Startup Originals Team
For many children, seeing an aircraft for the first time becomes a moment of fascination. But for Shreepoorna S Rao, that curiosity turned into a mission to build advanced aerial systems for the future.
Today, at just 24 years old, he is the founder of Arctus Aerospace, a deep-tech startup developing high-altitude unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) designed for long-duration aerial monitoring and defence applications.
Recently, the company raised $2.6 million in funding from global investors, marking a major milestone for India’s growing aerospace innovation ecosystem.
The School Visit That Changed Everything
Shreepoorna’s interest in aerospace began when he was in 7th standard during a school competition visit to Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur.
There, he saw:
- Aircraft models
- Wind tunnels
- Aerospace research demonstrations
That single experience sparked a deep curiosity about flight and aircraft design—an interest that stayed with him through school, competitive exams, and college life.
Even during the uncertainty of the COVID years and the pressure of JEE preparation, his focus on aerospace never faded.
Choosing the Ecosystem Over the Branch
Although Shreepoorna wanted to study Aeronautical Engineering, he was allotted Civil Engineering at Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras).
Instead of viewing it as a setback, he made a strategic decision:
Choose the ecosystem, not just the branch.
That decision became a turning point in his journey.
At IIT Madras, he gained access to:
- Aerospace clubs
- Research labs
- Product design communities
- Professors and technical mentors
- Like-minded innovators
This environment helped strengthen both his technical skills and entrepreneurial vision.
Building Arctus Aerospace
Over time, the idea for Arctus Aerospace began taking shape.
The startup is developing:
- High-altitude unmanned aerial vehicles
- Long-duration aerial monitoring systems
- Aircraft capable of flying up to 45,000 feet
Its UAV systems are designed for multiple real-world applications, including:
- Flood monitoring
- Railway track inspection
- Dam safety analysis
- Infrastructure monitoring
- Communication resilience
- Defence-related operations
The company’s goal is to build reliable aerial systems capable of capturing high-resolution data across large areas for extended periods.
The Arctus AX-1 and Future Vision
One of the company’s experimental aircraft, Arctus AX-1, has already demonstrated the startup’s early technological capabilities.
The larger long-term vision is to create:
- High-endurance UAV systems
- Aircraft capable of sustained high-altitude operations
- Advanced aerial intelligence platforms for civilian and defence sectors
This places Arctus Aerospace within India’s fast-growing deep-tech and aerospace startup ecosystem.
Funding Boost and Investor Confidence
The startup recently raised $2.6 million from global investors, reflecting growing confidence in:
- India’s aerospace innovation ecosystem
- Indigenous drone and UAV technologies
- Young deep-tech founders building globally competitive products
Funding will likely support:
- Product development
- Testing and R&D
- Manufacturing capabilities
- Expansion of technical teams
The Bigger Picture
India’s aerospace and drone sectors are rapidly evolving due to:
- Increased defence modernisation
- Demand for aerial intelligence systems
- Infrastructure monitoring needs
- Government support for indigenous technology
Startups like Arctus Aerospace are becoming part of a new generation of Indian deep-tech companies building advanced hardware and engineering-driven products.
Conclusion
From a school visit that sparked curiosity to building high-altitude UAV systems at 24, Shreepoorna S Rao’s journey shows how passion, persistence, and the right ecosystem can shape groundbreaking innovation.
With Arctus Aerospace now attracting investor confidence and building advanced aerial systems, the young founder is helping push India’s aerospace ambitions to new heights.
