Dr. Satyanarayanan Chakravarthy, widely known as Professor Satya, is a pioneering figure in India's deep tech ecosystem. Currently serving as a Professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at IIT Madras and Head of the National Center for Combustion Research and Development (NCCRD), he has built one of the world's largest combustion research facilities.

An IIT Madras alumnus (B.Tech Aerospace, 1987-1991) with a PhD from Georgia Tech, Dr. Chakravarthy returned to his alma mater as faculty in 1997-1998. As a serial entrepreneur, Professor Satya has founded and co-founded several groundbreaking companies:

• The ePlane Company - founded in 2018, developing India's first electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft for urban mobility
• Agnikul Cosmos - co-founded in 2017, pioneering 3D printed rocket engines for affordable orbital-class launch vehicles
• GalaxEye - co-founded in 2021, the world's only satellite company combining SAR with multi-spectral imaging for 24/7 Earth observation
• Aerostrovilos Energy - co-founded in 2017, developing micro gas turbines for accessible power applications
• X2 Fuels - converting municipal solid waste into crude oil

He also co-founded TuTr Hyperloop in 2022, working on revolutionary transportation technology that could connect Chennai to Bangalore in just 15-25 minutes.

Dr. Chakravarthy's philosophy centers on "following one's heart" and being "impatient to break barriers but patient to achieve them." He believes in the power of deep tech innovation to solve real-world problems and advocates for pursuing ambitious projects within India, viewing engineering as a means to build products that genuinely impact people's lives.

We interviewed Professor Satyanarayanan Chakravarthy at the Best Place to Build Podcast and you can't miss this conversation.

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