T‑Hub Launches Second Cohort of AIC–T‑Hub “Orbit” Spacetech Accelerator with 17 Startups.
Economy Business
In July 2025, T‑Hub (Technology Hub) and AIC–T‑Hub (Atal Incubation Centre – Technology Hub), supported by the Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) under NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India), launched the second cohort of the “Orbit” Spacetech Accelerator Programme. The program has onboarded 17 early-stage startups, making it the largest cohort till date and strengthening India’s presence in the global spacetech ecosystem.
- The AIC–T‑Hub Orbit programme is designed to support startups working in satellite systems, reusable launch vehicles, space propulsion, space biology, aerospace manufacturing, and deep-space communications. The selected startups are at the Prototype or MVP (Minimum Viable Product) stages and will be nurtured to achieve market readiness through global mentorship and resource access.
- Startups in this cohort will receive structured mentorship, access to testing and fabrication facilities, regulatory support, and international collaboration opportunities with partners from countries like France, Australia, and the USA. The cohort also gets connected to funding bodies, policy experts, and space R&D institutions such as ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) and IN-SPACe (Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre).
- The program includes mentorship from prominent figures such as former DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation) Chairman Dr. G. Satheesh Reddy, ex-ISRO scientists, and senior engineers from Indian spacetech giants like Skyroot Aerospace and Dhruva Space. Their involvement will help startups tackle technical bottlenecks and scale with precision.
Main Point :- (i) T‑Hub’s CEO Kavikrut stated that the Orbit 2.0 program aims to facilitate investment of over ₹3 crore, generation of over 10 intellectual properties, and a 15% increase in startup–lab linkages by the end of the cohort. The program will also enhance cross-domain R&D collaborations involving startups, academia, and government labs.
(ii) The Orbit accelerator’s first cohort supported 10 spacetech startups, including Spantrik, Onnes Cryogenics, Nveeas Labs, TaraMandal, and STEM & Space. These startups gained exposure to government procurement channels, AIM–NITI Aayog innovation grants, and partnerships with institutions such as IITs (Indian Institutes of Technology) and C-DAC (Centre for Development of Advanced Computing).
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