Indian space technology startup Pixxel has raised $100 million in a Series C funding round led by Temasek and Seraphim Space, giving the company fresh capital to expand its satellite, software and data businesses.

New investors 360 ONE Asset and IMM Investment participated alongside existing backers Radical Ventures and growX ventures. The round brings Pixxel’s total funding to $195 million and represents the largest financing secured by an Indian space-tech company to date.

Pixxel will use the capital to expand its product portfolio and strengthen its position across the global space industry. The company is developing a connected infrastructure spanning Earth-observation satellites, intelligence software and satellite systems for commercial and government customers.

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From Hyperspectral Satellites to Space Infrastructure

Pixxel began by developing hyperspectral satellites capable of capturing detailed information about the Earth’s surface. Unlike conventional imaging systems, hyperspectral sensors collect data across multiple spectral bands, allowing users to identify changes and characteristics that may not be visible in traditional satellite imagery.

The company has since broadened its focus through Aurora, an Earth intelligence software platform that helps organisations analyse and use satellite data. It also develops satellite systems for commercial customers and government space programmes.

By connecting sensing hardware, data and software, Pixxel aims to provide a broader infrastructure layer for Earth observation. Its technology is designed to help governments, businesses and institutions convert satellite imagery into information that can support practical decisions.

Founder and CEO Awais Ahmed said Pixxel originally set out to create what he described as a health-monitoring system for the planet. Hyperspectral imaging offered a new way to observe Earth, he explained, while the Series C gives the company the scale to turn that initial concept into planetary infrastructure.

Ahmed added that Pixxel intends to develop more sensing capabilities, extract greater intelligence from each image and provide countries with stronger sovereign space capacity. The ultimate objective, he said, is to make environmental change understandable early enough for organisations to respond.

Investors Back AI and Sovereign Space Demand

The round reflects investor interest in several areas of the space economy, including AI-powered Earth observation and sovereign satellite capabilities. Governments increasingly want greater control over the systems and data used for national infrastructure, environmental monitoring and strategic decision-making.

Seraphim Space CEO Mark Boggett said Pixxel is well positioned across some of the sector’s most important themes. He highlighted the company’s exposure to AI-driven Earth observation, sovereign space infrastructure and India’s emergence as a global space technology market.

Boggett added that Seraphim was pleased to increase its backing as Pixxel enters its next stage of growth.

Scaling an Indian Space-Tech Business

Pixxel is part of a new generation of private Indian space companies that emerged following the opening of the country’s space sector to commercial participants. Its development from a satellite manufacturer into a wider space infrastructure provider reflects the expanding commercial opportunities available to companies that can combine hardware with data-driven services.

The $100 million round gives Pixxel additional resources to scale that model. As the company expands its satellite systems and Aurora platform, its ability to integrate sensing, analysis and delivery will determine how effectively it can serve governments and commercial organisations seeking actionable Earth intelligence.

Bengaluru-based fleet management startup Carrum Mobility has raised $10 million from Uber as part of its Series B funding round, deepening the relationship between the two companies as demand grows for professionally managed ride-hailing fleets in India.

The investment marks Uber’s second backing of Carrum in 2026, following a $7 million investment in January. Carrum will deploy the fresh capital to enter new cities, strengthen its technology platform, expand operations and recruit additional employees.

The company also plans to grow its core fleet management business and scale Uber Black, the ride-hailing group’s premium service, across India.

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Uber Doubles Down on Carrum

Uber’s latest investment comes as Carrum expands its fleet across several of India’s largest urban mobility markets. The startup currently manages more than 5,000 compressed natural gas and electric vehicles in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Pune, Delhi and Kolkata. Chennai is expected to become its next market in September 2026.

Carrum has onboarded more than 18,000 driver partners since its launch. Its model provides the vehicles and operational infrastructure required by drivers working across ride-hailing platforms, allowing the company to serve as a bridge between mobility operators, drivers and fleet assets.

Founder Karan Jain said Uber’s continued support reflects both the strength of Carrum’s existing business and the scale of the opportunity ahead. He added that the company has almost doubled in size since its previous funding round while maintaining profitability.

Uber’s repeat investment gives Carrum capital to expand more quickly while strengthening its role within the ride-hailing company’s Indian network. The relationship is particularly relevant to Uber Black, which depends on consistent vehicle standards and professionally managed fleets to deliver its premium customer experience.

