Unseenlabs Secures €85 Million in Funding to Advance Space-Based Maritime Surveillance

Unseenlabs Secures €85 Million in Funding to Advance Space-Based Maritime Surveillance

Unseenlabs, a France-based company and global leader in maritime surveillance through detection and geolocation of radio frequency signals from space, announced the closure of an exceptional fundraising round of €85 million. This operation, one of the largest in the space industry, confirms the global interest in Earth observation and marks a new milestone in Unseenlabs’ development. 

This new funding round brings together new leading investors: Supernova Invest, ISALT via its Strategic Transition Fund, and UNEXO. All of Unseenlabs’ historical partners - 360 Capital, OMNES, Bpifrance, Breizh Up managed by UI Investissement, and S2G Ventures - also reaffirm their support for this new phase by investing in the new funding round.

The strategic allocation of funds will focus on:

  • Consolidation of activity within private sector segments, such as oil and gas, insurance, shipowners, economic intelligence, and offshore energy.
  • Significant expansion of observation capabilities, with the launch of multiple satellites.
  • Strengthening Unseenlabs’ international presence, particularly in the American and Asian markets, which are crucial for the maritime sector
  • Recruitment of new talent, supporting the company’s strategic vision and operational excellence.
  • Innovation and deployment of new products and solutions, thereby reinforcing Unseenlabs’ position as a leader in RF maritime surveillance solutions.

"After our previous fundraising rounds in 2018 and 2021, we are proud to announce this new €85 million fundraising. Unseenlabs has accumulated a total funding of €120 million since its inception. This reflects our steady progress and the continued confidence of our investors. The year 2023 marked an inflection point for Unseenlabs, reinforcing the relevance of our business model and the attractiveness of our offering in the market. This funding will allow us to accelerate our growth, particularly by developing new solutions and strengthening our presence in the private sector. We have the means to achieve our ambitions and are excited to continue this journey with our historical partners while welcoming new ones," declared Clément Galic and Jonathan Galic, co-founders of Unseenlabs.

Founded in 2015 by the Galic brothers, Unseenlabs is revolutionizing maritime surveillance through its proprietary technology for detecting radio frequency signals emitted by ships, enabling precise geolocation of boats from space. Unseenlabs works with dozens of clients internationally, addressing various issues: securing maritime areas, protecting the seabed, tracking ships, combating piracy, etc. To date, the Unseenlabs constellation consists of 11 satellites in orbit located between 500- and 600-kilometer altitudes. Unseenlabs aims to deploy an additional 10 satellites by the end of 2025, improving the performance of the constellation, such as the data delivery time to its customers. 

Next month, Unseenlabs will see its constellation augmented by two new satellites, BRO-12 and BRO-13. These satellites will be launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 as part of the Transporter-10 mission from the Vandenberg Space Force Base (USA). 

This new fundraising will enable Unseenlabs to intensify its technological innovations and expand its service offering, while strengthening its position as a global leader in RF signal detection. Investors, attracted by the technological breakthrough brought by Unseenlabs and the strength of its economic model, are committed to supporting the company’s long-term vision. "

Unseenlabs stands out for its innovative approach and its ability to redefine the standards of space observation of radio frequencies. We are convinced of its potential to stay a major global player. The decisive factors of our investment lie in their disruptive technology and the value-addition of their data, crucial for both state maritime missions and private sector markets," emphasized Etienne Moreau, partner at Supernova Invest

Laurent Piccoli, Partner at ISALT, stated: "By partnering with Unseenlabs, ISALT once again chooses the long-term and invests in the future. We are delighted to participate in financing the industrial ambitions of this SME that has developed a unique location technology. Through this partnership, the Strategic Transition Fund continues its commitment to finance and support the most competitive French future champions in their sectors, which our country needs. "

"UNEXO is proud to support Unseenlabs, a flagship of Breton innovation. Our investment reflects our commitment to promoting the entrepreneurial dynamism of our region. Together, we are writing a new chapter of technological success in the Grand Ouest, " said Jérémy Durand, head of venture capital activity at UNEXO Capital investment fund. All historical partners express their support of this new phase, notably Nicolas Berdou, Investment Director at Bpifrance, who states: "The continued commitment of the French Ministry of Armed Forces and Bpifrance in the New Space domain is reinforced with this renewed participation in this new Series C round carried out by Unseenlabs. This step not only validates their technological solution and their economic model but also strengthens their position as a global leader in data and as a leading service provider for maritime surveillance. " 

Laurent Le Portz, Investment Director at UI Investissement, adds: "Through the renewed commitment of Breizh Up, which has been present since the first round, the Région Bretagne reaffirms its intention to support the development of Unseenlabs and its Earth observation technologies aimed at protecting our oceans and maintaining environmental balances. " 

In addition to this investor ecosystem, Unseenlabs also benefited from the support of a consortium of leading banks, coordinated by the Caisse Régionale de Crédit Agricole Mutuel d’Ille-et-Vilaine, acting as coordinator and agent. 

