Google has marked its first investment in India’s space tech sector by leading a $36 million Series B funding round in Bengaluru-headquartered space-tech startup, Pixxel.
The round also saw participation from existing investors Lightspeed Venture Partners, Inventus Capital Partners, and Omnivore Partners.
About Pixxel
Pixxel is a space data company, building a constellation of hyperspectral earth imaging satellites and the analytical tools to mine insights from that data. The constellation is designed to provide global coverage every 24 hours, with the aim of detecting, monitoring, and predicting global phenomena.
Awais Ahmed is the Founder & CEO of Pixxel. He is from Bengaluru, Karnataka.
The company’s technology can be used for a variety of applications, including agriculture, forestry, disaster management, and climate change monitoring.
With this investment, Google is looking to accelerate Pixxel’s growth and help the company expand its reach into new markets. Google is also interested in using Pixxel’s technology to improve its own products and services, such as Google Earth and Google Maps.
The investment in Pixxel is part of Google’s broader strategy to invest in India’s space tech sector. In recent years, Google has also invested in other Indian space tech companies, such as Skyroot Aerospace and Dhruva Space.
Google’s investment in Pixxel is a sign of the growing importance of the space tech sector in India. The Indian space industry is expected to grow at a CAGR of 15% over the next five years. This growth is being driven by a number of factors, including the increasing demand for satellite imagery, the rise of private space companies, and the government’s focus on developing a strong space program.
Google’s investment in Pixxel is a significant boost for the Indian space tech sector. It shows that Google is committed to supporting the growth of the sector and that it sees India as a key market for space technology.