Skylo Technologies, a Silicon Valley space startup, has secured $37 million in funding through an equity round led by Intel Capital and Innovation Endeavors, with participation from BMW i Ventures, Next47, Samsung Catalyst Fund, and Seraphim Space. This latest funding brings Skylo’s total equity fundraising to $153 million, with previous investors including SoftBank and DCM.
Founded in 2017 and headquartered in Mountain View, California, Skylo aims to bridge the gap between satellite and terrestrial communications in the nascent “direct-to-device” (D2D) satellite communications market. Unlike traditional satellite companies that focus on building next-generation satellites, Skylo aims to provide a network that connects new devices, including low-bandwidth Internet of Things (IoT) hardware and high-bandwidth smartphones, via existing satellites without the need for extra antennas or bulky equipment.
Skylo CEO Parth Trivedi emphasized the company’s goal of achieving ubiquitous connectivity without adding complexity through additional hardware. Instead, Skylo is working on building a software infrastructure to certify chips and devices as capable of connecting to satellites in orbit. By doing so, Skylo envisions operating as a “roaming partner” to existing cellular networks, allowing devices made by other connectivity players to seamlessly connect to its network.
The company has already formed partnerships with chipset makers such as Qualcomm, Samsung, MediaTek, and Sony. It has certified several IoT chips from these companies and is in the process of certifying more for wearable devices and smartphones. Trivedi stated that older phones will not be certified on the Skylo network, but most major smartphone modems will support it by the end of this year.
Intel Capital’s managing director, Dave Johnson, praised Skylo for its smart utilization of existing infrastructure and seamless end-to-end solution. He believes that Skylo is at the forefront of the D2D satellite opportunity.
On the other side of Skylo’s network are the base stations installed at satellite operator gateways. These base stations, which are essentially single server racks, connect to the company’s satellites in space. Skylo currently has eight base stations installed at satellite gateways, with partners including Viasat, Ligado, and TerreStar. The company has begun providing initial services in the U.S., Canada, and Europe.
Skylo is “satellite agnostic,” meaning it can work with different satellite providers as they support various services. Trivedi hinted at the possibility of adding more partners to their portfolio as different satellite providers come on board.
While Skylo did not disclose specific revenue details, Trivedi confirmed that the company is generating revenue. With 52 employees and offices in Finland and India in addition to its Mountain View headquarters, Skylo is poised to make a significant impact in the satellite communications industry.
In an era where connectivity is crucial, Skylo’s innovative approach to satellite communications has attracted major backers like Intel, BMW, and Samsung. With its focus on seamless integration and certification of devices, Skylo aims to make satellite connectivity more accessible and scalable while eliminating the need for additional hardware. As the company continues to expand its network and partnerships, it is well-positioned to revolutionize the way we connect and communicate in remote areas and beyond.
