From Aldur to orbit: The remarkable journey of Chikkamagaluru boy-turned-Pixxel CEO

ShivamoggaAs a schoolboy growing up in Aldur, a hobli headquarters near Chikkamagaluru, Awais Ahmed would eagerly wait his father’s visits to the local library and bookshops. Children’s science encyclopaedias, filled with stories of planets, nebulae, black holes and the solar system, fuelled his imagination long before the internet reached his village.Today, at 28, Awais Ahmed is among the leading young entrepreneurs in India’s private space sector. The founder and Chief Executive Officer of Bengaluru-based Pixxel Space Technologies has led the company to become the first Indian space start-up to secure a contract from NASA to provide hyperspectral Earth-observation data.Shaped by curiosityAwais Ahmed’s journey from Aldur to the global space industry was shaped by curiosity, perseverance, and an encounter with Elon Musk of SpaceX. Recalling his childhood, Ahmed told The Hindu that his father, Nadeem Ahmed, who runs a pharmacy in Aldur, regularly bought him books on science. “I was fascinated by the solar system, nebulae and black holes. Those books sparked my curiosity about space,” he said. His mother, Ghazala Tashfeen, and father, encouraged their only child to pursue the field that fascinated him the most.After completing his primary education at Akshara Public School in Aldur, Awais Ahmed studied at Purna Prajna School in Sangameshwar Pete before moving to Mangaluru for his pre-university course. He later joined BITS Pilani, Rajasthan, where he studied mathematics and manufacturing engineering.During his engineering course, Awais Ahmed became part of a student satellite programme, working alongside scientists from ISRO on designing and building satellites. The experience strengthened his interest in space technology, and gave him practical exposure to satellite development.Showcasing work at SpaceXA turning point came in 2017 when, as engineering lead of Hyperloop India, Awais Ahmed and his team developed a pod for the annual SpaceX Hyperloop Competition. The team was among the 20 finalists selected to visit Los Angeles, in the US, and demonstrate their project. The trip proved life-changing for Mr. Ahmed. He met Mr. Musk, toured SpaceX’s rocket manufacturing and testing facilities, and witnessed first-hand the scale of innovation in the private space industry.“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 completing his degree in 2019, he founded Pixxel Space Technologies. The company has so far launched nine hyperspectral satellites, including six in 2025 alone. Hyperspectral imaging helps in precise identification of materials and chemical properties. “I found this is one 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.Raising ₹960 croreMr. Ahmed said his start-up received support from both the 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 ambition now is to help position India as a global leader in space technology while building satellites that contribute to solving challenges on Earth. He heads a team of 275 people, of whom 240 work in India, while the rest are spread across the US and Europe. He keeps travelling to the US, where his company has an establishment, while his parents stay in Aldur.Father recalls son’s days as a studentRecalling his son’s student days, Nadeem Ahmed told The Hindu, “I took him regularly to Subbarao & Sons book stall in Chikkamagaluru once a week to buy books