Indian Startup News 272 - India’s First Hydrogen-Oxygen Engine

Summary

In this week’s episode of 'Backstage with Millionaires,' host Caleb Fzen covers the latest developments in India’s startup ecosystem. Highlights include Star Dauer’s successful test of India’s first hydrogen-oxygen propulsion engine, Gora Aerospace securing an export license for its agricultural and surveillance drones, and Astra, an AI sales startup, shutting down due to internal disagreements. The episode also covers quick updates on Blinkit, Crutum, Amagi Media Labs, and Lenskart, showcases three innovative platforms—Kazag.app, Ploton.ai, and OneClick—and details recent funding news, including investments in Na'vi, Sharpsell.ai, Little Box, Passport Trips, and Genexis Biotech, offering a comprehensive view of India’s dynamic startup landscape.

Takeaways

• 🚀 Star Dauer, an Indian hydrogen-based startup, successfully tested India's first hydrogen-oxygen propulsion engine at ISC, Bengaluru, marking a significant milestone for the private space sector.
• 💧 Hydrogen-oxygen engines are clean and efficient, producing only water vapor as a byproduct and delivering higher thrust per kilogram of fuel, making them ideal for reusable rockets and long-distance space missions.
• ❄️ Handling hydrogen is challenging due to its need for extremely low storage temperatures (around -253°C) and large volume requirements, which is why many companies, like SpaceX, avoid using it.
• 🌕 Star Dauer is developing 'Lucas,' a next-generation orbital transfer vehicle aimed at transporting payloads across low Earth orbit, geostationary orbit, and even to the Moon and Mars, with its first launch planned for Q3 2027.
• 🛸 Gora Aerospace secured an export license to supply drones internationally, focusing on agriculture in the US and Australia, and security and surveillance in the Middle East.
• 🌾 Gora Aerospace’s Kissan drone supports precision farming with crop scouting, irrigation management, and real-time data to help farmers make smarter decisions.
• 🤖 AI startup Astra shut down just four months after raising funds due to internal disagreements, lack of enterprise trust, and market saturation, highlighting challenges in building sustainable AI solutions.
• 💊 Blinkit has begun piloting a 10-minute medicine delivery service in parts of Bengaluru, including free doctor consultations for orders without valid prescriptions.
• 📈 Several Indian startups are raising funds despite a slowdown, including fintech super app Na'vi ($20M in debt), Sharpsell.ai (₹30 Cr Series A), Little Box ($2.1M), Passport Trips ($500k seed), and Genexis Biotech ($460k seed).
• 🛠️ New tools and apps launched by Indian founders include Kazag.app for invoicing, Ploton.ai for visual workflow automation, and OneClick for managing small businesses and freelancers in a single platform.

Q & A

What is significant about Star Dauer's hydrogen-oxygen propulsion engine test in India?

Star Dauer successfully tested India's first hydrogen-oxygen propulsion engine, marking a major milestone in India's private space sector. The test took place at ISC in Bengaluru, and the engine’s clean and efficient technology could play a crucial role in future space missions.

Why is a hydrogen-oxygen propulsion system considered ideal for space missions?

A hydrogen-oxygen propulsion system is considered ideal because it is one of the cleanest, with water vapor being the only byproduct. It also offers higher efficiency, providing more thrust per kilogram of fuel, which is important for launching heavy payloads into space.

What are the challenges of using hydrogen-oxygen engines in space exploration?

Hydrogen-oxygen engines are challenging to work with due to the extreme storage requirements for hydrogen, which must be kept at temperatures around -253°C. Additionally, hydrogen takes up a large volume, which complicates storage and transportation.

What is Star Dauer's long-term goal in the space industry?

Star Dauer's long-term goal is to develop Lucas, a next-generation orbital transfer vehicle designed to carry payloads across low Earth orbit, geostationary orbit, and even to the Moon and Mars. Their first launch is scheduled for 2027.

What does Garuda Aerospace do, and why is its export license significant?

Garuda Aerospace is a drone company focused on precision farming, providing services like crop scouting, irrigation, and real-time data collection. The export license is significant because it allows the company to expand internationally, with drones being used in agriculture, security, and surveillance in various countries.

Why did Astra, an AI startup, shut down so soon after raising funds?

Astra shut down due to internal disagreements between its co-founders about the company's growth pace, lack of trust from enterprise customers, and challenges related to the increasing number of AI agents in the market. Clients were hesitant to trust young startups with sensitive data.

What innovative service is Blinkit piloting in Bengaluru?

Blinkit is piloting a 10-minute prescription medicine delivery service in select parts of Bengaluru, along with free doctor consultations for orders without valid prescriptions.

What is the purpose of Crutum's recent round of layoffs?

Crutum, a linguistics-focused company, laid off over 100 employees in its second round of job cuts as part of a strategic realignment and efforts to streamline its operations.

What major IPOs were filed recently by Indian companies, and what are their goals?

Amagi Media Labs filed for an IPO to raise 1,020 crores, aiming to be the first Indian company in the broadcast and streaming tech space to go public. Similarly, LensCart filed for an IPO to raise 2,150 crores, targeting an 8-9 billion valuation.

What are some of the innovative platforms built by Indian startups this week?

Indian startups this week introduced platforms like Kazag.app for easy invoice creation, Ploton.ai for automating business workflows, and OneClick for freelancers to manage clients, projects, and invoices, all in one dashboard.