Abyom SpaceTech’s Post

Four years ago (~1450 Days), I was a 19-year-old space enthusiast from Kushinagar-GKP, Uttar Pradesh, with a burning passion for space exploration. Despite being in a tier-3 village with no background in aerospace or entrepreneurship, I dared to ask myself: Why wait for the stars when I can build Reusable Rockets to reach them? Thus began my uncharted journey to turn my childhood dreams of becoming an astronaut into reality. At 16, I envisioned Abyom SpaceTech to democratize space access, inspired by passion and middle-class roots, a mission for millions who dream of space exploration. But let me tell you, the journey was anything but smooth. As a first-generation entrepreneur, I had no legacy, no network—just sheer grit. Investors were sceptical, resources were scarce, and the challenges were immense. Yet, against all odds, we built what once seemed impossible. - Managed to raise $100K in govt. grants from Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Boeing, SISFS-Startup India, PIEDS : Pilani Innovation & Entrepreneurship Development Society, BITS Pilani , CIIF Chitkara University & others. Despite the challenging times, later secured an additional $300K in private investment. - I am deeply grateful to my team for embracing Abyom vision. Together, we've conducted over 150 tests of our Battleship Engine and successfully validated the Pintle Injection system— a first in India—at our very own plug-and-play testing facility. Achieving this milestone with just a fraction of the typical investment underscores our commitment to our technology and our approach to maintaining low R&D costs. - Launched a $5.4M seed round and recently closed $2.5M, with Appalla Saikiran, Founder and CEO of Scope Ventures, joining our youngest family. We're excited to soon onboard more partners to close the seed round and continue our journey toward innovation and success. Additionally, here are some key recognitions and milestones that have propelled us forward: - Chief Minister Award from the Government of UP—established UP's 1st SpaceTech Startup.   - India’s first premier commercial rocket engine testing facility at BITS Pilani, Hyderabad Campus with BITS Pilani Hyderabad Campus TBI Society (TBIS).   - Recognized as a "Top 20 Global SpaceTech Startups to Watch" & selected for Creative Destruction Lab 2024 Cohort the only Indian launch Vehicle company in the list.   - Recently Featured in Forbes India D Globalist. Select 200 Companies & leading media outlets like YourStory Media, ABP Network, Inc42 Media, The Hindu and many more... Gratitude to our mentors, supporters and early investors like Mr. Vikas & Monica and organizations like ISRO and IN-SPACe-your faith fuels us. The journey of Abyom is proof that no matter your background, language, education, or caste, a determination can defy all odds, either I faced all. Thank you for being part of this journey. More to come soon...!