Sanlayan Raises Rs 186 Cr in Series A from Ashish Kacholia, Other Investors

Defence tech start-up Sanlayan Technologies has raised ₹186 crore in Series A funding round led Hungama Digital cofounder Ashish Kacholia, Alchemy Capital cofounder Lashit Sanghvi, and Singapore-based Jungle Ventures. Some existing investors, including Gemba Capital and Singularity Ventures, along with the new player Shastra VC also participated in this round.

“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,” said Rishab Malik, Partner at Jungle Ventures.

Sanlayan Technologies, founded in 2023 by ex-Zetwerk executives Abhijit Kothawale, Rohan Gala, and Rahul Vamsidhar, is carving a niche in the high-tech electronics space with a focus on defence, aerospace, and space applications.

The start-up develops and manufactures mission-critical electronic systems for use in avionics, naval operations, radar infrastructure, and satellite-based platforms. Its solutions power everything from space communication and exploration to tracking and monitoring in orbit.

With fresh access to capital, the start-up is positioned to double down on its approach and contribute towards programs of national strategic importance.

Speaking about the investment, Sanlayan cofounder and CEO Rohan Gala said Indian defence sector is at a one-in-a-generation inflection point.

“We will continue to acquire capabilities both organically and inorganically. We are allocating capital for the 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,” he said.

"What drew us to Sanlayan was their clear understanding of India’s defence electronics landscape, and their hybrid strategy to solve 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.” said Kacholia.

Previously, Sanlayan raised ₹36 crores in March 2024 in a transaction led by Singapore-headquartered Jungle Ventures. They acquired a majority stake in Dexcel Electronics, an ESDM firm with a 25-year legacy, that has contributed to marquee programs including Jaguar, Sukhoi, LCA Tejas and Chandrayaan-3.

Sanlayan is also developing AESA Radar for India’s unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) program, with its in-house R&D capabilities. They have formed partnerships with five Indian start-ups and foreign OEMs for joint development of cutting-edge solutions.