InMotion Ventures has participated in a $65M Series B+ round for CesiumAstro. The round was led by Trousdale Ventures with participation from the Development Bank of Japan, Quanta Computer, Kleiner Perkins, InMotion Ventures, L3Harris Technologies, Matter Venture Partners and Mesh Ventures.
Will Morgan, Investment and Scouting lead, and Oliver Fitz-Gibbon, Platform lead, explore why we invested.
The market
The age of smartphones, homes and vehicles is generating unprecedented volumes of data. Levels are increasing by the second as new connections are added to the network. In our data-driven society devices have taken on new meaning in our lives, and as global demand for next-generation technology scales, our efficiency, safety and comfort have come to depend on secure, low latency, and resilient communication systems.
Telecommunications innovation has not kept pace with the computers we so depend on. The capacity limitation of radio waves render them unsuitable for the future of many industries. Cellular networks, with their geographic restrictions and dead spots are an imperfect solution to modern requirements. With critical advancements such as crash avoidance technology demanding more than the radio spectrum can offer, satellites present the greatest opportunity to improve connectivity.
The broadcast sector has long depended on geostationary satellites to beam cable TV to vast areas. Sitting 22,000 miles from the ground, these satellites rotate at the speed of the earth, meaning surface level antennas can be directed towards them and largely left alone. This technology works perfectly well for broadcasting to vast areas. Where it falls short is high speed individual downloads that don’t require a wide reach.
The ever increasing demand for low latency, point to point communication has led to a surge in low earth orbit (LEO) satellites. Sitting between 120 and 1,200 miles from earth and orbiting every ninety minutes, LEO’s have the capacity to provide truly global high speed coverage. However, the speed at which they cross the sky means geostationary dishes are unable to mechanically track them with a high degree of reliability. So how do we harness the full potential of LEOs? Multi-beam phased arrays hold the answer.
An active phased array is constructed through placing multiple smaller antennas next to one another. The interference pattern between their signals creates a directed central radio wave. The primary value of phased arrays is the ease and speed with which the direction of the central beam can be altered electronically, without needing to physically rotate the antenna. Electronic steering allows antennas to precisely track and connect to thousands of low orbit satellites, maintaining low latency and connectivity, eliminating the need for moving parts and mechanical technology, and reducing the probability of failure. This approach improves radio wave communications across nearly all operational considerations.
What CesiumAstro does
Active phased arrays are nothing new. Initially developed for the defense sector, they’ve been tracking enemy missiles in the nose cones of fighter jets for decades. In recent years, however, we’ve come to appreciate their advantages over traditional radio frequency antennas. Today, the technology can be mass-produced via printed circuit boards, and with cost falling, commercialisation has become both inevitable and non-negotiable.
Typically, highly qualified antenna and radio frequency engineers are needed to make active phased arrays a reality for a product. CesiumAstro is tackling this problem head on. Founded in 2017, the US-based scaleup democratises access to the full potential of LEOs with a full-stack offering that is bringing commercial connectivity to the masses.
Cesium’s general purpose, plug and play phased array payloads encompass hardware (the antenna) and a software defined backend that includes all the electronics, software and algorithms needed to be connected. With Cesium, customers simply define their payload requirements upfront, and the team uses their modular product line to configure a mission-ready, cost efficient and customised solution.
Cesium systems require a single power cable and digital connection to make a high-speed communication link, meaning it can be installed on a satellite aircraft and connected immediately out of the box, typically in a matter of minutes. The modular set up enables multi-use applications, with constellations and transceivers created and optimised for a plethora of highly specific use cases, from drones to aircraft to automotive.
Why we invested
InMotion Ventures backs startups with the potential to accelerate the transformation of JLR. Resilient and secure data links are the foundation of many next-generation technologies and will play a significant role in the future of the automotive industry. As vehicles become increasingly software defined, low orbit satellites will act as a critical enabler of OEM innovation.
Cesium’s multi-platform, highly scalable full stack offering is totally unique. Their defensible position as the only modular plug-and-play multi market solution was the primary driver behind our participation in this Series B round. This first mover advantage, combined with the significant LEO market growth, has enabled the team to capture significant market share and build impressive working relationships with defense agencies and a number of key players in the aviation sector.
The use cases for active phased arrays are wide reaching, spanning satellite communications, in-flight connectivity, connected vehicles, and space exploration. Cars can generate up to a terabyte of data daily. As we move into the age of autonomous and V2X a new generation of satellite connectivity will be required. Safety features, data communications, firmware updates and vehicle health monitoring will all rely on phased array technology in the future. As such, open and configurable systems such as Cesium’s will be essential in supporting the connectivity needs of future passengers.
The team’s exceptional expertise was a decisive factor for our investment. Founder and CEO, Shey Sabripour, has three decades experience in the design, development and execution of telecommunication satellites, launch vehicles, and other interplanetary space vehicles. During his 24 years at Lockheed Martin Space Systems, he served as a design engineer, technology innovator, program manager and ultimately, the Director of Spacecraft Design. Shey’s credentials and network has attracted exceptional talent to the business. Over 40% of the team hold PhDs or masters degrees, boasting a collective 230 years of cumulative aerospace experience. The group has unparalleled experience in satellite and phased array development, and are perfectly poised to capitalise on their market position to explore additional upstream opportunities beyond phased array payloads.
Congratulations to everyone at CesiumAstro for raising a significant Series B round from an impressive consortium of investors. This round will enable global expansion and development across their full product suite. We look forward to supporting Shey and the team in this exciting next phase.
We’re always interested in speaking with exceptional founders setting new benchmarks in quality, technology and sustainability. If you are a founder, or know a company in the space, please do get in touch with the InMotion Ventures team, either via LinkedIn or through our investment form.