Space Race vs. Budget Race: Spacetech Surges While Overall Startup Funding Collapses

Skyroot Aerospace and Pixxel are writing the chequebook for India's next moonshot. Indian spacetech startups raised $252.9 Mn in 2026, nearly doubling the total from 2025. This isn't just about capital; it's about proof. Skyroot Aerospace became India's first spacetech unicorn in May after a $60 Mn round, while Pixxel just closed a $100 Mn Series C—the largest spacetech funding round in Indian history. Investors are betting on downstream economics, from...