Sanlayan Secures Rs 186 Crore Funding to Boost Indigenous Defence Electronics Innovation
Sanlayan Technologies, a Bengaluru-based aerospace and defence electronics startup, has made headlines by securing Rs 186 crore in an oversubscribed Series A funding round. This significant investment was led by renowned investors Ashish Kacholia, Lashit Sanghvi, and Jungle Ventures, with continued support from Gemba Capital, Singularity Ventures, and new backing from Shastra VC. The fresh capital marks a pivotal moment for Sanlayan as it accelerates the development of indigenous defence technology in India.
Fueling India’s Defence Electronics Ecosystem
Sanlayan Technologies is on a mission to strengthen India’s self-reliance in defence electronics. The company has already made strategic moves, including the acquisition of a majority stake in Dexcel Electronics, an established ESDM (Electronic System Design and Manufacturing) firm. Dexcel has contributed to landmark Indian defence and aerospace programs such as Jaguar, Sukhoi, LCA Tejas, and Chandrayaan-3, further enhancing Sanlayan’s capabilities in advanced electronics manufacturing.
Earlier this year, Sanlayan raised Rs 36 crore from Jungle Ventures through its First Cheque@Jungle platform, demonstrating strong investor confidence in its vision and execution.
Pioneering Advanced Defence Technologies
Sanlayan is currently developing state-of-the-art AESA Radar systems for India’s unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) program, leveraging its robust in-house R&D expertise. The startup has also forged partnerships with five Indian startups and international OEMs to co-develop next-generation defence solutions, positioning itself at the forefront of defence technology innovation in India.
Rishab Malik, Partner at Jungle Ventures, commented, “Sanlayan’s ability to execute at both operational and strategic levels has been outstanding. The revenue ramp-up at Dexcel, combined with strategic capital and Sanlayan’s operating discipline, reinforces our confidence in their ability to scale sustainably across the defence electronics value chain.”
A Unique Approach to Building Defence Capabilities
Sanlayan Technologies follows a distinctive three-pronged strategy to bolster its capabilities:
- Acquiring and scaling established Indian defence MSMEs
- Developing proprietary, in-house technologies
- Forming global alliances with leading defence players
With the latest funding, Sanlayan aims to double down on this approach, contributing to programs of national strategic importance and supporting India’s vision of defence indigenization.
Ashish Kacholia, one of the lead investors, shared, “What drew us to Sanlayan was their clear understanding of India’s defence electronics landscape and their hybrid strategy to address it. This is not just a business opportunity; it’s a national imperative. We’re proud to back a team that’s accelerating indigenous capability and contributing meaningfully to India’s national security.”
Investing in Talent and Future Growth
Sanlayan is preparing for rapid expansion, planning to increase its engineering team fivefold in the next six months. The company is actively recruiting domain experts, R&D scientists, retired armed forces veterans, and senior leaders from both public and private defence sectors. This talent infusion will help Sanlayan scale its research, design, and manufacturing operations to meet the growing demands of India’s defence sector.
Rohan Gala, Co-founder & CEO of Sanlayan, emphasized, “India’s defence sector is at a once-in-a-generation inflection point. We will continue to acquire capabilities both organically and inorganically. We are allocating capital for proactive development of critical technologies for CUAS and EW systems. In the last six months, we have strengthened Dexcel’s design and manufacturing capabilities and are now gearing up to execute large-scale indigenisation and upgrade programs.”
Powering India’s Defence Technology Future
With this substantial Series A funding, Sanlayan Technologies is poised to play a crucial role in advancing India’s indigenous defence electronics ecosystem. By combining strategic acquisitions, in-house innovation, and global partnerships, Sanlayan is helping India achieve self-reliance in defence technology and contributing to national security.
