BENGALURU, June 1 (Reuters) - Alphabet Inc's (GOOGL.O) Google is leading a $36 million funding round for Bengaluru-based Pixxel, a satellite-image startup, in the first major investment in the Indian space sector since the government launched its privatisation policy in April.
Pixxel did not specify how much Google had invested or the valuation it reflected.
Founder and Chief Executive Awais Ahmed said Pixxel would be "the most valued space tech company in India after this investment".
Space startups, in particular, have come under pressure after the bankruptcy of Richard Branson's Virgin Orbit launch company.
Ahmed has said he was inspired to launch a space startup from a visit Elon Musk's SpaceX as part of a student competition to build a demonstration "hyperloop" transport pod.
Persons:
Pixxel, Awais Ahmed, Ahmed, Richard Branson's Virgin, Kshitij Khandelwal, Nivedita, Kevin Krolicki, Christopher Cushing
Organizations:
Google, Miner Rio Tinto Ltd, Accenture PLC, Skyroot Aerospace, Reuters, Space, Richard Branson's Virgin Orbit, Elon, SpaceX, Thomson
Locations:
BENGALURU, Bengaluru, Miner Rio, India