Sateliot co-founder and CEO Jaume Sanpera (Manresa, 1966) still doesn’t know all the uses his technology could have. But trust him. His team has been developing this for six years “on its own accord”, without billing a single euro. He is often surprised by some of his events. 350 customersspread to multiple locations 50 countries. Their companies will provide them with connectivity, but they are the ones who find uses for connecting objects and even animals, each more interesting. 5G network. From looking for a lost cow in the field to checking the status of mangoes arriving from Colombia. He signed worth of contracts with these customers with different profiles. 187 million euros. Even before you launch your service.
The technology that gives meaning to Sateliot internet of things -internet of things (IoT)-. However, they will be able to connect to any device via sensors anywhere in the world. They do this through satellites, which are the heart of the company. They will release four of them before the summer, without further details regarding the date. Out of curiosity, they announce that they will depart at 10.30 in the morning due to technical reasons. And they will leave vandenberg (California, United States). They will connect closely with them seven million devicesThus, the commercial phase of the company is entered. They do this with a specific strategy: Go beyond major cities and focus on ensuring connectivity in areas that do not yet have connectivity or where connectivity is very poor. And at low prices.
New aviation industry
satellite satellites These are not traditional. They are trying to differentiate themselves from the more classical side of the industry, which uses large satellites that are very expensive to produce. Its commitment is framed within New Space, an evolution of the aviation industry that seeks to transform it and is guaranteed to have the capacity to democratize space. “With this, a satellite telecommunications company can be deployed internationally for very little money,” says Sanpera.
There’s an inevitable noun when speaking New Area. one of them Elon Muskwith him SpaceXSpeculating on the colonization of Mars. “He was the one who opened the industry with his company,” the CEO continues. And now the “big operators in an uncomfortable situationbecause the competition has changed.” Previously, when a large operator launched a satellite, “it had already sold its entire service, but that is no longer the case,” he concludes.
public investment
However, the support of public administration is needed to progress in the sector. In this sense, USA ranks first againHowever, European countries such as France, Italy and Portugal also bet a lot on it. “They invest much more than in Spain,” emphasizes Sateliot’s founder. “This is a very global industry where we are all competing with everyone else,” he insists.
Based on this new understanding of the industry, Sateliot much smaller and lighter satellites. Measuring 20 x 10 x 30 centimeters, they are slightly larger than a microwave oven but flat. They weigh around 10 kilos, while traditional ones can reach hundreds of kilos. Additionally, their production is much faster. It used to take 15 years to build a satellite, now it can be done in 12 months. Moreover, It will orbit closer to Earthat 500 or 600 kilometers, so the launch cost is lower. And they exist five-year useful life, much more briefly, knowing that the technology industry is moving at a forced pace and what works today will not work very well tomorrow. They will be vaporized once the mission is over. This way they won’t turn into space junk.
“Previously the chain was integrated: satellites, antennas, systems… everything was made by the same company. Now you design and someone makes the batteries, the control system, the solar panels… Cost decreases because we work with economies of scale“, details Sanpera. For now, They launched two satellites for testing purposes. And they ensure that they meet their expectations.
Has Galician DNA
The founders aim to position their company as the Spanish company leading the way globally through this renewed sector. The company is headquartered in San Diego as well as Barcelona. The satellites they will use are being born Pontevedra Thanks to Alén Space, a spin-off of the University of Vigo dedicated to the design, production and operation of small satellites. Some of the tests required to obtain authorization and launch them are carried out at the Carlos III University in Madrid.
The CEO needed a technical figure to develop the project, and he found one. Marco Guadalupi (Bríndisi, Italy, 1974), telecommunications engineer, co-founder and CTO of the company, “partner and friend.” Both of them worked together and jumped into the pool together with Sateliot in 2018. They started with two people and now have a team of 55 people, more than half of whom are engineers. Most of them are very young. “Many of them are Spaniards who go to work abroad because there are more opportunities abroad. But they always want to return. Some even reduce their salaries,” Sanpera emphasizes.
