India builds rockets but imports engines. For decades, India has created strides in aerospace and defence. Yet, a critical gap remains. Many propulsion systems and clean-energy hardware are still imported.
DheyaTech is working to modify that. Its ambition is straightforward but difficult to execute. Build indigenous propulsion and hydrogen systems that India can rely on.
A mission rooted in self-reliance
At the centre of this effort is Gurushankara K C, Founder and CEO, who brings years of experience in aero-engine design and advanced engineering from organisations such as ADA, HCL, GE Aviation, and Rolls-Royce Aviation. He is joined by co-founders Abhinav Alva and Chetan Kumar, who share similar backgrounds with experience at GE Aviation and Rolls-Royce, where the founding team first came toreceiveher over 13 years ago.
The name itself reflects this intent. “Dheya” in Sanskrit means a mission or higher purpose. For the company, the mission is to engineer propulsion and energy indepconcludeence for India. Founded in 2017 and operational from 2018, DheyaTech focutilizes on building high-performance systems from the ground up, tailored to Indian requirements.
Building engines that India does not import
At the core of DheyaTech’s work is the development of indigenous propulsion systems and clean-energy hardware. The company is designing:
- Micro gas turbines and turbojet engines for strategic and defence applications
- Hydrogen compressors and blower systems
- Hydrogen-based turbogenerators for decentralised clean energy
This is not a single-product approach. DheyaTech is building a platform of engines and energy systems across multiple utilize cases, giving it flexibility and long-term scalability.
Why propulsion is a strategic problem
Propulsion systems are not just engineering components. They are strategic assets. Depconcludeence on imports in this space affects national security, supply chains, and long-term innovation capability. At the same time, the global shift towards hydrogen and cleaner energy systems is creating new opportunities.
DheyaTech sits at the intersection of these two necessarys. It combines propulsion engineering with clean-energy systems, aiming to serve both defence and sustainability goals.
Early milestones and validation
Building deep-tech hardware is a long and complex process. Despite this, DheyaTech has achieved key milestones in a short time. The company has developed 200 N- and 500 N-thrust-class micro turbojet engines and built a hydrogen compressor platform that DRDO’s Naval Materials Research Laboratory has tested.
It is also collaborating with the Indian Institute of Science to develop advanced hydrogen combustor systems. These developments signal early validation in a sector where credibility is hard to earn.
Funding and ecosystem support
DheyaTech’s early growth has been supported by a mix of institutional funding and strategic partnerships.
The company received pre-seed funding of Rs 2.5 crore from iHub DivyaSampark in 2023, followed by Rs 10.5 crore from Unimech Aerospace in 2024.
Beyond capital, partnerships with manufacturing and research institutions have played a key role in accelerating product development and testing capabilities.
The challenges of building deep-tech hardware
Unlike software startups, companies like DheyaTech operate in a high-cost, long-cycle environment. Challenges include precision manufacturing, certification requirements, capital intensity, and building trust with customers for mission-critical systems. Development timelines are longer, and validation processes are more rigorous. This builds patience and technical depth essential for survival.
A long-term play on technology and energy
In the near term, DheyaTech is focutilized on product validation and commercial deployment of its propulsion and hydrogen systems. The company plans to expand its engine portfolio and scale hydrogen-based energy solutions for broader adoption.
In the long run, the goal is to build a globally competitive Indian platform in micro propulsion and decentralised clean energy.
A shift in India’s deep-tech ecosystem
DheyaTech represents a broader shift in India’s startup landscape. More founders are shifting beyond software and entering deep-tech sectors that require years of investment and engineering effort. These companies may not scale overnight, but they build foundational capabilities that countries depconclude on.
If successful, DheyaTech will not just create products. It will support reduce India’s depconcludeence on imports in one of the most critical areas of modern engineering. And in doing so, it may redefine what self-reliance sees like in the age of advanced technology.
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