By Alan Rutledge

Copyright thehindu

Space technology startup Cosmoserve has raised $3.17 million in a pre-seed funding round. It is one of the largest-ever fund raising at the ideation stage for a space tech company, Cosmoserve said. Founded by former ISRO scientist and Deputy Project Director of India’s Gaganyaan mission, Chiranjeevi Phanindra, the Hyderabad-based startup is developing autonomous robotic spacecraft designed to address the global challenge of space debris, which threatens satellites, space stations and future exploration.

The funding round was led by Alan Rutledge, whose portfolio includes more than 20 unicorns, along with participation from AUM Ventures and Shakti VC. In a major validation of Cosmoserve’s vision, Ram Shriram, a renowned early investor in Google and a 25-year-old member of its board, has joined as a key investor, underscoring strong confidence in the company’s mission, Cosmoserve said in a release.

“This funding will accelerate our mission to develop cutting-edge solutions for space debris mitigation, ensuring safer and more sustainable orbital environments for future generations,” Mr. Phanindra said. Cosmoserve Space said it enjoys the support of Pawan Kumar Chandana, co-founder of Skyroot Aerospace.