Five Andhra University graduates founded Taramandal, a space firm that has earned the Best Emerging Start-up of the Year 2023 award from Headstart, India’s largest grassroots-level organization supporting startups. The alumni from the Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Departments of AU are currently looking for possible investors for their energy-efficient advanced sub-system of satellites. It is technically called the Attitude Determination & Control System or Attitude & Orbital Control System. A minimum of 1 crore is required for the sub-system, and its simulation phase (design and paperwork) has been completed so far.

"The Taramandal team is looking for possible investors for their unique sub-system. Once it is successfully fabricated in the lab, it can be used in satellites launched by organizations like ISRO", the startup’s mentor, Prof. Mallikarjuna Rao from the Department of Electrical Engineering, said. According to Prof. Rao, in space science and its operations, rockets usually launch satellites at targeted orbits. “Taramandal is working on some advanced and energy-efficient sub-systems of the satellite. We hope that our product can save energy and be good at work to keep the satellite in the correct orbit after launch", Prof. Rao added.

A. Vineel Judson, one of the founders of Taramandal, the first space startup from Andhra Pradesh incubated at the AU A-Hub Incubation Centre, said that it is a pioneering space technology company. “My other co-founders are D. Rajesh, M. Gautam, T. Neelakanthasevara Reddy and N. Rama Jaya Lakshmi". Mr. Judson said that recently Headstart launched India’s largest pitching competition for which it received more than 2,000 applications from 20 plus cities. Taramandal is part of Bharat Pitchathon 2.0 shortlisted in the Top 15 and awarded Best Emerging Start-up of the Year 2023 in the space sector, he added. This apart, Taramandal has been recognized by various organizations such as IN-SPACE, ISRO, Australian Space Agency (ASA), Taiwan Space Agency (TASA), SIA-INDIA, ISPA, CII, etc for its critical innovative space technologies. According to the creators of Taramandal, G. Amarnath, Minister of Industries, also pledged support.