About me
A deep-tech serial entrepreneur and Professor at IIT Madras, Professor Satya Chakravarthy brings a rare blend of entrepreneurial experience and academic expertise. His work spans aerospace, spacetech, artificial intelligence, and autonomous systems, drawing insights across multiple frontier technology ventures.
At IIT Madras, he leverages one of India's strongest research ecosystems to accelerate prototyping, testing, and access to top-tier talent. This foundation, combined with a strong track record, has enabled strategic partnerships across the deep-tech ecosystem.
From eVTOLs to rocket engines, he is making the impossible fly.
Driven by an insatiable curiosity for the skies and a vision for a transformed future, Professor Chakravarthy has seamlessly combined academic research with entrepreneurial action. He has founded ventures that address critical challenges in mobility, space, and aerial technologies. These include The ePlane Company (electric urban air mobility), GalaxEye (space-based intelligence), Agnikul (agile access to space), Amber Wings (drone systems), and TuTr Hyperloop (high-speed ground mobility), all contributing towards an integrated vision for the future of transportation.
Leading a US$60 million research facility, Professor Chakravarthy's funding expertise powers cutting-edge research at the National Centre for Combustion Research and Development (NCCRD). With The ePlane Company, his vision was never just to build a flying vehicle but to fundamentally rethink urban mobility. By enabling vertical take-off and landing from rooftops and parking lots, ePlane aims to unlock aerial mobility without requiring new infrastructure. Professor Chakravarthy actively contributes to public speaking and educational outreach. He has delivered two TEDx Talks on India's Space Programme and Defrastructure, alongside invited lectures such as "Ubiquitous Flying" for industry audiences at the Mahindra Technical Academy and Amadeus. His educational contributions also include a 55-lecture graduate course on Combustion available through NPTEL, as well as a semester-long course on Electric Aircraft Propulsion.
At the heart of his work is the philosophy of "Defrastructure"—the belief that technology should adapt to existing environments rather than wait for new infrastructure to be built. By designing solutions for today's constraints, he champions innovation that is agile, efficient, and built for real-world impact.
More than just startups, Professor Chakravarthy's ventures reflect a mindset that questions, explores, and builds. He continues to inspire the next generation of engineers and entrepreneurs to look beyond the horizon and create a cleaner, more accessible future.
