Space Technology - How to build a Space Tech Business ft. Awais Ahmed, Pixxel

The Indian Dream

We go even deeper into Space Tech with Awais Ahmed from Pixxel Space. Pixxel was just founded in 2019 and is on a mission to build a health monitor for the planet through a constellation of cutting edge hyperspectral small satellites.
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Questions:
(2:30) - Why did you decide to start Pixxel?
(8:45) - Have you already launched a satellite?
(11:00) - What kind of help do startups receive from ISRO?
(13:30) - Isn't it difficult for a startup to work with the government and ISRO?
(16:15) - How do you convince businesses and governments for the use case of selling Earth Observation data?
(18:15) - What is the Space Tech value chain?
(22:15) - What happened with the privatisation of space in India? What did it mean for the startup industry?
(28:00) - What are the economics of a space business?
(33:10) - What is the space infrastructure that is already present in india? And what is still left to be built?
(36:45) - What is the supply chain for Pixxel and other space startups?
(39:15) - What are the lowest hanging opportunities to build a space statrtup in India?
(43:15) - How should someone approach a space company to build space components for a space startup?
(46:00) - How should a young person look to enter the space industry?

In this conversation with Awais, we ask him how he come up with the idea and ambition to build a space business since it's so difficult, hint: it involves meeting Elon Musk. What has changed in the last couple of years for the space industry in India to mature? What help do startups get from ISRO & its scientists? Lastly, we discuss the lowest hanging opportunities for people who want to build a space start. Hint: it involves data analytics and component manufacturing.

By the way, the week after we approached Awais for this interview, he and his co-founder were announced in the Forbes 30 under 30 list for 2021. Please remember, we got to him before Forbes. Our Business Munchies episode this week will also have someone from the Forbes 30 under 30 list - I'm keeping it a surprise.

Lastly, Siddharth and I have been producing these podcasts ourselves for the past 10 months and this should be episode number 80. Right from ideation, guest sourcing, editing - we do everything ourselves and it takes up a lot of time. We'd like to hire some more interns and outsource editing so that we can get you better ideas, trends & business opportunities. Here's the Razorpay link to contribute. We're going to put all the money back into The Indian Dream and try and get you more high quality content.

Now onto the episode.