Shivamogga
As a schoolboy in Aldur, a hobli near Chikkamagaluru, Awais Ahmed looked forward to his father’s trips to local libraries and bookstores. Science encyclopaedias about planets, nebulae, black holes and the solar system sparked his interest well before internet access reached the area.
At 28, Ahmed ranks among India’s prominent young entrepreneurs in the private space industry. As founder and chief executive of Bengaluru-based Pixxel Space Technologies, he has guided the firm to become the first Indian space startup to win a NASA contract for hyperspectral Earth-observation data.
Ahmed’s path from Aldur to the global space sector was driven by curiosity, persistence and a meeting with Elon Musk of SpaceX. He recalled that his father, Nadeem Ahmed, who operates a pharmacy in Aldur, regularly purchased science books for him. “I was fascinated by the solar system, nebulae and black holes. Those books sparked my curiosity about space,” he said. His parents supported his choice to follow his interest.
After primary schooling at Akshara Public School in Aldur and Purna Prajna School in Sangameshwar Pete, he completed pre-university studies in Mangaluru. He then attended BITS Pilani in Rajasthan, studying mathematics and manufacturing engineering.
During his course, Ahmed joined a student satellite programme and collaborated with ISRO scientists on satellite design and construction. This experience reinforced his focus on space technology.
A key moment occurred in 2017 when, as engineering lead of Hyperloop India, he and his team built a pod for the SpaceX Hyperloop Competition. Selected among 20 finalists, the group travelled to Los Angeles to present their work. Ahmed met Musk, visited SpaceX facilities and observed the scope of private space innovation.
“My visit to the SpaceX headquarters gave me clarity about my future. That was when I decided space technology would be the field for the rest of my life,” he said.
Months before finishing his degree in 2019, he established Pixxel Space Technologies. The company has launched nine hyperspectral satellites, six of them in 2025. Hyperspectral imaging enables detailed identification of materials and chemical properties. “I found this area was hardly explored. So, I set up the company to cover this gap,” he said.
“The data we collect serves many sectors, including energy, agriculture and the environment. Through hyperspectral imaging, we collect data on soil quality, crop diseases, and resource exploration that can help in making decisions benefiting humanity in the long run,” he said.
Ahmed noted that the startup gained backing from both government and investors. “We have raised ₹960 crore from investors. As the space sector was opened to private players, and a space policy was formulated, our startup received the necessary push. There are testing facilities available,” he said.
His goal is to help establish India as a leader in space technology while developing satellites that address challenges on Earth. He leads a team of 275, with 240 based in India and the remainder in the US and Europe. He travels regularly to the US, where the company maintains an office, while his parents remain in Aldur.
Nadeem Ahmed recalled taking his son weekly to a bookstore in Chikkamagaluru to buy science books. He spent his earnings on his son’s education and later took an education loan and pledged gold to support studies at BITS Pilani. “We were happy when he was selected by BITS Pilani, where he could pursue a dual degree,” he said. Nadeem Ahmed purchased a house in Aldur in October 2025 ahead of his son’s marriage to a doctor.