The banking pool includes Banque CIC Ouest, Banque Populaire Grand Ouest, Caisse d’Epargne et de Prévoyance Bretagne – Pays de Loire, and Caisse de Crédit Mutuel, thus demonstrating significant confidence in Unseenlabs’ vision and growth potential. Furthermore, Barclays’ contribution as an investment bank was crucial in supporting Unseenlabs in its fundraising efforts, alongside the banking pool.

Click here to learn about Unseenlabs' Maritime Surveillance Service.

Publisher: SatNow
Tags:-  SatelliteLaunchGround

GNSS Constellations - A list of all GNSS satellites by constellations

beidou

Satellite NameOrbit Date
BeiDou-3 G4Geostationary Orbit (GEO)17 May, 2023
BeiDou-3 G2Geostationary Orbit (GEO)09 Mar, 2020
Compass-IGSO7Inclined Geosynchronous Orbit (IGSO)09 Feb, 2020
BeiDou-3 M19Medium Earth Orbit (MEO)16 Dec, 2019
BeiDou-3 M20Medium Earth Orbit (MEO)16 Dec, 2019
BeiDou-3 M21Medium Earth Orbit (MEO)23 Nov, 2019
BeiDou-3 M22Medium Earth Orbit (MEO)23 Nov, 2019
BeiDou-3 I3Inclined Geosynchronous Orbit (IGSO)04 Nov, 2019
BeiDou-3 M23Medium Earth Orbit (MEO)22 Sep, 2019
BeiDou-3 M24Medium Earth Orbit (MEO)22 Sep, 2019

galileo

Satellite NameOrbit Date
GSAT0223MEO - Near-Circular05 Dec, 2021
GSAT0224MEO - Near-Circular05 Dec, 2021
GSAT0219MEO - Near-Circular25 Jul, 2018
GSAT0220MEO - Near-Circular25 Jul, 2018
GSAT0221MEO - Near-Circular25 Jul, 2018
GSAT0222MEO - Near-Circular25 Jul, 2018
GSAT0215MEO - Near-Circular12 Dec, 2017
GSAT0216MEO - Near-Circular12 Dec, 2017
GSAT0217MEO - Near-Circular12 Dec, 2017
GSAT0218MEO - Near-Circular12 Dec, 2017

glonass

Satellite NameOrbit Date
Kosmos 2569--07 Aug, 2023
Kosmos 2564--28 Nov, 2022
Kosmos 2559--10 Oct, 2022
Kosmos 2557--07 Jul, 2022
Kosmos 2547--25 Oct, 2020
Kosmos 2545--16 Mar, 2020
Kosmos 2544--11 Dec, 2019
Kosmos 2534--27 May, 2019
Kosmos 2529--03 Nov, 2018
Kosmos 2527--16 Jun, 2018

gps

Satellite NameOrbit Date
Navstar 82Medium Earth Orbit19 Jan, 2023
Navstar 81Medium Earth Orbit17 Jun, 2021
Navstar 78Medium Earth Orbit22 Aug, 2019
Navstar 77Medium Earth Orbit23 Dec, 2018
Navstar 76Medium Earth Orbit05 Feb, 2016
Navstar 75Medium Earth Orbit31 Oct, 2015
Navstar 74Medium Earth Orbit15 Jul, 2015
Navstar 73Medium Earth Orbit25 Mar, 2015
Navstar 72Medium Earth Orbit29 Oct, 2014
Navstar 71Medium Earth Orbit02 Aug, 2014

irnss

Satellite NameOrbit Date
NVS-01Geostationary Orbit (GEO)29 May, 2023
IRNSS-1IInclined Geosynchronous Orbit (IGSO)12 Apr, 2018
IRNSS-1HSub Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (Sub-GTO)31 Aug, 2017
IRNSS-1GGeostationary Orbit (GEO)28 Apr, 2016
IRNSS-1FGeostationary Orbit (GEO)10 Mar, 2016
IRNSS-1EGeosynchronous Orbit (IGSO)20 Jan, 2016
IRNSS-1DInclined Geosynchronous Orbit (IGSO)28 Mar, 2015
IRNSS-1CGeostationary Orbit (GEO)16 Oct, 2014
IRNSS-1BInclined Geosynchronous Orbit (IGSO)04 Apr, 2014
IRNSS-1AInclined Geosynchronous Orbit (IGSO)01 Jul, 2013