Hydrosat Secures $5M Seed Funding for Ground Temperature Data

Understanding Surface Temperatures for Critical Insights

Valuable insights regarding a surface can be obtained through the analysis of ground temperature data. For instance, if a crop field experiences stress, an elevation in ground temperature will often be detectable before any visible signs appear on the plants themselves, as explained by Hydrosat CEO and co-founder Pieter Fossel to TechCrunch.

Hydrosat is poised to introduce its initial surface temperature analytics product to clients, bolstered by a new $5 million seed funding round.

Seed Funding Details

The seed round was spearheaded by Cultivation Capital’s recently established Geospatial Technologies Fund. Participation also came from Freeflow Ventures, the Yield Lab, Expon Capital, Techstars, Industrious Ventures, Synovia Capital, and the University of Michigan.

Data Acquisition and Applications

Founded in late 2017, this geospatial data analytics startup intends to collect surface temperature data utilizing satellites fitted with thermal infrared sensors.

The applications extend beyond agriculture to encompass areas like wildfire risk assessment, identification of water stress, and drought monitoring – all crucial considerations given the increasing impact of climate change, according to Fossel.

Addressing Data Gaps

While organizations such as NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) currently collect ground temperature data, the frequency is often low – sometimes only once every 16 days for a specific location – and the resolution is limited.

Hydrosat aims to bridge these existing data deficiencies. The company also gathers data across multiple spectral bands using a multispectral infrared camera, but its core strength lies in its thermal data capabilities.

Satellite Launch and Company Focus

The inaugural satellite is scheduled for launch into low Earth orbit aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, facilitated by Loft Orbital, during the latter half of 2022.

This mission is named in honor of Hydrosat’s former CEO, Jakob van Zyl, who sadly passed away due to a heart attack approximately a year ago.

Despite the excitement surrounding the launches, Fossel emphasized that Hydrosat fundamentally operates as “a data company and a content company first.”

Expanding Product Offerings

“We are concurrently developing applications built upon this [surface temperature] product, focusing on crop yield prediction, drought identification, and irrigation optimization,” Fossel stated.

“These applications are all fundamentally linked to water stress and are enabled by our primary offering: land surface temperature data.”

Customer Base and Future Growth

Hydrosat’s initial clientele includes governmental entities, evidenced by a contract with the ESA and three SBIR contracts with the U.S. Air Force and Department of Defense.

This funding will allow the company to extend its product availability to commercial customers, potentially including agribusinesses, insurance providers, and other organizations seeking to perform analytics using its ground surface data.

Potential for Broad Application

“[Hydrosat] will likely begin with agriculture, our primary area of concentration, but could expand into various sectors, as temperature serves as an indicator of numerous activities beyond environmental monitoring, water stress, and food production,” Fossel explained.

“Temperature also reflects economic activity, presenting numerous compelling applications in areas like defense and security.”

Long-Term Vision

Looking ahead, Hydrosat envisions launching a constellation of 16 satellites to facilitate global monitoring. However, this represents a medium-term objective, according to Fossel.

The company’s long-term strategy may involve launching further satellites, incorporating additional spectral bands to enhance its data offerings, or refining its analytics capabilities.

“Ultimately, our goal is to provide the foundational data that empowers applications related to drought, food security, water stress, wildfire management, and defense and security,” he concluded.