From Technology To Fundraising: Microsoft & ISRO Tie Up To Help Space-Tech Startups In India

In what can turn out to be a big boost for India's booming space-tech industry, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Microsoft signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Thursday to fuel the growth of space technology startups in India.

India¡¯s space economy is set to grow to nearly $13 billion by the year 2025, jumping from the $9.6 billion mark of 2020 at a CAGR of 6%, a report by the Indian Space Association (ISpA) and EY showed a few months back.

How The Partnership Will Help Space-Tech Startups

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The MoU seeks to empower space tech startups across the country with technology tools and platforms, go-to-market support, and mentoring to help them scale and become enterprise-ready, Microsoft¡¯s press release mentioned.

The collaboration seeks to strengthen ISRO¡¯s vision of harnessing the market potential of the most promising space tech innovators and entrepreneurs in India. Through this tie-up, the space-tech startups identified by ISRO will be onboarded onto the Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub platform, which supports startups at every stage of their journey¡ªfrom idea to unicorn.

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Support For Startup Founders

The press release said that through Microsoft's Startup Founders Hub, space-tech startup founders in India will have free access to the tech tools and resources they need to build and run their businesses. This includes technical support to build and scale on Azure, best-in-class developer and productivity tools, including GitHub Enterprise, Visual Studio Enterprise, and Microsoft 365, and access to smart analytics with Power BI and Dynamics 365.

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Beyond access to technology, Microsoft will provide mentoring support to space tech entrepreneurs in areas ranging from space engineering to cloud technologies, product and design, fundraising, and sales and marketing. In addition, founders will have access to Microsoft Learn for tailored startup-centric training content and programs to help them build connections with the industry and potential customers.

Microsoft and ISRO will also jointly organise knowledge sharing and thought leadership sessions for the startups with space industry experts. In addition, the collaboration will provide founders with go-to-market strategies, technical support, and opportunities to sell their solutions via Microsoft channels and the Marketplace.

Statements By ISRO & Microsoft

Shri S Somanath, Chairman, ISRO, said, ¡°ISRO¡¯s collaboration with Microsoft will greatly benefit space tech startups in their analysis and processing of vast amounts of satellite data for various applications, using cutting-edge methods like AI, Machine Learning and Deep Learning. The Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub is a useful platform for bringing together startups and providers of technology solutions to support the national space technology ecosystem. We are pleased to work together to assist and support entrepreneurs, to in turn benefit the Indian economy as a whole.¡±

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Anant Maheshwari, President, Microsoft India, said, ¡°Space-tech startups in India are playing a significant role in advancing the country¡¯s space capabilities with the power of technology. We are pleased to collaborate with ISRO to accelerate this transformation of what¡¯s possible in space. Through our technology tools, platforms and mentorship opportunities, we are deeply committed to empowering space-tech startups in the country to drive cutting edge innovation and accelerate scientific discovery.¡±

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