25 million at risk
The Sateliot project was born thanks to the private capital of the two founding partners. They have grown since then 25 million euros, 13.5 last year. Six of these come from a loan from Banco Santander. The other five million correspond to a convertible note and 2.5 million The rest was provided by the Generalitat of Catalonia through the publicly traded company Avançsa.
They had already launched a €2.5 million Seed funding round before 2023; followed by a 10 million Series A. And this year they will close a Series B that will help them kick-start their commercial phase. sanpera Doesn’t want to reveal how much this last tour will be. Because in parallel with the negotiations in the round, financing offers from public organizationsIt may become more interesting for the company. Without giving too many details, the company assures that it participates in the financing of banks, public administrations, venture capital, family offices and business angels.
Practically the entire capital of Sateliot is Spanish. It also has three outstanding partners. Indra has 10.5% Controls the company Sepides, a business group owned by SEPI 4.69% And Cellnex has a 3.5% stake Of the same. Company insists it will invoice according to business plan 500 million euros in 2027 And 1,000 in 2030with more 60% ebitda. It would therefore become a new Spanish unicorn company.
Sateliot’s plan
Sanpera has a plan. The goal is to connect in real time. But it won’t start there. Four satellites to be launched into space this year will be able to emit light one or two messages a day. So why four? Because according to their calculations, these are the minimum values required to provide coverage to any point on the planet. If you need to constantly know what’s going on on the connected device, one message a day may not be very effective. But if it is the location of a fishing net, for example, perhaps no more is needed. Therefore, Sateliot primarily targets the following sectors: agriculture, animal husbandry and fishing. And more specifically towards rural areas. “Connectivity is a right, essential for development. If they are not digitized, these areas will remain outside global development,” Guadalupi insists.
According to Sateliot’s plan12 satellites will be launched in 2025 It moves into space and helps shape the constellation. Thus, the Earth will receive a message every hour. It will happen in 2026 60 satellites moving further into space between 2027 and 2028 108 satellites In orbit, messages can be sent from space in real time. All satellites will improve from year to year; The founders argue that no shipment will be the same as the last. The cost of producing them 700,000 and 800,000 Eurosand launch them into space, approximately 300,000 euros.
The company’s satellites will provide coverage through sensors installed on customers’ devices. And there are no secrets in these sensors: can be mass producedbecause these are the same ones currently used in these cities: barcelona anyone Madrid. They use a technology known as NB-IoT, which connects them to a low-speed, low-consumption and therefore also low-cost network. “That’s why this business is so scalable, because we don’t need to develop the team. Our customers you can buy from wherever you want. For just 10 Euros you will have a sensor. it pays off“says Sanpera confidently.
curious apps
All this allows for the most unique applications. Entrepreneurs explain, for example: maritime industry is interested On your product. It is common for ships to lose containers at sea and fall overboard, and it is very difficult to find them later. If these containers had sensors, they would be easier to search. “They will also have to pay less for insurance that covers them because the likelihood of damage will be lower,” Guadalupi adds.
Another example. vultures They are the first to go there when poaching occurs. That’s why NGOs are trying to keep them under control by detecting them in areas where they are most common, such as forests. Amazon. If they had sensors it would be even easier to know where they were. At least that’s how Sateliot argues. Just like animals grazing freely in the mountains. Some get lost, some get sick and infect others. Since they have sensors, it is cheaper to find them.
No half measures
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Sanpera is a born entrepreneur who made a name for himself in 2001. telecommunication industry With the launch of internet operator Eurona, which also uses satellite technology. In other words, he knows the risks as well as the benefits of the sector very well. “The complicated thing about this industry is that you should invest first. But with regard to IoT, we are clear that there will be only three or four satellite constellations worldwide,” he explains at a meeting with journalists in Vigo.
In fact, the company introduces itself for the first time in this field. Operating 5G low Earth orbit constellation for Internet of Things. And he insists this will contribute to the “democratisation” of the sector. And the truth is, “There will be no middle ground. A project like ours will either be successful and reach this 1,000 million turnover, or it will not be direct,” predicts Sanpera.