Alba Orbital Secures $3.4M Seed Funding for High-Frequency Earth Imaging

The Growing Demand for High-Frequency Orbital Imagery

The need for orbital imagery is rapidly increasing, and the current provision of daily Earth images will soon prove insufficient. Alba Orbital is addressing this challenge by aiming to deliver Earth observation data at 15-minute intervals, a significant improvement over existing hourly or daily updates. The company has recently secured $3.4 million in funding to facilitate the launch of its next satellite constellation.

Alba Orbital’s Progress and Ambition

Alba Orbital initially gained recognition at Y Combinator’s demo day. The startup has already successfully deployed six satellites into orbit, a feat accomplished by few companies in the space industry. However, this is merely a starting point, as hundreds more satellites will be required to realize their vision of high-frequency imagery.

Developing a Lightweight Earth Observation Satellite

For several years, the Scottish company has focused on research and development, pursuing what some considered an improbable goal: creating a solar-powered Earth observation satellite weighing less than one kilogram. Alba Orbital has proven the concept and is now prepared to launch fully functional satellites.

The Unicorn-2: A Compact and Affordable Satellite

The sub-kilogram Unicorn-2 satellite is essentially a flying camera, minimized for storage, communication, power, and movement. Roughly the size of a soda can, it features paperback-sized solar panel wings and costs approximately $10,000. It is capable of capturing images with a resolution of up to 10 meters, allowing for the identification of structures, vessels, agricultural fields, and aircraft.

Image Credits: Alba Orbital

Overcoming Skepticism and Validating the Platform

“Initially, many doubted our approach. Now, they are recognizing its potential,” stated Tom Walkinshaw, founder and CEO of Alba. “They understand it represents a unique platform for data acquisition.”

The Limitations of Daily Imagery

While daily orbital imagery, as offered by companies like Planet, was once considered sufficient, certain scenarios demand more frequent updates.

Applications Requiring High-Cadence Data

“A prime example is wildfire monitoring in California,” explained Walkinshaw. “An image taken only once a day during a wildfire is largely ineffective.” He further highlighted the importance of frequent imagery for tracking natural disasters like hurricanes and floods, as well as monitoring transportation systems.

Bootstrapped Growth and Future Expansion

Walkinshaw noted that the company was profitable and self-funded before embarking on the launch of additional satellites, a goal now enabled by the recent seed funding.

“This funding will facilitate the launch and deployment of these satellites,” he said. “Our primary focus will then be to accelerate production.”

Image Credits: Alba Orbital

Scaling Production and Assembly

During a video conference, Walkinshaw showcased approximately ten completed satellites in their launch containers, with more undergoing assembly. James Park, founder and CEO of Fitbit, has joined as a new investor, bringing valuable experience in hardware production.

Focus on Nighttime Imagery

The upcoming satellite batch will prioritize nighttime imagery, an area Walkinshaw believes is currently undervalued. Companies like Satellite Vu have demonstrated significant demand for thermal imaging, particularly for monitoring energy consumption and activity levels.

The seed round will fund the deployment of the next series of satellites, after which Alba Orbital will concentrate on scaling manufacturing to produce hundreds more. This will allow the company to demonstrate its capability for high-cadence imaging, though they already have customers awaiting the data they will provide.

Investment Details

Metaplanet Holdings led the investment round, with participation from Y Combinator, Liquid2, Soma, Uncommon Denominator, Zillionize, and several angel investors.

Competitive Advantage and Future Outlook

Walkinshaw welcomes competition but is confident that Alba Orbital’s extensive time and effort invested in this class of satellite provide a significant advantage. He anticipates that other companies will pursue complementary products rather than direct competition.

“The space sector is currently a promising area for investment,” he concluded.