I've been called a traitor: Space startup Pixxel's founder breaks silence amid trolling

Indian space-tech startup Pixxel's founder Awais Ahmed has spoken out against what he describes as a sustained online trolling campaign, alleging that the company and its leadership have been subjected to personal attacks, threats and misinformation following the announcement of its US-focused subsidiary, Pixxel Federal.

In a strongly worded statement, Awais said he had initially chosen to ignore the criticism but decided to respond after what he described as repeated attempts to question the company's ownership, technology and credentials.

"I've been called a 'traitor', accused of 'selling our soul', of being 'bought by American PE', and even had people claim that the CIA is running Pixxel," he said.

He also alleged that the campaign extended beyond social media, with targeted edits to Wikipedia pages, anonymous emails sent to government customers and threats directed at his co-founder's family through direct messages.

Pixxel builds and operates a constellation of high-resolution hyperspectral Earth observation satellites. Its satellites capture detailed images of Earth across hundreds of spectral bands, allowing them to detect information invisible to conventional cameras and satellites.

The backlash intensified following Pixxel's announcement of Pixxel Federal, its US government-focused subsidiary, and the appointment of Allyson Jenkins as its chief executive officer. Jenkins previously led the company's US government business and brings 18 years of experience in national security and geospatial intelligence, including nine years at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency.

The statement from Pixxel's founder came hours after another space-tech startup GalaxEye, posted a blog on X titled "Built in India, Headquartered in India: The GalaxEye Story."

Addressing concerns over the company's international expansion, Awais asserted that Pixxel remains an Indian-headquartered, Indian-owned, Indian-managed and Indian-controlled company.

He said the company's primary Indian entity was incorporated in 2018, before its US entity, and continues to execute its Indian government, space and defence programmes. According to him, the company's largest shareholders by percentage are Indian investors, including its founders.

He clarified that the leadership and board of Pixxel Federal have authority limited to the US subsidiary and its operations, with no control over Pixxel's Indian government programmes or domestic business.

The founder also sought to address concerns around intellectual property and national security, stating that all technology and IP developed for Indian government projects remain under Indian ownership and control, within Indian entities and under Indian laws.

He added that the company complies with applicable export-control requirements and that having an American entity does not automatically subject Indian-developed satellite technology to US ITAR restrictions.

Questioning the criticism directed at Indian companies expanding overseas, he said international subsidiaries were a standard part of building a global business.

"India needs more companies building world-class space technology," he said, adding that criticism should be based on technical merit, execution and delivery rather than speculation about corporate structures.

The founder maintained that Pixxel would continue building satellite technology in India for global markets, despite the online backlash.