India’s launch company Skyroot Aerospace has entered the unicorn club after raising almost $60 million at a pre‑money valuation of $1.1 billion on 7th May 2026.
About the New Funding
The latest round makes Skyroot India’s first space‑tech startup to cross the billion‑dollar mark. The round was co-led by Sherpalo Ventures and Singapore’s GIC. Existing backers, including the founders of Greenko Group and Arkam Ventures, also participated. New investors on the cap table include funds managed by BlackRock, Playbook Partners and the Shanghvi family office.
Fuel for Vikram-1 and Beyond
Skyroot is developing the Vikram family of launch vehicles to provide on‑demand, dedicated rides to orbit for small satellites. In 2022, the company’s suborbital Vikram‑S became the first privately built Indian rocket to reach space. The next milestone is Vikram‑1, an orbital launcher designed to deploy up to 350 kg into low Earth orbit.
The new capital will support preparations for Vikram‑1’s maiden flight, increase launch cadence once it enters service, scale manufacturing, and accelerate development of Vikram‑2 — a one‑tonne‑class launcher with an advanced cryogenic upper stage. Together, the vehicles target a broad range of commercial, civil and defence missions in LEO.
Tech investor Ram Shriram, an early backer of Skyroot and a board member of Alphabet, will join Skyroot’s board as part of the round. He praised the startup’s cost‑to‑performance ratio and described reliable access to space as “one of the key challenges of our time”.
Inside Skyroot’s Launch Technology
Vikram‑1 uses an all‑carbon‑composite structure and a mix of in‑house solid and liquid propulsion systems, including multiple 3D‑printed engines. Skyroot has developed three propulsion families under one roof: Kalam (solid), Raman (liquid) and Dhawan (cryogenic). The company says this vertical integration is key to rapid manufacturing and higher launch cadence in the small‑satellite market.
About Skyroot
Skyroot Aerospace is based in Hyderabad. It is one of India’s leading private launch companies. Skyroot operates from two main facilities, the Max‑Q and Infinity campuses, covering about 250,000 square feet, where it designs and builds composite rocket structures, propulsion systems and avionics.