero is building world-class aero engines from the ground up in India, with a laser-sharp focus on efficiency and performance. Their bold vision to make India self-reliant in propulsion technology while leading the world in clean aviation deeply resonates with our mission.”
Green Aero’s development strategy combines rigorous R&D, subsystem testing, and innovative design and materials. The company’s goal is to develop lightweight, multi-fuel engines that meet modern aviation demands while minimising environmental impact.
