Apple co-founder Woz’s space data startup, Privateer, acquires Orbital Insight

Steve “Woz” Wozniak

Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak’s space data startup, Privateer, has acquired the analytics firm Orbital Insight. Privateer’s CEO told Reuters that the move will add mapping and intelligence services to Privateer’s space data offerings.

Joey Roulette for Reuters:

Privateer, founded in 2021 to help satellite operators navigate in Earth’s increasingly crowded orbit, closed its Series A funding round in April, led by space-focused venture capital firm Aero X Ventures with other investors including Lux Capital, BOKA Group, Starburst Ventures, and the Winklevoss twins. The news is expected to be announced later on Monday… Privateer, has raised $56.5 million…

Orbital’s TerraScope Earth observation platform, designed to be a vast search engine based on recently captured satellite imagery from other companies, will combine with Privateer’s satellite-tracking software.

The new funding allowed Privateer to close a deal to buy Palo Alto-based Orbital Insight on April 17, Privateer’s CEO, Alex Fielding, said. Orbital, which fuses various sources of data such as cell phone location and satellite imagery as its intelligence offerings to customers, had been backed by Sequoia and Google Ventures.

Privateer’s acquisition will expand its offerings after revenue prospects in the space situational awareness (SSA) market were limited, Fielding said. SSA is a nascent corner of the space industry akin to air traffic control, but for satellites in space.

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