Green Aero, a deeptech startup, has successfully raised USD 1.6 million in a seed funding round led by Pi Ventures, with participation from Antler. The company is pioneering the development of India's first indigenous hydrogen-powered aero engine core, aiming to introduce the product to the market by 2025. The Founder and CEO of Green Aero, Prithwish Kundu, highlighted the company's dual strategy of advancing next-generation turbine engines for higher thermal efficiency and localizing propulsion technologies for both civilian and defense aviation sectors. Green Aero differentiates itself by working on fuel-agnostic engines that can operate on hydrogen or liquid fossil fuels. The recent unveiling of their hydrogen-based aero engine core, named Blue Dragon, marks a significant achievement in aerospace innovation in India. While hydrogen will be utilized for civilian applications, defense aviation will continue to rely on fossil fuels due to their higher energy density. The startup's focus on extensive research and development is evident, with more than 95% of their spending dedicated to R&D efforts. Green Aero aims to enhance its test and R&D facility, expand the engineering team, and accelerate hardware and engine development using the raised capital. Challenges such as talent acquisition and the precision manufacturing ecosystem are being actively addressed to drive progress. Looking ahead, Green Aero envisions itself as a key player in drone engine propulsion initially, with a broader ambition to lead aerospace innovation globally. The positive evolution in India's defense-tech policy environment, coupled with initiatives like the Startup India Seed Fund and iDEX, has been instrumental in supporting deeptech startups. The company looks forward to continued policy enhancements to facilitate sustainable growth and innovation.