Green Aero Raises $1.6 Million in Seed Funding

Bengaluru, July 9, 2025 – Deep tech startup Green Aero, incubated at IIT Delhi, has raised $1.6 million in a seed funding round led by pi Ventures, with additional participation from Antler. The funding marks a crucial step in the company’s journey to make India self-reliant in clean propulsion systems for aerospace and defense.

Green Aero aims to launch its first small engine within a year while building a larger platform. The new funding will aid development, team growth, testing setup, and market entry.

Driving Innovation in Hydrogen-Powered Engines

Founded in 2023 by Dr. Prithwish Kundu, a former scientist with the US Department of Energy, Green Aero is building hydrogen-powered and high-efficiency engines for aerospace, naval, and supersonic applications. The company recently achieved a major milestone by successfully firing India’s first hydrogen-powered aero engine core, named “The Blue Dragon”.

The fresh capital will support the startup’s efforts in product development, team expansion, and setting up a state-of-the-art testing facility, while also accelerating its go-to-market strategy for its initial engine platform.

Timeline and Strategic Vision

Green Aero plans to commercialize its first small-category engine within the next 12 months, while also laying the foundation for a larger engine platform. The company is particularly focused on developing propulsion systems that are twice as efficient as existing global standards, providing a sustainable and cost-effective alternative for high-performance applications.

Pioneering India’s Aerospace Independence

India has long relied on imports for turbine engines used in drones and aircraft. Green Aero aims to change that paradigm by offering indigenous propulsion solutions that meet global benchmarks. According to Dr. Kundu, the company is blending deep-tech expertise with a sustainability-first approach to redefine propulsion technology.

Supersonic and Zero-Emission Futures

Beyond its current hydrogen initiatives, Green Aero is also exploring supersonic propulsion technologies and developing green hydrogen-based engines to offer zero-emission alternatives to conventional systems. These engines are being designed with a high-thrust performance envelope, ideal for next-generation defense and mobility platforms.

Strategic Outlook

Commenting on the investment, Shubham Sandeep, MD at pi Ventures, noted that Green Aero’s vision of leading clean aviation aligns with their commitment to supporting category-defining technologies.

As Green Aero pushes the frontiers of aerospace innovation, this seed funding is expected to serve as a catalyst for its bold ambition to lead India’s clean propulsion movement on the global stage.

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