The Kalam Labs Startup Story is a compelling example of how deep research, indigenous innovation, and youthful ambition are shaping India’s future in advanced defence and space technologies. Featured on Shark Tank India Season 5, the Lucknow-based spacetech startup has captured national attention with its ambitious vision of building cost-effective NearSpace solutions for surveillance, weather monitoring, and strategic defence operations.
Founded by three college friends – Ahmad Faraaz, Sashakt Tripathi, and Harshit Awasthi — Kalam Labs is positioning itself as a disruptive alternative to satellite-based systems by developing balloon-assisted, high-altitude stratospheric drones capable of operating between conventional airspace and outer space.
From College Curiosity to Cutting-Edge Defence Innovation
The Kalam Labs Startup Story began with a shared fascination for space and emerging technologies. Before entering the defence and aerospace sector, the founders experimented with a space metaverse platform and even collaborated on a major Bollywood project involving a space-themed mission. However, as global and national security needs evolved, the trio made a decisive pivot toward real-world applications where their technology could create tangible impact.
This shift marked the birth of Kalam Labs, a company rooted in deep scientific research, systems engineering, and a strong belief in India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat vision — not just in manufacturing, but in advanced research and innovation.
The Shark Tank India Pitch That Turned Heads
On Shark Tank India Season 5, Kalam Labs sought an investment of ₹2 crore for 0.67% equity, valuing the startup at nearly ₹300 crore. Their pitch highlighted a bold proposition: replacing or complementing certain satellite operations with reusable, high-altitude stratospheric drones that can deliver similar intelligence at nearly one-tenth the global cost.
Reflecting on their experience, the founders said the show gave them a powerful platform to take their NearSpace vision to millions of Indians, sparking conversations around India’s future role in aerospace and defence technology.
What Makes Kalam Labs’ Technology Unique?
The strength of the Kalam Labs Startup Story lies in its proprietary NearSpace vehicle technologies. The startup focuses on three core areas:
- Aerodynamics for stable high-altitude flight
- Avionics for precision control and data transmission
- Propulsion systems optimised for stratospheric conditions
Operating in the stratosphere allows Kalam Labs’ drones to fly above conventional enemy reach while remaining retrievable, reusable, and significantly more flexible than satellites.
Real-World Deployments and Strategic Use Cases
Kalam Labs is not just a concept-stage startup. In March 2025, the company completed its first operational mission with the India Meteorological Department, demonstrating the reliability of its high-altitude platforms for weather monitoring.
Today, its drones are deployed in critical locations, including Pokhran and along the Indo-China Line of Control (LAC), highlighting their strategic defence relevance.
Key Platforms Developed by Kalam Labs
As part of its growing portfolio, Kalam Labs has developed multiple stratospheric systems, including:
- Stratospheric ISR UAV for long-duration intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance
- Stratospheric Retrievable Radiosonde for advanced atmospheric and weather data collection
- Stratospheric Kamikaze UAV Swarm, currently in final testing, designed for next-generation defence applications
These platforms are engineered to conduct persistent surveillance across vast regions and safely return post-mission — a major advantage over expendable or high-risk aerial assets.
A 15-Member Team with a National Mission
Operating from Lucknow, meanwhile, Kalam Labs runs manufacturing and testing with a specialised 15-member team. Moreover, consequently, their mission extends beyond commerce; therefore, it invites India to shape NearSpace leadership.
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Why the Kalam Labs Startup Story Matters
Kalam Labs Startup Story reflects a new wave of Indian startups blending science nationally. Meanwhile, as space, defence, and data dominance redefine power equations, Kalam Labs stands out. Consequently, it builds affordable, scalable, and strategically critical solutions for India. Moreover, from a college idea to defence deployments, its journey inspires confidence. Ultimately, therefore, a Shark Tank pitch shows Indian innovation pushing beyond the atmosphere.
