French SpaceTech Start-up, Skynopy, Raises €15 Million in Seed Funding
Skynopy has successfully secured €15M ($17.6M) in seed funding just 18 months after its establishment, to expedite the expansion of its ground station network and address the increasing demand for data downlink services. The funding round, which closed in less than one month, was led by Alven, Expansion Venture Capital, Omnes Capital, Heartcore Capital, and CNES through the SpaceFounders program. The recent round brings Skynopy’s total funding to approximately €18M (~$21.1M).
Since its inception, Skynopy has established a network comprising over 15 ground stations, with plans to expand this footprint to over 100 in the coming years to offer real-time global connectivity. The startup aims to build a global network of high-throughput ground stations (S-, X-, and Ka-bands), for real-time satellite data downlink. “Satellite operators prioritize fresher data and seek the capability to download it as swiftly and frequently as possible,” stated Pierre Bertrand, cofounder and CEO. “Our ultimate objective is to scale the network rapidly, maximizing the number of ground stations.” Transmissions over S-, X-, and Ka-bands enable satellite operators to download two to three times more data, compared to other ground station services.
Skynopy’s technology also aims to reduce the time between data downloads and its transmission to clients or the cloud. With satellite revisit times already under 20 minutes, Skynopy's technology is particularly advantageous for defense and EO satellites that rely on rapid dissemination of data. The company seeks to cater to businesses with significant data download requirements, such as those utilizing hyperspectral EO or SAR satellites, while offering cost reductions for companies with lower download needs.
Skynopy has achieved rapid scaling through a partnership with AWS, integrating its technical infrastructure with existing antennas at a dozen AWS ground stations worldwide.
The newly acquired funds will be utilized to construct two ground stations in French overseas territories - one in Saint-Pierre et Miquelon near Canada’s Newfoundland and Labrador, and another in Réunion in the Mascarene Islands east of Madagascar. The new ground stations will enhance France’s domestic data download capabilities while also serving Skynopy’s expanding global customer base.
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Skynopy adds AWS ground station to improve satellite data receiving