Pixxel Secures $7.3 Million Seed Funding to Advance Hyperspectral Imaging Capabilities

The space technology company Pixxel, with offices in Los Angeles and Bangalore, has successfully completed a $7.3 million seed funding round. This includes additional investment from Techstars and Omnivore VC, among others.

New Focus on Hyperspectral Imaging

Alongside the funding announcement, Pixxel revealed a shift in its product strategy towards hyperspectral imaging. The company intends to deliver this imaging technology at the highest commercially available resolution.

This will be achieved through a constellation of small satellites designed to provide continuous, 24-hour global coverage once fully deployed.

Funding Extension and Technology Details

Today’s funding represents an extension of the $5 million raised by Pixxel in August of the previous year. Initially, the startup indicated a focus on general Earth imaging.

Now, Pixxel is specifically concentrating on hyperspectral imaging, a technique that utilizes a broader spectrum of light frequencies than traditional multispectral imaging. This allows for the detection of previously unseen issues.

Examples include tracking pest insect migration in agriculture and identifying gas leaks or other ecological hazards.

Standard multispectral imaging (left) vs. hyperspectral imaging (right). Image Credits: EPFL

Addressing Limitations of Existing Technology

According to Pixxel co-founder and CEO Awais Ahmed, existing satellite imagery often lacked the capability to identify critical problems.

“We discovered that current technology couldn’t adequately address issues like air and water pollution levels,” Ahmed explained. “There were no commercial or open-source satellites providing the necessary resolution for accurate analysis.”

Long-Term Vision: In-Space Resource Utilization

The potential applications of hyperspectral imaging are vast across numerous sectors, as highlighted by Ahmed.

However, Pixxel’s ultimate goal is to facilitate the commercial exploitation of resources found in space.

“Our vision is to empower the utilization of space-based resources,” Ahmed stated. “This includes possibilities like asteroid mining, where hyperspectral imaging can map asteroids to determine their mineral content.”

Regulatory Changes and Technological Advancements

Previously, high-resolution hyperspectral imaging was largely restricted to governmental use due to regulations.

Recent changes in U.S. policy, driven by the increasing availability of this technology in international markets, have opened the door for commercial applications.

Ahmed emphasized that the primary obstacle remained technical, rather than regulatory.

Image Credits: Pixxel

The Right Time for Commercialization

“Building a camera with these capabilities was not feasible even a few years ago due to limitations in sensor miniaturization and optics,” Ahmed noted.

“Recent advancements have made it possible to transition this technology from the scientific realm to the commercial market.”

Upcoming Launch and Future Plans

Pixxel is preparing to launch its first hyperspectral imaging satellite within the coming months. Following successful testing and evaluation, the company plans to launch additional satellites to expand its constellation.

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