Pixxel
Pixxel operates a constellation of six commercial hyperspectral imaging satellites, making it a leader in high-resolution space data. The El Segundo-based company has raised $196M and employs 380 people. Pixxel provides hyperspectral imaging data and analytics for agriculture, energy, environment, and mining industries. Its six-satellite constellation offers the highest commercial resolution globally. The company has grown rapidly since its 2019 founding, reaching a $196M Series C in 2026. Its engineering team of 103 drives its satellite and data platform development.
The growth story
Pixxel grew from 53 to 380 employees between 2021 and 2026, raising $196M along the way, most recently a Series C in July 2026.
About
Pixxel is a global space data company operating the world’s highest-resolution commercial hyperspectral imaging constellation. With six commercial satellites in orbit, we aim to deliver sharper, richer insights for a healthier planet! Our data and analytical tools support decision-making across agriculture, energy, environment, and mining sectors, helping the world see more, know more, and act faster.
Founders and leadership
Engineering is Pixxel's largest function with 103 staff, reflecting its focus on satellite and data platform development. The company has a median tenure of 2 years across its 380 employees.
The Pixxel org chart
Awais Ahmed (Founder, CEO) leads 56 mapped leaders with 5 direct reports. Click +N to expand a team; names link to the person’s public profile.
Departments, and which ones grew
Headcount by function: Engineering 122 (+12% YoY), Arts and Design 49 (+23% YoY), Operations 26 (+13% YoY), Information Technology 21 (+50% YoY), Business Development 18 (+29% YoY), Sales 16 (+7% YoY).
Talent flow
Pixxel recruits heavily from Indian space and engineering institutions, with notable hires from ISRO, IIT Bombay, and IISc. Alumni often move to other space tech startups like Aule Space and Pramatra Space.
Most common previous employers of Pixxel staff: GoTo (8), Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay (7), ISRO - Indian Space Research Organization (7), Indian Institute of Science (IISc) (7), U R Rao Satellite Centre (URSC), ISRO (6), Team Anant (6). Former Pixxel employees most often moved to Aule Space (3), Apple (2), Inception (2), UC San Diego (2), Amazon (2), Pramatra Space (1).
Alumni worth knowing
The Pixxel mafia
Pixxel alumni have founded at least 8 companies, including space tech firms Aule Space and Pramatra Space, as well as AI startups OnFinance AI and AnywayLabs.ai.
8Priyesh Srivastava (Hiring for Senior Engineers), was Software Developer Intern until 2019Jay Panchal, was Spacecraft Mechanical Engineer until 2024Rohan Athawade, was Geospatial Data Scientist until 2023Richa Hukumchand, was Chief Innovation Officer until 2022Sanket Deshpande, was Founding Member and COO until 2019Khushi Mittal, was intern at ceo’s office until 2025
Alnawazkhan A, was Senior Propulsion Engineer until 2023
Aakash Parekh, was Chief Commercial Officer until 2025Hiring now
Web traffic
Traffic mix: 13% direct, 76% search, 5% social, 0% paid.
What this company is made of
Most common skills at Pixxel: Python (Programming Language) (110), MATLAB (90), Microsoft Office (87), C (Programming Language) (75), C++ (75), Project Management (71), Leadership (71), Microsoft Excel (70).
Where the team actually sits
Pixxel people are concentrated in Karnataka, India (148), Greater Bengaluru Area (10), India (7), Delhi, India (5).
Search footprint
Pixxel attracts about 2,703 organic search visits a month, traffic worth roughly $3K a month if bought through ads. It gained 174 ranking keywords and lost 98 in the last period.
What employees say
- Compensation
- 4.40 / 5
- Career opportunities
- 4.70 / 5
- Senior management
- 4.60 / 5
- Work-life balance
- 4.50 / 5
Frequently asked
Pixxel has 380 employees as of September 2026.
Pixxel has raised $196M in total, most recently a Series C round in July 2026.
Pixxel was founded in 2019 by Kshitij Khandelwal, Awais Ahmed, Tanishq Midha.
Awais Ahmed (Founder, CEO) sits at the top of Pixxel's reporting structure, with 5 direct reports.
The most common previous employers of current Pixxel staff are GoTo (8 people), Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay (7 people), ISRO - Indian Space Research Organization (7 people).
Former Pixxel employees most often move to Aule Space (3), Apple (2), Inception (2).
At least 8 companies have a founder who previously worked at Pixxel, including OnFinance AI, Aule Space, AnywayLabs.ai.
Pixxel attracts about 2,703 organic search visits a month, worth roughly $3K a month in equivalent ad spend.
The most common skills among Pixxel staff are Python (Programming Language), MATLAB, Microsoft Office, C (Programming Language), C++.
Pixxel staff are concentrated in Karnataka, India (148), Greater Bengaluru Area (10), India (7).
Pixxel has about 122 people in Engineering, up 12% over the past year, as of September 2026.
Pixxel has about 49 people in Arts and Design, up 23% over the past year, as of September 2026.
Computed from 213 current and 152 former Pixxel profiles, as of September 2026. Source: Crustdata.
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