Airport operations technology startup Blunav has secured $1 million (approximately Rs 9.4 crore) in seed funding led by venture capital firm Piper Serica. The Chennai-based company plans to deploy the capital to enhance its cloud-based platform, scale its team, and accelerate deployments across India and select international markets over the next two years.
Founded by aeronautical engineer Suseendar Marimuthu—who has worked with DRDO and the United Nations—and telecom engineer Cherukuru Sridharan, a veteran of airport IT systems, Blunav focuses on digitising and integrating critical airport functions for operational efficiency and safety.
Integrated platform for airport operations
Blunav is developing a cloud-based Airport Operating System (AOS) designed to unify disparate airport systems onto a single interface. The platform enables centralised management of flight operations, gate allocation, passenger services, airside activities, and commercial functions, reducing reliance on fragmented legacy software.
The system includes real-time tracking of aircraft and ground support equipment, safety alerts, and incident monitoring. By feeding live operational data into Airport Operations Control Centres (AOCC), the platform aims to support faster, data-driven decision-making. Blunav is targeting small and mid-sized airports that often depend on manual workflows due to the high cost of conventional aviation software.
Positive pilot at Chennai International Airport
Blunav piloted its Airside Management suite at Chennai International Airport under the Airports Authority of India’s Startup India programme. Over a 20-day study covering more than 3,500 flights, the software reduced runway occupancy time by 22%, according to the company.
The pilot also optimised the Rapid Exit Taxiway (RET Victor), cutting average runway occupancy from 59 seconds to 46 seconds and adding an estimated 147 minutes of runway capacity. Following the trial, Chennai Airport integrated Blunav’s platform into daily operations.
Funding to drive product and market expansion
The fresh capital will support hiring across engineering and operations, accelerate product development, and back new deployments in India and abroad. The company’s roadmap aligns with India’s regional aviation push under schemes such as UDAN and Atmanirbhar Bharat, positioning locally developed, cost-effective airport software as an alternative to expensive imported solutions for smaller airports.
