Planet Labs raises $95M to keep sending satellites into orbit

[Buster's Uncle]

Planet Labs raises $95M to keep sending satellites into orbit
Gigaom
by Signe Brewster    Jan. 20, 2015 - 9:58 AM PST



Planet Labs founders Chris Boshuizen, Robbie Schingler and Will Marshall on the roof of their old SoMA office. Credit: Signe Brewster



Satellite startup Planet Labs has raised a fresh $95 million — $70 million in Series C funding and $25 million of debt financing, it announced Tuesday. The rounds bring the total amount it has received to $160.1 million.

Planet Labs also introduced Tom Barton as its new COO. Barton, who spent many years in venture capital, served as CEO of computing company SGI until 2007. Former Planet Labs COO Robbie Schingler will retain his titles as co-founder and president.

The Series C round was led by repeat investor Data Collective, which will add its co-managing partner Zachary Bogue to Planet Labs’ board. Western Technology Investment contributed the $25 million.

Planet Labs uses a large flock of shoebox-sized satellites to capture images of the Earth, which it then sells to customers like engineering and design firm Woolpert and mapping company Geoplex.

It regularly sends new satellites to space on rockets like SpaceX’s Falcon 9. Because the satellites are so much smaller and simpler (their brains are equivalent to an Android phone) than the traditional options, they are built to last just a few years before being replaced.



Crops in Brazil, photographed by a Planet Labs Dove. Credit: Planet Labs


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[Geo]

So, those 'shoeboxes' are actually doing what last century's Landsat did.

[Buster's Uncle]

That's the idea...