Meet 8 Tamil Nadu startups that showcased their innovations to PM Modi

When Prime Minister Narendra Modi travelled aboard the Chennai Metro with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay recently, the journey also provided an unusual platform for entrepreneurs to present their ideas.

More than 15 startup founders reportedly joined the interaction, bringing innovations from fields ranging from spacetech and aviation to healthcare, agriculture and urban finance.

Here are eight companies and a closer look at the problems they are trying to solve.

1. Dream Aerospace Technologies

Sector - Spacetech | Chennai

During his interaction with PM Modi, Dream Aerospace Technologies founder, CEO and CTO Hari Krishnan KJ discussed the company's propulsion systems for satellites, spacecraft and re-entry vehicles. These systems provide the thrust needed to manoeuvre spacecraft.

Founded in 2022, the startup has a team of around 25 people, with an average age of approximately 25. Krishnan recalled that the Prime Minister asked about the company’s founding, team size and employees’ average age, and was surprised by how young the team was.

The conversation also covered the growing satellite industry and the company’s expansion plans. Krishnan told the PM that the startup was focusing on increasing domestic manufacturing capacity, with customer orders lined up for the next two to three years.

He also highlighted how IN-SPACe had helped private space companies access India’s space ecosystem.

2. Blunav Technologies

Sector - Aviation technology | Chennai

Blunav Technologies is developing software to manage airport operations, bringing together information on aircraft movements, passenger services and baggage handling. Founder and CEO Suseendar Marimuthu told PM Modi that the company had designed its platform specifically for small and medium-sized airports, where replacing existing systems can be expensive.

The Prime Minister was particularly interested in how the technology could support regional connectivity under the UDAN scheme. Marimuthu said Modi wanted to see the platform trialled at a UDAN airport.

The conversation also turned to the company’s international expansion. Recalling the PM’s advice, Marimuthu said, “Always remember that this is an Indian company... and you are an Indian. So be proud to wear that as a badge wherever you go.”

The exchange came as India pushes to expand regional aviation and develop more airports under the modified UDAN scheme.

3. Grahaa Space

Sector - Spacetech | Karur

Grahaa Space is developing a constellation of earth-observation nanosatellites to stream near-real-time video data of the Earth's surface. Co-founder and CEO Ramesh Kumar described the ambition as building an “eye in the sky”.

During his interaction with PM Modi, Kumar showed him photographs of the company’s two launch attempts, its SOLARAS satellite and the technology it is developing. Its first launch attempt, from Brazil in December 2025, ended in failure when the rocket exploded. However, in July 2026, the company successfully deployed SOLARAS into low Earth orbit aboard Skyroot Aerospace’s Vikram-1 rocket.

Kumar also explained the company’s proprietary, modular satellite platform and communication systems. He recalled that the Prime Minister enquired about its payloads and appreciated the startup's contribution to India’s growing space economy.

“He assured me that the Government of India would provide all required support for spacetech startups like ours,” Kumar said.

4. FarmwiseAI

Sector - Agritech | Chennai

FarmwiseAI applies artificial intelligence and geospatial analytics to agriculture and land management. Its technology uses satellite imagery and geographical data to help map agricultural land and generate information useful for planning and administration.

The company says it began working with the Tamil Nadu Agriculture Department and Tamil Nadu Agricultural University in 2021. It also reports completing a statewide Field Measurement Book mapping programme covering more than 4.5 crore land parcels, 45 lakh survey numbers and 17,700 villages.

5. Thazhal Geospatial Analytics

Sector - Climatetech | Tirunelveli

Based in Tirunelveli, Thazhal Geospatial Analytics uses satellite imagery, drone data and Internet of Things sensors to monitor physical assets and assess environmental risks. Its work translates geographical information into insights that can help lenders, insurers, businesses and government agencies understand risks associated with infrastructure and climate conditions.

Founder Vignesh Kandasamy reportedly discussed applications including monitoring construction progress, identifying potential delays and assessing roads, bridges, lakes and mangrove ecosystems. During the Metro interaction, he told reporters that PM Modi had specifically asked whether the technology could be used to monitor roads and bridges.

6. Diagno Intelligent Systems

Sector - Healthcare technology | Chennai

Diagno Intelligent Systems is developing an AI-based tool to screen patients for osteoporosis, a condition that weakens bones and increases the risk of fractures.

Its product, iOsteoporos Screen, analyses conventional chest X-rays to measure features of the clavicle, or collarbone, using a technique called radiogrammetry. These measurements are then used to estimate hip bone mineral density, an indicator of bone strength. The aim is to identify people who may be at risk and could benefit from further testing.

An important aspect of the approach is that it uses chest X-rays that patients may already have undergone, potentially reducing the need for additional imaging at the initial screening stage.

7. MEDxAI Innovations

Sector - Healthcare and life sciences | Kancheepuram

MEDxAI Innovations is working at the intersection of artificial intelligence, medical diagnostics and drug discovery. Founded by Dr Sheena C. Pravin, the Vellore Institute of Technology-incubated startup presented two platforms during the interaction with PM Modi.

The first, CerviLens, is designed to support cervical cancer pre-screening through AI-assisted colposcopy and Pap smear analysis. The system combines information from different screening methods to assess potential cervical lesions and support clinical decision-making. Its second platform, Quantum PharmX, applies AI and computational methods to drug discovery and molecular research.

8. Munify Datatech

Sector - Fintech and GovTech | Chennai

Munify Datatech works on a less conventional area of fintech. Instead of focusing on consumer payments or lending, it is building a data platform around municipal finances.

Its platform organises financial information from urban local bodies, including municipal budgets, audited accounts, property tax collections and expenditure patterns. It also uses this information to develop credit scores and assessments of municipal financial health.

The company’s website says its database covers more than 200 municipal corporations and contains thousands of municipal documents. It is also developing a platform to connect creditworthy cities and viable infrastructure projects with lenders and development partners.