Launch Services (Orbital Launch Vehicles)
Agnikul Cosmos
Agnikul Cosmos (Chennai) is building Agnibaan, a customizable small-satellite launch vehicle designed for payloads up to ~100 kg to Low Earth Orbit. Agnikul is known for developing the world’s first single-piece fully 3D-printed rocket engine - the Agnilet - successfully test-fired in 2021. The startup also established India’s first private launchpad at Sriharikota in collaboration with ISRO, from where it plans to launch Agnibaan. Agnikul’s approach emphasizes on-demand manufacturing and rapid launch turnarounds, offering dedicated launches for small satellites.
2017
Year founded
₹ 200 Crore Series B, Oct 2023
Latest Funding Round
~$40 million
Total Funding
225-300
Employees
Agnibaan - a modular two-stage small rocket with a 100 kg payload capacity to 700 km orbit. It uses Agnikul’s proprietary Agnilet 3D-printed liquid engine on the second stage. Agnikul offers end-to-end launch services for micro-satellites, including mission integration via its mobile launchpad infrastructure.
Meet the Team
Founders
Srinath Ravichandran (CEO) and Moin SPM (COO) - alumni of IIT Madras, who co-founded Agnikul with Prof. Satyanarayanan “Satya” Chakravarthy (IIT Madras faculty mentor) in 2017.
Ravichandran is an engineer-turned-entrepreneur leading the business and Moin oversees operations; both worked closely with ISRO under an MoU in Agnikul’s early days.
Other Team Members
Prof. Satya Chakravarthy (Co-founder & Technical Advisor) - a combustion expert from IITM guiding propulsion development. Janardhanan Raju (Co-founder) - contributed to structures. The company’s leadership includes former ISRO engineers across key roles.
