No smartphones, internet or AI: This Karnataka boy from Chikkamagaluru, who learnt about space from encyclopaedias, now sends advanced satellites into orbit

A boy from a small Karnataka village who once depended on encyclopaedias to learn about space has now built a company whose satellites are watching Earth from orbit. Awais Ahmed, the co-founder of space technology startup Pixxel, has turned his childhood curiosity into a global space venture that is helping monitor crop health, pollution, methane leaks and environmental changes.

The journey of Awais Ahmed shows how a simple interest in science, even without access to modern technology, can lead to groundbreaking ideas. Years before smartphones, fast internet and artificial intelligence tools became common, books became his source of knowledge and inspiration.

A childhood powered by books and questions

Awais Ahmed grew up in Aldur village in Karnataka's Chikkamagaluru district, where internet access was not part of everyday life during his early years. He discovered the world of space through encyclopaedias that his father brought home.


Those books introduced him to galaxies, planets and the mysteries of the universe. With no online videos or instant answers available, his curiosity grew through reading and imagination.

His interest continued during his college years at BITS Pilani, where he studied Mathematics. He joined Team Anant, the institute's student satellite project developed with ISRO, and later became the engineering lead of Hyperloop India, which participated in the SpaceX Hyperloop Pod Competition.

Instead of taking the usual academic route, Awais decided to focus on building a technology company.

A problem in satellite data led to Pixxel

The idea behind Pixxel began in 2018 when Awais and his BITS Pilani batchmate Kshitij Khandelwal were working on the IBM Watson AI Challenge.

Their project needed highly detailed satellite images to analyse crop conditions. But they found that the required data was not available.

Traditional satellites could capture Earth images, but they often missed smaller changes that were invisible to normal observation. Early signs of crop damage, methane emissions, industrial pollution and other environmental issues could go unnoticed.

Instead of searching for existing solutions, the two decided to create one.

In February 2019, they launched Pixxel while still in their early twenties. They used money borrowed from Awais's father and managed their early days with limited resources, spending around Rs 10,000 per month.

From a small startup to a global space company

Pixxel has grown significantly since its early days and has attracted investments from global names including Google, Radical Ventures and Lightspeed.

The company has raised around $95 million and has become one of the most funded hyperspectral imaging companies in the world.

In 2025, Pixxel placed all six of its Firefly satellites into orbit. These satellites are designed to collect detailed information about Earth by observing more than 250 spectral bands, providing far more data compared with traditional Earth observation satellites.

The technology can support several real-world uses. Farmers can identify crop stress before visible damage appears, companies can detect methane leaks, authorities can monitor illegal mining and researchers can track environmental changes.

Recognition beyond India

Pixxel's work has received international attention. TIME included the company in its 100 Best Inventions of 2023, while the World Economic Forum recognised it as a Technology Pioneer in 2024.

The company also became the first Indian space startup to secure a contract with NASA and later signed a five-year agreement with the US National Reconnaissance Office.

Awais Ahmed has also been recognised through platforms such as Forbes 30 Under 30, MIT Innovators Under 35 and Fortune India's 40 Under 40. His co-founder Kshitij Khandelwal has also featured in the Forbes 30 Under 30 list.

From a village library of ideas to Earth's orbit

For many students, the biggest lesson from Awais Ahmed's story is not only about satellites or technology. It is about where ideas can come from.

He did not begin his journey with expensive gadgets or unlimited access to digital tools. His first connection with space came through books and curiosity.

The same curiosity that started with encyclopaedias in a small Karnataka village eventually helped create satellites looking back at Earth from space.