Onkar Singh Batra
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| Name | Onkar Singh Batra |
|---|---|
| Role | Entrepreneur, Space Technology Executive, Technologist |
| Personal Details | |
| Born | Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Career & Education | |
| Occupation | Entrepreneur, Space Technology Executive, Technologist |
| Education | Avenues The World School |
| Alma Mater | Avenues The World School |
| Institution | Apolink |
| Known For | Founding Apolink and developing satellite relay infrastructure for low Earth orbit |
| Years Active | 2010s–present |
| Recognition & Links | |
| Awards | Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar |
Onkar Singh Batra is an Indian entrepreneur and space technology executive known for founding Apolink, a Palo Alto-based space technology company developing satellite relay infrastructure for low Earth orbit. His career began with software and technology projects during childhood before progressing into satellite engineering and commercial space technology.
Batra attracted international attention at a young age for developing websites, writing a theoretical book, working on open-source satellite technology, and founding technology ventures. In his teenage years, he began focusing increasingly on space technology, eventually developing the concept that became the foundation for Apolink.
Early life
Onkar Singh Batra was born in Jammu, India. He developed an interest in computers and technology during childhood, influenced in part by exposure to the technology industry through his family.
At approximately seven years old, Batra began developing websites. His early interest in programming eventually expanded into broader technology projects and entrepreneurship.
During his school years, he experimented with software development, electronics, scientific research, and space-related technology.
Early technology work
Batra's early work included website development and software projects. At the age of seven, he was recognised by a record certification organisation for developing websites at a very young age.
In 2018, he founded Batra Technologies, a technology-focused venture. He subsequently established United India Publishing in 2019.
His early entrepreneurial activities demonstrated an interest in combining software development with independent technology projects.
Writing and theoretical work
At the age of 12, Batra wrote a 49-page work titled When The Time Stops. The work explored concepts related to time and challenged aspects of Albert Einstein's argument concerning time dilation.
His early writing contributed to his recognition as a young theoretical author and reflected his broader interest in physics and scientific ideas.
Batra continued exploring technology and science while completing his school education.
Work during the COVID-19 pandemic
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Batra worked on an interactive web-based platform designed to help people connect with doctors and access information related to the pandemic.
The project was developed with support from medical professionals associated with Government Medical College Jammu.
His work during this period contributed to his receiving the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar in the scholastic category. The award was presented by the President of India.
InQube satellite project
Batra's interest in space technology became more prominent during his teenage years.
While still a student in Jammu, he worked on InQube, an open-source satellite project based around a 1U CubeSat architecture.
The project was designed as a technology demonstrator for low-cost satellite development. It involved the development of satellite subsystems and provided Batra with practical experience in spacecraft engineering, embedded systems, communications, and orbital technology.
Working on InQube introduced him to one of the challenges associated with low Earth orbit satellite operations: spacecraft can lose direct communication with ground stations when they move beyond the station's line of sight.
This technical problem later became central to his work at Apolink.
Research and technical work
Batra has been involved in research and technical projects covering areas including embedded systems, software-defined radio, satellite development, real-time tracking, artificial intelligence, and biological image processing.
He has also been associated with research activities at IIT Jammu, including work connected with satellite development and engineering education.
His multidisciplinary background allowed him to combine software engineering with hardware development and space technology.
Apolink
In 2024, Batra founded Apolink, a space technology company headquartered in Palo Alto, California.
Apolink is developing a satellite relay network designed to provide continuous, low-latency communication for spacecraft operating in low Earth orbit.
Satellites in low Earth orbit move rapidly around the Earth and cannot maintain direct communication with a particular ground station throughout their entire orbit. When a satellite moves outside the station's line of sight, communication can be interrupted.
Apolink's technology is intended to address this problem by creating a relay layer between satellites and ground infrastructure.
Satellite relay technology
Apolink's system combines radio-frequency and optical inter-satellite links.
The company's architecture is designed to allow satellites to transmit data through relay spacecraft rather than depending exclusively on direct communication with ground stations.
A major objective of the system is compatibility with existing spacecraft. This approach could allow satellite operators to use relay infrastructure without completely redesigning their spacecraft.
The technology is intended for applications requiring continuous or near-continuous connectivity, including satellite data collection, Earth observation, communications, and other space-based services.
Y Combinator
Apolink joined the Y Combinator accelerator program in 2024.
Participation in the accelerator provided the company with access to funding, technical resources, mentorship, and connections within the international startup ecosystem.
The company subsequently continued developing its satellite relay technology from the United States.
Funding
Apolink raised approximately US$4.3 million in a seed funding round announced in 2025.
The funding round included investors such as Y Combinator, 468 Capital, Unshackled Ventures, Rebel Fund, and Maiora Ventures.
The investment was used to support the development of Apolink's satellite relay technology and its planned in-orbit demonstration.
IPoS demonstration satellite
Apolink developed its first demonstration satellite, known as IPoS.
The satellite was designed to demonstrate the company's relay technology in low Earth orbit and test communications capabilities in an actual space environment.
In July 2026, IPoS was launched aboard the SpaceX Transporter-17 rideshare mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
Following deployment, Apolink reported establishing contact with its first relay satellite.
The mission represented an important development in the company's transition from ground-based engineering and testing to in-orbit technology demonstrations.
Space technology development
Batra's work at Apolink focuses on the infrastructure required to support an increasingly large population of satellites in low Earth orbit.
As satellite constellations expand, reliable communication between spacecraft and ground stations becomes increasingly important. Relay networks can potentially allow spacecraft to exchange data without waiting for a direct ground-station pass.
Apolink's approach therefore focuses on building communication infrastructure that can operate across multiple satellite missions.
Young entrepreneur
Batra's age has been a notable part of his public profile. His technology career began during childhood and progressed from website development to satellite engineering and eventually to commercial space technology.
By his teenage years, he had already worked on several technology projects, founded companies, participated in research activities, and developed satellite technology.
His transition from projects in Jammu to establishing a space technology company in Silicon Valley has attracted attention from technology and entrepreneurship communities.
Career and technology focus
Batra's career spans software development, scientific research, satellite engineering, entrepreneurship, and space communications.
His work has increasingly concentrated on solving infrastructure problems associated with the growing use of satellites in low Earth orbit.
Through Apolink, he is focused on developing a communications layer that can provide satellite operators with more continuous access to data transmission and relay services.