Building a ‘jetpack’ for satellites; Sharp rise in VC inflow
Bengaluru-based Aule Space is building a jetpack that docks with satellites after they run out of fuel, extending their lives by a few years; August started on a positive note driven by the $120 million deal of River Mobility and this is a welcome relief for the ecosystem.
Hello,
As thousands of satellites and rocket parts crowd Earth’s orbit, space debris is becoming both an environmental and business challenge. A growing number of companies are now betting on a new market for removing debris and servicing satellites in orbit, though the industry remains nascent and reliant on government contracts and funding.
We talk a lot about food waste as a climate problem. But there’s another problem hiding in the compost bin: plastic. A new study finds that while diverting food waste from landfills can significantly cut emissions and nutrient pollution, it could also send thousands of tonnes of microplastics into agricultural soil.
With a third of all food produced globally going to waste, researchers say tackling food waste also means tackling the plastic that comes with it.
Meanwhile, Amazon is planning a natural gas power plant for its Texas data center that could become the largest permitted source of climate pollution in the US, with emissions of up to 33 million tonnes of CO₂ a year. The move comes as Amazon’s carbon emissions rose 16% last year, despite its 2040 net-zero pledge.
And finally, social media platform Myspace is eyeing another comeback nearly two decades after Facebook displaced it as the social media king. Its owners plan to relaunch the platform, betting on nostalgia for a more personal, less algorithm-driven internet. But analysts say success will depend on balancing its retro appeal with modern user expectations while competing with Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
In today’s newsletter, we will talk about
- Building a ‘jetpack’ for satellites
- Sharp rise in VC inflow
Here’s your trivia for today: What’s the most expensive domain in internet history?
In-Focus
Building a ‘jetpack’ for satellites
What if satellites could get a second lease of life instead of being retired when they run out of fuel? Bengaluru-based deeptech startup Aule Space is building a “jetpack satellite” that can dock with fuel-depleted geostationary satellites and extend their operational life by up to five years. Founded by former Pixxel engineer Jay Panchal, the startup is targeting a market where replacing a satellite can cost hundreds of millions of dollars.
Key takeaways:
- Aule Space is building a satellite-servicing spacecraft that can dock with fuel-depleted geostationary satellites and provide propulsion, potentially extending their life by up to five years.
- The startup is targeting a high-value but largely untapped market. Around 20–25 privately owned geostationary communication satellites are estimated to run out of fuel each year, while the global on-orbit satellite servicing market is projected to reach $5.5 billion by 2030.
- Aule is aiming to demonstrate autonomous docking in orbit next year. The startup has raised $2 million in pre-seed funding and says its technology has reached TRL 6 after validation at ISRO facilities, with commercial contracts expected after an orbital demonstration.
Funding
Sharp rise in VC inflow
The month of August began on a stronger note for the Indian startup ecosystem, with venture capital funding rebounding after a weak July. Capital flowed into EV, insurtech, fintech, D2C, quick commerce and deeptech startups, signalling broad investor interest across sectors. However, large-ticket deals remain limited, with only ten $100 million-plus transactions recorded so far this year.
Key takeaways:
- Indian startups raised $323 million across 25 deals in the first week of August, a sharp increase from $67 million in the previous week.
- EV startup River Mobility’s $120 million Series C was the largest deal, followed by InRisk Labs’ $27 million Series A and BlissClub’s $16.8 million fundraise.
- Series A startups alone attracted $64 million, highlighting investor appetite beyond late-stage companies.
News & updates
- Football: FIFA has escalated its feud with UEFA and other European football leaders, accusing them of a coordinated effort to undermine president Gianni Infantino and his leadership.
- OpenAI: NextSlide, a presentation startup that turns prompts and documents into editable presentations, has joined OpenAI, with its team now working on ChatGPT.
What you should watch out for
- Shiprocket’s Rs 1,617.48 crore IPO will open for subscription on Wednesday, August 12. The book-built issue comprises a fresh issue of 9.13 crore shares worth Rs 885.50 crore and an OFS of 7.55 crore shares worth Rs 731.98 crore by existing shareholders.
- Brainbees Solutions Limited, the parent company of FirstCry, is scheduled to announce its Q1 FY27 financial results on August 13, 2026.
What's the most expensive domain in internet history?
Answer: Cars.com
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