Sanyark Space is engaged in creating satellites in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) designed to provide high-precision navigation and communication. Modern autonomous navigation, high-speed mobility, and critical infrastructure systems heavily rely on satellite positioning and time synchronization.
However, traditional navigation systems such as GPS, Galileo, and NavIC transmit signals from medium or geostationary orbits, located tens of thousands of kilometers away. These signals weaken upon reaching the ground, making them vulnerable to atmospheric disturbances, electronic jamming, and spoofing. Existing systems typically offer an average accuracy of about five meters, which is insufficient for Level 2+ driver assistance systems that manage functions like lane keeping or road type detection.
Sanyark Space, based in Hyderabad, is developing satellite infrastructure capable of providing centimeter-level navigational accuracy, as well as enabling direct satellite-to-device communication. The startup was founded in July 2025 by two former scientists from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
CEO Raghav Kundrapu has experience in aerospace engineering, holds a degree from IIST, and worked for eight years at ISRO, participating in 40 national missions. Subsequently, he spent three years as a space technology consultant at Deloitte. CTO Akhileswar Reddy Peseke, an IIT Madras graduate, spent 13 years at ISRO developing navigation satellites.
Satellite Development for Navigation and Communication
The Sanyark Space team of 35 people designs Software-Defined LEO satellites operating at altitudes between 500 and 1000 km. Because they operate approximately 20 times closer to Earth than traditional navigation satellites, the company's systems are capable of transmitting signals 100 times more powerfully, enhancing their resistance to ground jamming.
The satellites are intended for two purposes: they will transmit high-precision correction data to supplement existing GPS, Galileo, and NavIC constellations, and they will provide independent positioning, navigation, and time synchronization signals. Furthermore, they will carry Internet of Things (IoT) and machine-to-machine (M2M) communication channels, allowing a single satellite to support both positioning and data transmission for autonomous systems.
Sanyark Space designs its satellite signals to be compatible with existing ground equipment. End devices, such as automotive receivers, are expected to receive correction services through software updates without requiring hardware replacement. The company manufactures payloads, antennas, radio frequency components, and printed circuit boards in India, importing chip-scale atomic clocks not subject to ITAR regulations and advanced chip electronics.
For satellite bus integration and cleanroom assembly, the company collaborates with space infrastructure partners, including Xilinx Labs and Agista, to reduce capital expenditure.
Testing and Launch Planning
Currently, Sanyark Space is developing its hardware and has tested position correction algorithms using ground receivers. According to the company, field tests conducted in Hyderabad using commercial receivers demonstrated positioning accuracy of less than 20 cm.
The startup expects its core technology to reach Technology Readiness Level 6 by mid-October, which implies verifying a functional prototype in an operational environment. The payload is planned to be tested using high-pressure balloons before the launch of the first demonstration satellite jointly with SpaceX in the first quarter of 2027. A second satellite for navigation and communication is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2027.
Future Plans
Sanyark Space operates in the Business-to-Government (B2G) and Business-to-Business (B2B) segments. Initially, the company is focused on developing specialized satellites for defense and government organizations, as well as commercial applications in automotive systems, drones, and time synchronization infrastructure.
The startup currently generates no revenue and has raised $2 million in a pre-seed funding round led by Avaana and AUM Ventures. Sanyark Space plans to launch 40 satellites in the initial phase to ensure continuous coverage in India, the Middle East, and South Asia. In the long term, the company aims to expand its network to a global constellation of 240 satellites. Sanyark Space is part of the Tech30 cohort from YourStory—a showcase of India's most promising startups for 2026, presented at TechSparks Bengaluru.