Introduction
On July 23, 2025, Inbound Aerospace—a space-tech startup incubated at IIT Madras—announced it secured $1 million in pre-seed funding led by Speciale Invest, with participation from Piper Serica. The investment marks a pivotal moment in the startup’s ambition to build autonomous, reusable re-entry vehicles capable of delivering microgravity research payloads between Earth and space.
Background
Founded by Aravind I. B., Vishal Reddy, and retired Navy Captain Abhijit Bhutey in early 2025, Inbound Aerospace is one of the few startups globally focused on re-entry systems for scientific payloads.
What They’ve Built
The company’s spacecraft is designed to:
- Carry payloads (up to 50 kg) to low Earth orbit (LEO) for weeks to months.
- Autonomously return to Earth at programmed landing zones.
- Enable microgravity manufacturing and experimentation without requiring astronaut intervention.
Funding Details
Speciale Invest led the round, recognizing the commercial potential ahead of the ISS decommissioning. Funds will accelerate R&D, finalize critical subsystem development, and support the first suborbital test scheduled for late 2027.
Expert Insights
Dr. Abhijit Bhutey stated: “Our autonomous vehicle is designed to enable smaller players—labs and universities—to access microgravity for research and manufacturing like never before.”
Market Dynamics
The commercial space economy is shifting toward private infrastructure. As nations plan to shut down legacy stations, demand will increase for dedicated re-entry solutions. India’s evolving policy framework for private space ventures further supports startups like Inbound.
Future Outlook
With $1 million in the bank, delegated use cases, and government-friendly policy, Inbound Aerospace presents a compelling pathway toward commercial re-entry services and scientific mission leadership. Their trajectory to becoming a space-tech leader appears tangible—and on schedule.
