Tuesday, March 10, 2026

Zomato’s Deepinder Goyal in talks to invest $1M in drone startup Kalam Labs.

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A Lucknow-based startup, founded by Harshit Awasthi and Sashakt Tripathi, is pioneering near-space drone technology capable of operating in the stratosphere with low radar visibility, opening new possibilities in defence and high-altitude applications.

The startup is preparing to raise a portion of a $5–7M funding round, signalling strong investor interest in India’s deeptech ecosystem, particularly in defence-driven innovation. The founders leverage their BITS Pilani background to combine engineering expertise with advanced drone design, focusing on both stealth and high-altitude operational capabilities.

These drones are positioned to serve multiple sectors, from strategic surveillance to research applications, reflecting the growing convergence of technology and national security priorities in India.

Bottom line: This investment highlights the surge in Indian startups working on advanced, defence-focused drone technologies, positioning the country as a key player in next-generation aerospace and deeptech innovation.

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