Green Aero, an Indian deep-tech startup based in New Delhi, has successfully raised $1.6 million in a seed funding round led by pi Ventures, with participation from Antler. The funding will be utilized to support research and development, team expansion, and the establishment of an in-house testing facility as the company gears up for commercial pilots in the defence and civil aviation sectors. Founded in 2023 by Prithwish Kundu, a former research scientist at the US Department of Energy, Green Aero is currently incubated at IIT Delhi and focuses on building propulsion technologies for aerospace, naval, and zero-emission hydrogen aviation applications. One of the notable achievements of Green Aero is the successful test-firing of India's first hydrogen-based aero engine core, named The Blue Dragon. The company aims to disrupt the traditional reliance on imported turbine engines by developing core propulsion systems domestically, targeting both defence and sustainable civil aviation markets. Their aero engines are designed to be twice as efficient as current global models, incorporating innovative features like proprietary turbine technology, fuel-flexible combustors, swirl-stabilised injectors, and superalloy components produced through additive manufacturing. In addition to enhancing efficiency, Green Aero is exploring high-thrust supersonic propulsion and plans to introduce a small-category commercial engine within the next year. The company also has a long-term roadmap for the development of a larger engine platform. Their vision is to contribute to a cleaner aviation future by creating lightweight, multi-fuel engines that cater to modern aviation requirements while minimizing environmental impact. Founder Prithwish Kundu expressed his excitement about being a pioneer in advanced aero engine technologies in India and globally. Managing Director at pi Ventures, Shubham Sandeep, highlighted Green Aero's commitment to building world-class aero engines with a focus on efficiency and performance, aligning with their goal of promoting self-reliance in propulsion technology and clean aviation practices. Green Aero's development strategy involves intensive R&D, subsystem testing, and innovative design and materials to achieve their goal of sustainable and efficient aero engines.