This engineering dropout reached out to ISRO scientists and started a space tech startup that builds satellites – now valued at Rs 100 Cr

Where Manegar Sarmas Vali comes from, space scientists are revered and almost considered Gods.

Born and brought up in the Kanekal village in Andhra Pradesh, Manegar wanted to serve the country just like scientists do — with honest effort, years of research, and tangible solutions that position India as one of the leaders in space technology. 

“I have always been interested in the field of technology. I knew shifting to Bengaluru would open up opportunities for me. And it did! Our space technology startup is now innovating launch vehicles and even spacecraft,” Manegar Sarmas Vali, founder of EtherWing Aerospace, tells Startup Pedia in an exclusive interview. 

Founded in 2024, EtherWing Aerospace is a Bengaluru-based space technology startup that has built a mentor network of reputed ISRO and DRDO scientists. It innovates various products and services like launch vehicles, drones, spacecraft, and rockets. 

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HOW IT ALL BEGAN

Manegar Sarmas Vali comes from the village of Kanekal in Andhra Pradesh. 

“Here, students literally worship ISRO and DRDO scientists. Everyone acknowledges the role they play in taking India forward and establishing it as one of the growing players in space exploration. Growing up, I always wanted to meet these scientists face-to-face and walk on their path,” Manegar Sarmas Vali shares. 

After finishing his 12th standard from a local school in Kanekal, he started searching for engineering colleges to join. 

“My research was not the typical kind. I was on the lookout for an engineering college that had the infrastructure, environment, and network to innovate something. Finally, I zeroed in on the REVA University in Bengaluru because of its strong political connect, incubation center, and network of professors,” entrepreneur Manegar Sarmas Vali tells Startup Pedia. 

In 2021, Manegar secured admission in the REVA University of Bengaluru. Entering the university’s environment came as a bit of a cultural shock to him. 

The student group was overwhelmingly polished – some had cracked JEE, others came from economically very well-off backgrounds, and almost everyone spoke impeccable English. 

But Manegar, coming from Kanekal, wasn't someone who was fluent in English. 

Since professors taught in English, he couldn't understand or grasp the material. As a result, he failed the first semester. 

“This came as a shock to me because I was an academically smart student back home. The only problem here was the language. But I didn't let it deter me. I remembered what the Chancellor of the university had said during his speech on my first day – don't be a job seeker, be a job creator,” Manegar shares. 

Eventually, Manegar decided to work doubly hard on his academics. He also started working towards his dream to build something in the sector of space technology in 2021.

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JOURNEY AND CHALLENGES

Manegar Sarmas Vali had an idea to manufacture cube satellites and wanted to share it with a university professor. He prepared a presentation but was dismissed seven to eight times. 

This continued for another six months. Manegar had now made the decision to directly meet the senior manager of REVA’s incubation center. 

She was more accommodating and immediately gave him the required guidance. She also communicated Manegar’s idea of cube satellites to the engineering department and asked the Chancellor to assist him in the development and marketing of the product. 

“I finally started receiving some support from the college. At the same time, I began building a community of tech experts from Andhra Pradesh who had come to Bengaluru for higher studies. I wanted my backend team to be ready before taking the next step,” Manegar says. 

With the help of REVA’s Vice Chancellor, Manegar was able to meet scientists and experts working in ISRO. 

“All of this might sound quick, but it happened over the course of three long years. I was in my fourth year of college when I started conducting meetings with ISRO scientists. It was a childhood dream that had come true,” Manegar explains. 

However, the ISRO scientists cited protocol issues and backed away from helping Manegar with a private, commercialized space startup that builds cube satellites. 

So he convinced them to join him only in the capacity of an academic advisor. 

In 2024, while in the fourth year of engineering, Manegar Sarmas Vali formally established EtherWing Aerospace as a space technology startup based in Bengaluru. 

It started with a seed funding of Rs 5 crore received from REVA. For the remaining funds, Manegar took a loan against his father's land in Andhra Pradesh. 

All this while, Manegar struggled to balance his academics with his startup. He ultimately dropped out of college and decided to completely focus on EtherWing Aerospace. 

Even though there were multiple challenges in starting something that operated in the private sector of space technology, Manegar always found a way around them. 

“I started diluting EtherWing Aerospace’s equity and onboarded freshly retired professionals and scientists from ISRO and DRDO. They have joined me as my key advisors and architects,” space entrepreneur Manegar explains. 

He also received support and acknowledgement from Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu, the Minister of Civil Aviation in India. Additionally, the Andhra Pradesh government gave EtherWing Aerospace a 22-acre land parcel to build and manufacture satellites.

“Finally, I started receiving projects to build commercial cube satellites. They came from the network of ISRO professionals that I had built over the years,” startup founder Manegar Sarmas Vali shares with Startup Pedia. 

“While all of this was happening, there was also someone who played an important role during the early days of my journey. A girl who truly believed in my dream gave me her gold chain to help fund our very first project. At a time when I didn’t even have money for cab fares or daily expenses, she stood by me and supported me without hesitation. Her contribution became one of the unseen pillars behind EtherWing Aerospace’s beginning,” Manegar adds with gratitude.

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ETHERWING AEROSPACE: VALUED AT RS 100 CRORE 

Today, EtherWing Aerospace operates in the field of space technology and innovates various space products, including cube satellites, drones, spacecraft, launch vehicles, and rockets. 

In just one year of establishment, the space startup has partnered with numerous 3D software companies, top-tier aerospace firms, and other space enterprises. 

Currently, it has a team of  75+ experts working as propulsion engineers, spacecraft engineers, spacecraft software engineers, and space mission analysts. 

Recently, the Bengaluru-based space technology startup entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with a Germany-based tech giant in aerospace technology. 

EtherWing Aerospace will partner with the firm to jointly co-develop aerospace electronic systems, with a combined estimated project value of Rs 100 crore.

With this move, EtherWing Aerospace, as a space technology startup, is now valued at Rs 100 crore. 

“In the near future, you can expect the best-in-class space products to come out of our space technology startup. We are here for the long haul and have exactly the expert network needed to thrive in the industry. Our unwavering aim is to add value to India and take it ahead in the field of aerospace,” Manegar Sarmas Vali signs off.