Srinath RavichandranCo-Founder & CEO

Space was always my passion. Even though I had a successful career in finance, I always felt a void because I was not working on something I truly loved. Eventually, I realized that if I didn't pursue my dream, I would always wonder what could have happened. That led me back to aerospace and eventually to Agnikul.

Wall Street taught me an important lesson. No matter how innovative an idea is, if it cannot become a sustainable business, it remains a hobby. That mindset helped me focus not only on building great technology but also on creating a business model that customers would actually pay for.

Satellite technology has become much smaller and more affordable, but rockets remained large and expensive. We saw an opportunity to build small launch vehicles designed specifically for small satellites. Our goal is to provide affordable and flexible access to space for commercial customers.

We are essentially a transportation company. Instead of transporting goods on roads, we transport satellites into space. Customers come to us because they need something delivered to orbit, and our job is to get it there safely, efficiently, and at the right price.

Today, India offers far more opportunities than it did twenty years ago. Even if something doesn't work out exactly as planned, talented people can still find opportunities. That makes taking risks less risky than many people think. I encourage young people to pursue what excites them.

I started by learning. I pursued another master's degree in aerospace engineering and spent time around people working in the industry. I attended events, spoke with experts, asked questions, and gradually became part of the community. Being around the right people helped turn a dream into a practical goal.

Community is extremely important. When you're surrounded by people doing extraordinary things, those achievements begin to feel normal. That environment reduces self-doubt and makes difficult goals feel achievable. Being around the right people can completely change your perspective.

Be humble and willing to learn. Many people hesitate because they fear looking inexperienced. But growth happens when you put yourself in environments where others know more than you do. You have to be comfortable asking questions and learning from people who are ahead of you.

It started very simply. I created a business model on a spreadsheet and began researching what would be required to build a rocket company. I sent hundreds of emails looking for support. Eventually, Professor Satya Chakravarthy responded, and that connection helped us launch the company from IIT Madras.

Technology alone is not enough. Customers need solutions that make economic sense. We designed our rockets to be affordable and practical because space should become more accessible. The goal is to make launching satellites as simple as booking transportation.

SpaceX focuses on very large launch vehicles, while we focus on small satellites and small launch vehicles. Transportation needs different options. You cannot solve every transportation problem using only trains. Sometimes you need smaller vehicles that offer flexibility and specialized services.

Many startups fail because they try to do everything. We knew exactly which problem we wanted to solve. Instead of competing directly with giant companies, we focused on a market segment that was underserved and built technology specifically for those customers.