How 25 students of Gurgaon-based college raised Rs 60 crore funding in deep tech and space ventures in a day

Twenty-five startups associated with Gurugram-based Masters’ Union University attracted around Rs 60.5 crore in soft funding commitments at a pitch event. Their businesses ranged from satellite technology and artificial intelligence to climate solutions and advanced manufacturing.

The recently held event brought together more than 65 venture capital firms and angel investors, with the 25 participating startups collectively attracting approximately Rs 60.5 crore in soft funding commitments. The funding commitments are subject to the usual investor due diligence, valuation discussions, and documentation before the investments are formally completed.

How 25 startups attracted investor interest

The Demo Day featured a mix of businesses from within and outside the Masters’ Union University network. The gathering included investors from firms such as Entrepreneurs First, Kae Capital, Avaana Capital, Beenext and Rainmatter.

The founders presented ventures across several technology-intensive sectors. According to Masters’ Union Ventures, Sanyark, Saubha Aerial Systems and CarbonM were among the companies that attracted some of the highest funding commitments at the event.

The institution said its students and alumni have built over 50 ventures across sectors such as artificial intelligence, fintech, gaming, biotechnology, space technology and consumer businesses. Two of these ventures have recorded exits, while five student-founded companies have appeared on Shark Tank India.

One of the ventures emerging from the institution's startup ecosystem is Sanyark Space, which is working on satellite technology. The company was co-founded by Masters’ Union University student Raghava Kundrapu and former Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) scientist Akhileshwar Reddy.

Sanyark Space is developing a NAV-COM satellite constellation designed to combine navigation and communication capabilities. Sanyark Space raised $2 million in pre-seed funding earlier from Avaana Capital, AUM Ventures, SIDBI and T-Hub, and is planning to do its maiden satellite launch with SpaceX (rideshare mission) during Q1 2027.

More students choosing entrepreneurship over placements
The increase in student-led businesses has coincided with a rise in the number of students choosing entrepreneurship instead of conventional campus placements. Masters’ Union University said 22% of its 2026 cohort opted to build a company, compared with 7% of students in 2021.

The change indicates that entrepreneurship has become a more prominent career route within the institution over the past five years, alongside salaried employment. For students, building a company during college can offer an opportunity to test a business idea, develop a product, and seek external capital before entering the job market. But raising funding is only one stage of building a sustainable business.