Introduction

In a breakthrough moment for India’s space-tech ecosystem, Satleo Labs has secured $3.3 million in pre-seed funding to build a constellation of thermal imaging satellites designed to deliver real-time, high-resolution temperature intelligence from space.

This round, led by Merak Ventures, with participation from Speciale Invest, DeVC, and a host of strategic angel investors, positions Satleo at the forefront of a new category in Earth observation: thermal intelligence.

Read the announcement on CNBC-TV18

What Does Satleo Do?

Founded in Ahmedabad, Satleo Labs is building a satellite platform capable of capturing and analyzing temperature data with 1° Kelvin accuracy across MWIR and LWIR bands, offering unparalleled visibility into how Earth behaves beneath the surface.

Unlike traditional satellites that rely primarily on visible-spectrum imaging, Satleo’s platform provides temperature maps that are critical for climate monitoring, agriculture, urban planning, and disaster preparedness. These satellites are equipped with edge computing capabilities that allow them to process data onboard, drastically reducing latency and enabling near real-time insights.

Coverage via The Hindu Business Line

Why Thermal Intelligence?

Most existing Earth observation satellites fail to capture fine-grained temperature fluctuations in real-time. Satleo addresses this gap by:

• Scanning across thermal infrared bands that detect heat signals invisible to optical sensors
• Offering 1° Kelvin thermal precision to spot minute variations in surface temperature
• Providing real-time data through onboard AI and edge computing
• Supporting key sectors with insights into urban heat islands, soil moisture stress, crop performance, and natural hazard alerts

As co-founder and CEO Shravan Singh Bhati told Times of India, “We’re creating a new layer of climate infrastructure—temperature intelligence from space.”

Who’s Behind the Round

The $3.3M pre-seed round was led by:

• Merak Ventures (Lead investor)
• Speciale Invest (known for backing deep-tech startups)
• DeVC (backers of early-stage science-first startups)
• A set of respected angel investors from across space, AI, and sustainability sectors

The round not only brings capital but strategic alignment, offering Satleo access to partnerships, talent, and domain knowledge essential for building a global climate-tech platform from India.

Full investor list via eChai Ventures

What’s Next for Satleo

The funds will accelerate:

• Satellite hardware development and launch readiness
• Deployment of onboard AI modules and edge computing systems
• Expansion of the engineering and R&D teams in Ahmedabad
• Pilot partnerships with government bodies, agri-tech companies, and urban planners

According to Analytics India Magazine, Satleo’s roadmap includes launching its first operational satellite in 2025, with a scalable architecture built for constellation deployment over time.

What This Means for India’s Space-Tech Ecosystem

India’s private space sector is in its most exciting phase yet, with startups like Pixxel, Skyroot, and Digantara making headlines. Satleo’s entry into thermal satellite infrastructure introduces a unique, data-first perspective to this ecosystem — one that combines climate urgency, deep tech, and commercial readiness.

The success of this round not only validates the team’s vision but highlights growing investor confidence in climate-tech and geospatial intelligence as critical sectors.

In Their Own Words

“We’re building Earth’s thermal layer. When you know where the temperature is rising, shifting, or hiding, you can respond before it turns into a problem.”
— Shravan Singh Bhati, Co-founder & CEO, Satleo

“We’re proud to back a company solving real-world climate problems with deep tech and global relevance.”
— Anirudh A. Damani, Managing Partner, Merak Ventures

Conclusion

Satleo’s $3.3 million funding round is more than just capital — it’s a clear signal that the future of Earth observation will be thermal, precise, and real-time.

By delivering high-resolution temperature data from space, Satleo is empowering cities, farmers, researchers, and climate decision-makers with a layer of insight the world has long needed—but never had access to. Until now.