Bengaluru’s Pixxel raises $100 million in Series C round

Pixxel, a Bengaluru-based space-tech company, said it has raised $100 million in a Series C round to expand its satellite, software and manufacturing operations.

Temasek and Seraphim co-led the investment, Pixxel said. 360 ONE Asset and IMM Investment joined as new investors, while Radical Ventures and growX ventures also participated. The company said the round takes its total funding to $195 million.

Pixxel began by building hyperspectral satellites, which are designed to capture information about the Earth’s surface beyond conventional imagery. It has since added Aurora, an Earth intelligence software platform, and satellite systems for commercial and sovereign space missions.

The company said it will use the funding for its Honeybee constellation and high-resolution optical imaging satellites. It also plans to develop Aurora’s ability to combine datasets and accelerate Gigapixxel, its proposed facility for high-rate production of advanced satellites.

Over the past two years, Pixxel said it has deployed six Firefly satellites and launched Aurora. The company also said it has contracts with NASA and the NRO, has won Indian defence ministry iDEX challenges, and was selected to lead development of a 12-satellite public-private Earth observation constellation under IN-SPACe.

Founder and CEO Awais Ahmed said the investment would help the company scale its operations. Pixxel said the round will support its proposed Gigapixxel manufacturing facility as well as its satellite and software plans.