Trishul Space – a deep-tech aerospace startup – announced that it has raised ₹4 crore (about $480,000) in a pre-seed funding round led by the IAN Angel Fund. The round also saw participation from 8X Ventures and the ITEL Foundation. The capital is earmarked for research and testing of advanced turbopump technology and other improvements in Harpy-1, Trishul’s liquid-fuel rocket engine for small satellite launchers. The founders say the funding will “strongly validate” their vision and speed up engine development – making space access “faster, affordable, and globally competitive”.
- Funding: ₹4 crore pre-seed round (led by IAN Angel Fund).
- Investors: IAN Angel Fund (lead), 8X Ventures (deep-tech VC), ITEL.
- Use of Proceeds: R&D and testing of an advanced turbopump for the Harpy-1 engine.
- Product: Harpy-1 – a high-performance liquid rocket engine (25 kN thrust) using staged combustion and AI-based failure detection.
- Market: Targets small- and medium-class satellite launchers; global market ~$15 billion by 2030 (propulsion is ~30–40% of launch cost).
Founders and Vision
Trishul Space was co-founded in 2022 by Aditya Singh, Divyam, Rajat Choudhary and Ujjawal. The team brings together engineers focused on one core problem: rocket propulsion. Their flagship product, Harpy-1, is a high-performance liquid-fuel engine delivering roughly 25 kilonewtons of thrust. According to Trishul’s official description, Harpy-1 combines a staged combustion cycle (for maximum efficiency) with AI-driven failure-detection, making the engine both innovative and highly reliable.
The founders note that many launch vehicle companies in India repeatedly spend years and resources developing engines in-house. Trishul Space aims to break this cycle by selling ready-to-use propulsion systems that eliminate redundant R&D. In their words, Harpy-1 is designed to “address the critical pain points of cost, complexity, and reliability” in rocket engines. By offering plug-and-play engines, the startup intends to help new space ventures and government programmes save on time and expense.
Harpy-1: Advanced Engine for Small Launchers
At the heart of Trishul Space’s pitch is the Harpy-1 engine, built for the emerging small-satellite launch market. The Harpy-1 is a liquid oxygen/kerosene engine (details under wraps) that uses a turbopump to feed propellants into the combustion chamber at high pressure. Designing such turbopumps is notoriously difficult and costly, often a bottleneck in rocket development. Trishul plans to apply modern methods – including high-speed additive manufacturing and AI-based anomaly detection – to speed up test cycles.
According to company materials, Harpy-1 delivers 25 kN of thrust and uses the more efficient staged-combustion cycle common in next-gen engines. The AI-powered subsystem continuously monitors engine performance for any signs of failure, aiming to reduce debugging time. By packaging these advances into a pre-qualified engine, Trishul hopes private launch firms and satellite operators won’t have to “reinvent the wheel” for propulsion.
“This investment is a strong validation of our vision to build India’s most advanced and reliable rocket propulsion systems,” said Rajat Choudhary, co-founder of Trishul Space. With IAN Angel Fund’s backing, he added, Trishul will accelerate Harpy-1’s development and “move one step closer to making space access faster, affordable, and globally competitive.“
Funding Details and Investors
The ₹4 crore pre-seed round was led by the IAN Angel Fund, a prominent Indian early-stage investor. Other participants include 8X Ventures and ITEL. The funding will be used primarily to accelerate Harpy-1’s engine development and testing. In particular, Trishul will advance its turbopump R&D. The long-term goal is to have a flight-ready engine that can be supplied to both private launch startups and government programmes, rather than each customer having to design their own engine from scratch.
India’s Emerging Space Ecosystem
Trishul Space’s funding comes amid a wave of new Indian space startups and growing private-sector interest. The target market is the global small-to-medium rocket segment, which is projected to surpass US$15 billion by 2030. In this segment, propulsion systems are estimated to account for roughly 30–40% of a launch vehicle’s cost. By offering a ready-made engine, Trishul can help new launch providers bypass expensive engine development and lower their overall launch costs.
The round also reflects a broader trend: domestic investors are increasingly backing high-tech space ventures. Their decision to back Trishul indicates a vote of confidence in India’s aerospace ambitions. For a deep-tech startup still in the prototype stage, that support can be as valuable as money.
Outlook
With ₹4 crore of seed capital, Trishul Space plans to accelerate its development timelines. The immediate focus will be building and testing Harpy-1 in lab settings, proving its performance and reliability. Over time, the founders envision expanding beyond Harpy-1 to a family of modular rocket engines covering various thrust classes.
In summary, the Pre-Seed round is a major step for Trishul Space. The investment also sends a signal: India’s space startup ecosystem is maturing, with investors willing to fund the critical technologies that underpin independent launch capability. By targeting a projected $15+ billion market and tackling a well-known bottleneck, Trishul Space positions itself as a key enabler for the new wave of satellite launchers.
