Inbound Aerospace Secures $1M for Re-entry Spacecraft
Inbound Aerospace, a spacetech startup incubated at IIT Madras, has secured over $1 million in a pre-seed funding round. The fresh capital will accelerate the development of its re-entry spacecraft and validate key sub-systems.
The funding round was led by Speciale Invest, with participation from Piper Serica and Anicut Capital. The startup aims to address the growing gap in microgravity infrastructure as the International Space Station (ISS) nears decommissioning in 2030.
Founded in 2025 by Aravind I B, Vishal Reddy, and Capt (IN) Abhijit Bhutey (Retd), Inbound Aerospace is developing autonomous and reusable re-entry vehicles for in-orbit experiments, microgravity manufacturing, and commercial space research. The company's technology enables cost-effective, repeatable, and safe return of payloads conducting in-orbit experiments and manufacturing.
Aravind I B, Co-founder & CEO of Inbound Aerospace, expressed confidence in the spacecraft's capabilities. Vishesh Rajaram, Managing Partner at Speciale Invest, also showed belief in re-entry vehicles as foundational infrastructure for the microgravity economy.
Inbound Aerospace plans to launch its first Re-Entry MVP mission by Q1 2028, marking a significant milestone in the company's journey. The successful completion of this mission will pave the way for further advancements in microgravity research and manufacturing.
