Bengaluru Startup Shields Data from Future Quantum Hackers

Imagine a world where today's strongest digital locks become as useless as a diary with a broken clasp. That future could arrive within a decade, when quantum computers gain the power to shatter current encryption, and one Bengaluru startup is racing to prevent digital chaos.

Pramatra Space has developed a tiny photonics chip that generates unbreakable encryption keys using quantum physics. Founded in late 2022 by Richa Hukumchand, a former scientist with India's DRDO, the company is preparing to launch quantum-secure communication systems from satellites by 2027.

The startup's technology works by creating pairs of entangled photons, light particles linked at the quantum level. These photons generate encryption keys that travel from satellites in low-Earth orbit down to ground stations, then onward to data centers and critical infrastructure. Unlike traditional security systems that struggle over long distances, Pramatra's chip works across both fiber optic cables and open air.

Richa discovered the need for quantum security while handling sensitive satellite imagery at spacetech company Pixxel. "I realized there was no next-gen security layer for such sensitive payloads," she explains. The 11-member team was selected for the prestigious Techstars Base Accelerator program in 2024.

The company's proprietary chip has already been validated and is now being integrated into two systems. The first, designed for data centers, should be ready in three months. The second, built for space deployment, is on track for completion by year's end, with an in-orbit demonstration booked for 2027.

Why This Inspires

Security experts predict "Q Day," when quantum computers break current encryption, could happen within five to 10 years. Pramatra isn't waiting for the crisis. They're building the shield before the storm arrives.

Their timing couldn't be better. As artificial intelligence demands ever-larger data centers packed with powerful GPUs, the need to protect that infrastructure from future threats grows more urgent. Pramatra has already signed an agreement with Japan's Infostellar Inc. to develop quantum key distribution networks for secure space communications.

The startup recently closed a pre-seed funding round led by Seafund Ventures and is preparing for a seed round to fund their commercial satellite launch. If their timeline holds, a full commercial satellite grid could be operational by 2028, creating a quantum-safe network spanning the globe.

COO Vinay Hukumchand believes the space industry has reached a turning point. "We are evolving at a time when the industry is finally ready to use space-delivered products at scale," he says.

In a world racing toward quantum computing, Pramatra Space is making sure our secrets stay secret.