Emergent Ventures lists SpaceTug and Hardlight founders as grantees

Emergent Ventures has announced grants to SpaceTug cofounder and chief executive Hari Shankar Ramalingam and to Sudharsanam for Hardlight’s orbital-robot work. Tyler Cowen named the recipients in the programme’s 20th India cohort announcement on October 25, 2026.

Ramalingam’s grant is for developing and validating autonomous spacecraft technologies for satellite servicing, inspection and life extension in orbit, according to the announcement. Cowen describes that work as taking place ahead of orbital demonstrations.

Sudharsanam’s grant is for Hardlight’s development of autonomous space robots to assemble and maintain assets in low Earth orbit. The announcement lists space stations, data centres and factories among the intended applications.

The notice names the individuals as grant recipients and does not disclose either award’s value or a disbursement date. It also gives no dated orbital demonstration schedule for either project. The announcement establishes grants for development work; it does not establish that either venture has demonstrated the described capabilities in orbit.