Contact:
You can reach out to me on Twitter @awaisahmedna or [email protected].
About:
Hello! I am Awais Ahmed. I am the founder and CEO of Pixxel Space Technologies, where we are building the health monitor for the planet through a constellation of the world’s highest resolution hyperspectral satellites.
I am based out of both Bengaluru and Los Angeles, the two cities where Pixxel offices are based out of. Also happen to be two cities with amazing weather and some amazing hard-tech startups being built!
I was born in Aldur of Chikmagalur district of India – a village about 5 hours from the metro city of Bengaluru. Didn’t have access to internet till I was in 8th grade so I spent a lot of time reading encyclopedias on space and science and technology. High school was also the time I became fascinated with my high school’s library and my lifelong obsession with books began.
I pursued and completed my Masters in Mathematics from BITS Pilani – one of India’s premier science and engineering colleges. I was also pursuing a dual degree in manufacturing engineering but decided to drop it so I could focus on Pixxel (the company I ideated and started) rather than spend an additional 5th year at college.
While at college, I was part of the student satellite team that was working on a satellite with ISRO – India’s premier space agency. I was also a founding member and engineering lead at Hyperloop India – one of the 20 finalist teams in the SpaceX Hyperloop pod competition.
I was always passionate about space ever since I was a kid. Whether it was the legendary Voyager missions, or the SpaceX landings, they left an indelible mark in me to be a part of and contribute to the space technology sector.
Which is why I started Pixxel, while still in the final year of my undergraduate studies in India – a culmination of more than a year’s worth of exploration and deep dives.
Interests:
Apart from that, I spend the limited idle time Pixxel allows me thinking about physics, math, space, climate and a bit of philosophy. Some things I am curious about can be found here.
I love to read.
I also sporadically like playing Civilisation 6 and Factorio and shaping worlds and universes, which is also what I would like to do in the real world, but it’s just way faster on PC.