Constelli Secures $20 Million Funding for Defence Technology Innovation

Constelli, a defence technology startup, has successfully raised $20 million (approximately Rs 180 crore) in a funding round spearheaded by General Catalyst, with contributions from 360 One Asset Management and existing investor Pravega Ventures. Based in Hyderabad, the company previously obtained $3 million in a pre-Series A funding round in January last year, also led by Pravega Ventures.

Funding Allocation for Research and Development

The funds will be dedicated to product research and development, focusing on next-generation electronic warfare and communication payloads across various platforms, including drones, ground systems, naval vessels, and satellites, as stated by Constelli in their press release.

About Constelli

Founded in 2017 by Satya Gopal Panigrahi and Avinash Chenreddy, Constelli specialises in creating advanced signal processing solutions and tools that improve the design, development, and testing of crucial aerospace and defence systems. The company utilises modern technologies and advancements in hardware and software, modelling and simulation, as well as distributed computing to drive innovation.

Technical Sophistication in Defence Solutions

Constelli aims to enhance technical sophistication and accelerate the development lifecycle of payloads for both airborne and ground defence platforms. Their products and services are utilised worldwide by organisations involved in developing radar and electronic warfare (EW) systems. They also provide support to India’s Ministry of Defence, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), and defence contractors in South Korea, Australia, and Singapore.

Future Development Plans

To facilitate rapid deployment of field-ready systems, Constelli intends to establish infrastructure for quick prototyping and early-stage production. Recently, the union budget allocated Rs 7.84 lakh crore to the defence ministry for the financial year 2026-27, compared to Rs 6.81 lakh crore for the current fiscal period.

Emerging Competitors in the Defence Sector

Other significant players in this sector include NewSpace Research & Technologies, IdeaForge, Garuda Aerospace, among others. Furthermore, earlier this week, General Catalyst led a $16.6 million funding round for Xflow, a B2B cross-border payments startup. The US-based venture capital firm has already revealed plans to invest $5 billion in India over the next five years.