Pune: Olee.Space, a leading innovator in photonics and defense technology, has announced the appointment of Venkateswara Gowtama Mannava, former Chairman and Managing Director of Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), as its Strategic Production Advisor.
With over four decades of distinguished service in India’s defense electronics and technology sector, Venkateswara Gowtama Mannava brings strategic leadership, operational expertise, and innovation-driven growth experience to Olee.Space.
His appointment underscores the company’s commitment to advancing indigenous capabilities in defense aerospace and secure communication systems aligned with the Government of India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat vision.
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Venkateswara Gowtama Mannava to Strengthen Olee.Space’s Defense Innovation Strategy
In his new advisory capacity, Venkateswara Gowtama Mannava will guide Olee.Space in developing advanced defense electronic systems leveraging technologies such as LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) and Secure Communication Networks.
His expertise will play a key role in accelerating the company’s deployment timelines for high-performance systems and strengthening its international defense collaborations.
Commenting on the appointment, James Solomon, Founder and CEO of Olee.Space, stated, “Gowtama’s appointment represents a turning point for Olee.Space as we move forward to align our innovations with India’s strategic vision for defense and civilian use cases. His extensive experience in leading indigenous defense programmes will help us accelerate technology development and achieve operational excellence across our projects.”
A Distinguished Technocrat in India’s Defense Electronics Landscape
Venkateswara Gowtama Mannava previously served as the Chairman and Managing Director of BEL, where he played a pivotal role in strengthening the organization’s leadership in radar, communications, and electronic warfare systems. Under his leadership, BEL expanded its R&D collaborations and advanced innovation in defense electronics.
Expressing his enthusiasm about joining Olee.Space, Venkateswara Gowtama Mannava said, “Passion and commitment are driving the Olee.Space team to new frontiers. I am excited to join a team that is transforming how India develops and deploys cutting-edge defense technologies, and I look forward to contributing to its mission of technological superiority and self-reliance.”
Strengthening Olee.Space’s Vision for Strategic Technology Leadership
This appointment reinforces Olee.Space’s focus on combining deep operational expertise with emerging technology innovation to advance India’s strategic technology ecosystem.
Earlier this year, Olee.Space raised $3 million in seed funding from investors including BIG Global, IIM A Ventures, Rockstud Capital, and SIDBI. The addition of Venkateswara Gowtama Mannava as Strategic Production Advisor further strengthens the company’s trajectory towards becoming a global leader in strategic photonics and defense communications.
