Dealflow | March 18, 2021

Pixxel raises $7.3 million to launch satellites for agri-analytics

Jessica Pothering
ImpactAlpha Editor

Jessica Pothering

ImpactAlpha, March 18 – Bangalore-based Pixxel is launching its own hyperspectral satellites to improve analysis of ground-level crop and water information for the agriculture sector. Agtech impact investor Omnivore and Techstars led the round. Lightspeed Ventures, Blume Ventures and growX participated. 

Pixxel is among the first Indian startups to launch its own satellites for earth imaging. The company says its high-intensity imaging tech captures narrower bands of reflected light, which offers greater detail on the presence of chemicals in the environment and plant health.

Agtech dealflow

India’s agri-food tech investment scene is booming, (see “Digitization of smallholder farming draws investors to Indian agtech startups”). Earlier this month, Omnivore backed AGRIM, a B2B marketplace for agri-inputs, in its $2 million funding round alongside India Quotient and Accion Venture Lab. The company is streamlining and improving transparency in India’s agri-inputs markets by connecting rural retailers of seeds and other products to producers, logistics services and credit.

Captain Fresh, which aims to improve quality and freshness in India’s seafood supply, raised $3 million from Ankur Capital and Matrix Partners India.