A Profitable, Technology-Led Fleet Model

Founded in 2024 by Jain, Carrum Mobility describes itself as a technology-driven B2B fleet management company focused on compressed natural gas and electric vehicles. The platform manages fleet deployment and operations while working with thousands of drivers across multiple cities.

The company says it has remained profitable since its first month of operation, an uncommon claim among young mobility businesses that often absorb substantial costs while building their fleets and entering new markets.

Carrum currently generates an annualised revenue run rate of approximately $42 million, based on the Indian rupee’s representative exchange rate on September 9, 2026.

Its expansion strategy combines geographic growth with investment in software, operational capacity and workforce development. By strengthening its technology platform, Carrum aims to coordinate a larger fleet and support more driver partners without allowing operating complexity to rise at the same pace.

Expanding Across India’s Major Cities

The new financing will support Carrum’s entry into additional cities and markets, starting with its planned Chennai launch. It will also help the company increase its vehicle base and establish the local operational teams needed to serve new territories.

Carrum’s focus on both cleaner-fuel vehicles and premium ride-hailing services gives it exposure to two shifts within India’s mobility market: the transition toward lower-emission fleets and growing demand for higher-quality transport options.

With $17 million secured from Uber across two investments in 2026, Carrum now has additional resources to test whether its profitable fleet management model can retain its economics at a considerably larger scale.

Gurugram-based spiritual-wellness startup InstaAstro has raised $12 million in Series A funding to expand its digital platform across regional and international markets.

Singularity AMC and Artha Venture Fund led the round, with InstaAstro’s founders also investing. The company will use the capital to improve its AI-powered products, reach more customers and strengthen its Pooja Seva and spiritual-commerce businesses.

Founded in 2021 by Nitin Verma, InstaAstro began as an astrology-consultation app before developing into a broader platform spanning spiritual guidance, rituals and related products.

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From Astrology Consultations to a Wider Platform

InstaAstro now offers astrology, tarot, numerology, vastu, Pooja Seva and spiritual remedies. It also sells wellness products and provides other services through its spiritual-commerce business.

The platform works with more than 5,000 verified experts and serves users in 183 countries. Its international operations, supported primarily by the Indian diaspora, contribute approximately 25% of total revenue.

The Series A funding will allow InstaAstro to build on that overseas demand while extending its reach within India through regional expansion. The company did not identify the specific markets it plans to enter.

“We are focused on building the world’s most trusted spiritual platform by choosing quality over quantity,” Verma said.

That emphasis shapes InstaAstro’s approach to expert onboarding and customer retention. Rather than competing only on the size of its adviser network, the company is seeking to differentiate itself through verification, quality scoring and repeat engagement.

Investor Focus on Trust and Retention

Artha Venture Fund said InstaAstro’s growth has come from customer trust and repeat usage rather than a heavy dependence on discounts or high acquisition spending.

Anirudh A. Damani, managing partner at Artha Venture Fund, said Verma spent five years working on the less visible foundations of the business, including verified astrologers, quality ratings and reasons for customers to return.

“The first consultation can be treated as marketing, but the second demonstrates that there is a business,” Damani said.

Repeat consultations are particularly important for digital advisory platforms, where initial customer interest does not necessarily translate into durable revenue. InstaAstro’s ability to bring users back across consultations, rituals and commerce will therefore remain central to its growth model.

AI and Spiritual Commerce Drive the Next Phase

InstaAstro plans to direct part of the funding toward improving its AI-powered products. While the company did not disclose detailed product plans, the investment is intended to strengthen the technology supporting its spiritual-wellness services.

The startup will also expand Pooja Seva, which broadens its offering beyond digital consultations into religious services. Its spiritual-commerce unit adds another revenue stream through wellness products and remedies linked to the guidance available on the platform.

Combining consultations, rituals and commerce gives InstaAstro several ways to serve the same customer. It also creates the operational challenge of maintaining consistent standards across a marketplace involving thousands of experts and users in 183 countries.

With $12 million in new capital, InstaAstro will now test whether the trust it has built among Indian users and the diaspora can support broader international adoption. Its next phase will depend on balancing geographic expansion with the quality controls that its founder and investors describe as the foundation of the business.