Bengaluru-based spacetech soonicorn Pixxel’s founder and CEO Awais Ahmed has dismissed questions over the startup’s Indian ownership and control following online criticism over the launch of its US subsidiary, Pixxel Federal.

In a post on X, Ahmed said Pixxel remains headquartered, owned, managed, and controlled in India, rejecting allegations questioning its corporate structure and national credentials.

“First, Pixxel is Indian-HQed, Indian owned, Indian-managed and Indian-controlled,” he said, adding that its primary Indian entity was incorporated in 2018, before any of its international entities.

Ahmed said the Indian entity is not a subsidiary of a US company and remains the primary vehicle for executing Pixxel’s Indian government, space, and defence programmes. Pixxel Federal’s board and CEO would have authority only over the US subsidiary and its operations, with no control over the startup’s Indian government programmes or domestic business, he added.

The clarification follows Pixxel’s announcement that it had established Pixxel Federal to pursue US government contracts across civilian, defence, and intelligence agencies.

Ahmed said Pixxel has faced targeted social media attacks, anonymous emails to government customers, and attempts to cast doubt on its ownership, technology, and credentials.

Addressing its shareholding, he said Indian investors, including the founders, collectively hold the largest share by percentage, followed by investors from Singapore, the UK, and the US. No international investor has unilateral control over Pixxel beyond customary investor protections, he added.

Ahmed also said intellectual property developed for Indian government projects remains under Indian ownership and control, with these programmes executed through Indian entities and governed by Indian laws.

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