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Deepti Sri · · 4 min read

Can India’s moon landing launch a spacetech funding bonanza?

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This has to be one of those days when I find myself swelling with pride for my Indian identity.

The recent achievement of India’s lunar landing serves as a tribute to the unsung heroes who quietly contribute to the country’s progress amid the cacophony of today’s media-driven world.

I recall an incident of a BBC anchor once questioning whether a nation grappling with issues like poverty should prioritize space exploration.

We’ve come a long way since then, with venture capitalists and investors now showing heightened interest in India’s spacetech startups. The success of the nation’s lunar mission is likely to further boost investor appetite in the sector.

In this week’s first Big Story, my colleague Lokesh talks about how many spacetech players have been getting attention from potential investors after the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft landed on the moon. But beyond funding, investors are looking at one more piece to drive the sector ahead.

Speaking of investors, bigwigs like Temasek, Wavemaker Impact, and Bill Gates-backed Breakthrough Energy Ventures are also making their way into the Indian market. However, their focus isn’t on space but rather on Asia’s rice fields.

These industry giants have launched a joint venture called Rize, which is developing a platform that can identify and implement the best practices for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in rice farming.

The litmus test for Rize: crafting a sustainable business framework that balances profitability with economic advantages for farmers.

Lastly, this week’s AI Odyssey analyzes the heated debate between AI-generated art and copyright laws after a US federal judge ruled that AI-created works cannot be granted the same copyright protection as those made by humans.

Deepti


THE BIG STORIES

1️⃣ Can Chandrayaan-3’s trip to the moon catalyze Indian spacetech funding boom?

Image credit: Timmy Loen


AI ODYSSEY


FYI


NEWS YOU SHOULD KNOW


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Deepti Sri