From launching rockets to launching startups, Preetham’s aerospace career is taking flight

From launching rockets to launching startups, Preetham’s aerospace career is taking flight

After creating his own startup in the space industry and winning a prestigious entrepreneurship award, RMIT student Preetham is making the most of his time as an international student.

Preetham Akula can pinpoint the exact moment he found his calling.

“I went to school in Warangal, a small district in Telangana state, in the southern part of India.”

There, he says, he dreamed of becoming a pilot. But it was after a fateful visit to the Indian Air Force Camp during high school that he realised he wanted to pursue a career in the space industry. And that’s exactly what he’s doing now! As a current student of RMIT’s Bachelor of Aerospace Engineering (Honours), Preetham’s global career has well and truly taken flight.

Preetham winning an entrepreneurship award at VIEA Preetham winning an entrepreneurship award at VIEA

Turning an idea into a successful business

“Akula Tech, my startup, is disrupting the space industry. Our smart satellites can process data in space, in real-time, and extract the necessary intel in a matter of minutes and send back to the end user. The satellites can also learn and improve their operations autonomously, by re-training the on-board AI.”

With their first satellite launching in 2025, Preetham’s venture is revolutionising intelligence gathering from space, which has critical applications on earth. One such application is the monitoring of the Australian landscape for bushfires and reporting on them early.

“So many novel technologies and products that we use today — like camera phones and water purification technology — are byproducts of aerospace and space engineering missions, and it’s very rewarding to be part of such a revolutionary industry.”

How hands-on learning gives you a head start

As an international student from India, Preetham says that one of the reasons he chose RMIT was because he wanted to gain lots of hands-on experience as well as theoretical knowledge. 

hive-rocketry-team-1220x720 The RMIT HIVE team at work

“One of the most rewarding experiences I had during my studies was working with the HIVE rocketry team. We designed and built a rocket to fly over 9km high, and the team I was part of won the inaugural Australian Universities Rocketry Competition in the 30,000 ft category. This was one experience that made me fall in love with rockets and satellites!

“I got access to and was trained in how to use advanced manufacturing facilities at RMIT. This experience became fundamental to my startup idea: to accelerate the production timelines of our novel software-defined smart satellites.”

From making friends to making business partners

As somebody who has been a very active member of his university community, Preetham says that his advice to any new student is to get involved in as much as they can on campus.

“I found student clubs to be very helpful in building a network and making new friends, some of whom are now working with me in my startup! I was also part of a few sessions at RMIT Activator, which really helped me to clear up some of the ambiguity that I had during the initial stages of my startup, and that knowledge really set me up for success with my pre-seed fundraising.” 

In 2023, Preetham’s startup secured $1M in pre-seed funding from an angel investor, which played a pivotal role in jump-starting the company’s early-stage development. And less than a year later, Preetham won the new entrepreneurship category at the Victorian International Education Awards 2024 — a testament to all his hard work and dedication.  

When asked what he plans to do once he graduates, Preetham is confident in the direction he’s headed.  

“I would say I am already in my dream job, running my own startup! But my studies at RMIT gave me a significant head start in this exciting journey.”

Story: Sophie MacGillivray

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aboriginal flag
torres strait flag

Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business.

More information