Pixxel Raises $36 Million Led by Google to Build Hyperspectral Satellite Constellation

• ByStartupStory     |    June 2, 2023

Bengaluru-based space startup Pixxel on Thursday said it has raised $36 million in funding led by new investor Google. Other participants in the round included existing investors Radical Ventures, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Blume Ventures, growX, Sparta, and Athera Venture Partners.

In a recent blog post, Pixxel announced that the newly acquired funds will accelerate its objective of creating a hyperspectral satellite constellation to provide climate insights on a global level. The funding will also contribute to the advancement of Aurora, Pixxel’s AI-powered analytics platform for hyperspectral analysis. With this latest round of funding, Pixxel has successfully raised a total of $71 million in venture funding.

Pixxel’s satellite data will play a crucial role in enabling global organizations to closely monitor and analyze various environmental factors, such as emissions, water pollution, gas leaks, oil spills, soil composition, forest biodiversity, and crop health. This detailed and high-speed monitoring will provide unprecedented insights and benefits.

The latest cash infusion is directed towards Pixxel meeting its target to launch six satellites in 2024 and 18 other satellites by 2025, it said. “At Pixxel, we believe that the future of our planet lies in our ability to monitor and protect its health precisely… We’re incredibly grateful to our world-class investors for their unwavering support and belief in our vision and are excited to work together to create a meaningful positive impact on the future of our planet,” Awais Ahmed, cofounder and chief executive of Pixxel, said.

Utilizing hyperspectral imaging, Pixxel’s satellites employ a technique that goes beyond traditional RGB color assignments by analyzing a broad spectrum of light. These advanced satellites are capable of capturing images at numerous wavelengths across the electromagnetic spectrum. This enables them to unveil crucial data regarding the overall health and condition of the planet.

Pixxel’s hyperspectral satellite constellation and advanced data analytics platform are projected to deliver up to ten times more information than current multispectral satellites in space. The company also asserts that the spectral resolution will increase by 50 times. Over the past year, Pixxel has successfully deployed three pathfinder missions into orbit and has expanded its customer base by fivefold. In a significant achievement, the company secured a five-year contract in March to supply technical hyperspectral imagery to the United States’ National Reconnaissance Organization (NRO).

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