Bengaluru-based space-tech company Pixxel has raised $100 million in a Series C funding round, gearing up for the next phase of its business expansion. With this investment, the company’s total funding has reached $195 million. According to Pixxel, this marks the largest single funding round raised in the Indian space-tech sector. The company will utilize the new capital to expand its capabilities in satellite sensing, Earth intelligence software, and space systems for both commercial and government missions.
Pixxel is now moving beyond hyperspectral satellites to work on Earth Intelligence Software and satellite systems as well. The company’s Aurora platform is part of this expansion.
With the new Series C funding, Pixxel will accelerate the development of its Honeybee hyperspectral constellation. This will incorporate technologies such as Shortwave Infrared (SWIR), Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), and high-resolution optical imaging. According to the company, the first Honeybee satellite is expected to launch in 2027.
Pixxel is developing its Aurora platform as an intelligence layer that will combine diverse data to generate actionable insights. The company is also expanding into sovereign Earth observation systems for the civil, defense, and intelligence sectors.
Additionally, there are plans to ramp up satellite manufacturing in India and the US to enable the rapid production of advanced satellites. According to CEO Awais Ahmed, Pixxel aims to develop technology that monitors Earth’s health using hyperspectral imaging.
Over the past two years, Pixxel has built a high-resolution hyperspectral constellation by launching six Firefly satellites. During this period, the company also launched its Aurora platform. Pixxel has secured contracts from NASA and the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office and has won multiple iDEX challenges in India. Now, the company is preparing to develop a demo satellite for an orbital data center.
Pixxel has been selected to spearhead India’s first public-private Earth Observation constellation under IN-SPACe, which will involve the development of 12 satellites. According to the company, the new funding will be used to build infrastructure that helps provide superior Earth Observation intelligence to the government, industry, and institutions.
