Bengaluru-based deeptech startup DheyaTech has raised ₹43 crore in a funding round led by Avaana Capital, marking a new phase in the company's efforts to scale its indigenous gas turbine engine technology.

The funding round also includes participation from Unimech Aerospace and Manufacturing, which is working with DheyaTech as a strategic manufacturing partner. The company plans to use the fresh capital to expand manufacturing capacity, establish an integrated testing facility and accelerate the commercial deployment of its gas turbine engines.

The development comes as India's startup ecosystem continues to move beyond software and consumer businesses into highly specialised areas such as aerospace, propulsion, advanced manufacturing and energy technology.

Building Indigenous Gas Turbine Technology

Founded in 2018 by Gurushankara K C, Abhinav Alva and Chetan Kumar, DheyaTech focuses on developing small gas turbine engines and related energy technologies.

The company's engine portfolio covers thrust levels ranging from 20 kgf to 400 kgf, allowing its technology to address different propulsion requirements and applications. Its work spans aerospace and advanced aerial platforms, along with power-generation applications.

Developing a gas turbine engine involves much more than designing the engine itself. The technology requires expertise in areas including turbomachinery, combustion, materials, precision engineering, manufacturing, engine controls and testing.

DheyaTech has developed its technology through an in-house product development approach covering design, development, assembly and testing. The company has also developed an adaptive Engine Control Unit (ECU) for its gas turbine systems.

From Engineering to Manufacturing

For a deeptech company, developing a working technology is only one part of the challenge. The next step is turning that technology into a reliable product that can be manufactured, tested and eventually deployed at scale.

This is where DheyaTech's latest funding becomes significant for the company.

The ₹43 crore investment is expected to support manufacturing expansion and the creation of an integrated testing facility. The facility will help the company strengthen its testing and validation capabilities as it moves towards larger-scale production.

DheyaTech has also entered into a strategic manufacturing partnership with Unimech Aerospace and Manufacturing, which is supporting the precision manufacturing of gas turbine components and systems.

The combination of specialised engineering and manufacturing capabilities is intended to help DheyaTech move from technology development towards commercial production.

Flight Trials Targeted for 2026

DheyaTech is now preparing for the next stage of its development, with the company targeting flight trials in the fourth quarter of 2026.

The startup has also said it has received confirmed orders from Indian and global original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). These developments indicate that the company is working towards applications beyond laboratory and prototype environments.

For aerospace propulsion systems, testing and certification are particularly important because engines must meet demanding requirements for reliability, safety and performance before they can be deployed.

DheyaTech is pursuing independent airworthiness certification for its gas turbine engines under the guidance of the Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification (CEMILAC), a DRDO laboratory.

Expanding Beyond Conventional Propulsion

DheyaTech's technology development is not limited to conventional gas turbine propulsion.

The company is also working on hydrogen-based energy technologies. In collaboration with theIndian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, DheyaTech has developed a hydrogen-based flexi-fuel combustor for a 60 kW flexi-fuel turbogenerator.

The company has also developed a hydrogen blower and is working on hydrogen-based propulsion and power-generation systems.

These projects place DheyaTech at the intersection of several technology areas, including aerospace, distributed power generation, advanced manufacturing and alternative fuels.

Why Indigenous Engine Technology Matters

Gas turbine engines are complex systems that require specialised engineering knowledge and manufacturing capabilities. Building these capabilities domestically can potentially create opportunities across a wider industrial ecosystem, from precision components and materials to testing, electronics and specialised manufacturing.

For startups working in deeptech, the path from an engineering concept to a commercially deployable product can also be considerably longer than it is for many software businesses.

DheyaTech's latest funding therefore represents more than a conventional startup investment round. It provides capital for the company to move further into manufacturing, testing, certification and commercial deployment.

The involvement of a manufacturing partner also demonstrates the importance of collaboration between technology startups and established industrial capabilities when complex hardware needs to be produced at scale.

A New Phase for DheyaTech

With ₹43 crore in fresh funding, an expanded manufacturing focus and an integrated testing facility planned, DheyaTech is entering a new stage of its journey.

The immediate priorities include increasing production capabilities, strengthening testing infrastructure, progressing through certification and preparing its engines for commercial applications.

The company's targeted flight trials in Q4 2026 will be another important milestone as it works to take its gas turbine technology from development towards real-world deployment.

DheyaTech's journey reflects a broader shift in India's startup landscape, where entrepreneurs are increasingly working on problems that require engineering, manufacturing, scientific research and long-term technology development alongside traditional startup skills.

As the company moves forward, its progress will depend on how successfully it can translate its engineering capabilities into reliable products, scale manufacturing and meet the technical and certification requirements of its target markets.

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