Full-Time
Posted on 9/11/2025
Real-time satellite imagery and analytics platform
No salary listed
Reston, VA, USA
Hybrid
BlackSky provides real-time geospatial intelligence by operating a constellation of small satellites that monitor strategic locations and global events. Users access an analytics platform to request on-demand imagery and receive automated data insights about specific economic or security assets. Unlike competitors that may only photograph a site once every few days, BlackSky captures images many times per day to show changes as they happen. The company's goal is to provide a live, high-frequency view of the world to help organizations make immediate decisions during disasters or security threats.
Company Size
201-500
Company Stage
IPO
Headquarters
Herndon, Virginia
Founded
2013
Help us improve and share your feedback! Did you find this helpful?
Health Insurance
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
Life Insurance
Disability Insurance
Unlimited Paid Time Off
Paid Vacation
401(k) Retirement Plan
401(k) Company Match
Flexible Spending Accounts
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Employee Assistance and Travel Assistance Programs
Professional Development Budget
Employer matching donations
Spain's Xoople raises $130 million in Series B to create global maps for AI. By April 6, 2026 No Comments 3 Mins Read Space data companies have long argued that the private sector needs their products, but the real buyers are government buyers. As artificial intelligence becomes a top priority in business today, a Spanish startup is becoming the go-to source of ground truth for businesses. Xoople (referred to as "Zoople") develops a constellation of satellites to collect precise data for deep learning models. The startup was founded in 2019 and has spent the past seven years developing a technology stack around data collected by government spacecraft and integrating with cloud providers. CEO and co-founder Fabrizio Pirondini told TechCrunch that the company has completed a $130 million Series B led by Nazca Capital. Other investors include MCH Private Equity, CDTI (Spanish government-backed technology development fund), Buenavista Equity Partners, and Endeavor Catalyst. The company announced Monday a deal with U.S. space and defense contractor L3Harris Technologies to begin building sensors for the Xoople spacecraft. The sensors are designed to collect "two orders of magnitude better data flow than existing monitoring systems," Pirondini told TechCrunch. L3Harris has built some of the most advanced commercial imaging systems in orbit. But Pirondini did not provide any details about the satellites, other than that the sensors would collect optical data, or even how many the company wanted to build. These systems don't come cheap, and the company continues to raise funds to fund full development. Pirondini declined to share his company's valuation after the latest funding round, other than to say, "We're in unicorn territory." The company has raised a total of $225 million. The company's focus on data quality is a key differentiator. Still, Xoople is entering a competitive field crowded with several mature competitors that already operate satellites in orbit and develop AI-focused datasets, including Vantor, Planet, BlackSky, and Europe's Airbus. tech crunch event San Francisco, California | October 13-15, 2026 What sets Xoople apart is its focus on enterprise platforms. "Our business model is to embed our data and solutions directly into those ecosystems so that we can provide those services directly to our customers," Pirondini said. Pirondini described use cases such as government agencies tracking transportation networks and damage from natural disasters, agribusinesses monitoring the health of crops, and large corporations monitoring infrastructure projects and supply chains. Aravind Ravichandran, CEO of Earth observation consultancy TerraWatch Space, told TechCrunch that Xople's decision to prepare a distribution strategy before acquiring its own data is interesting. For now, it relies on publicly available data, such as data collected by the European Space Agency's Sentinel 2 spacecraft. "They laid distribution pipes before creating their own data feed and built it into Microsoft and Esri, two platforms that enterprises, governments and most GIS buyers already use, but neither of them had their own EO data," Ravichandran said. "Google's lead in geospatial AI models is the benchmark against which those models will be measured." It's unclear how Xoople will strike a balance between providing raw data and developing its own analytical tools, but Pirondini says he wants to create a "system of record for the planet" and expects the project will eventually include working with partners to develop a true AI world model.
BlackSky Technology has achieved first light imagery from its fourth Gen-3 satellite within hours of launch, demonstrating rapid operational capability for intelligence and defence missions. The satellite captured a 35-centimetre resolution image of an aircraft taking off from Santiago's international airport on 8 March. The company has consistently reduced launch-to-first light time to just hours, with full operational readiness within days. All Gen-3 satellites have delivered initial images with high clarity, detailing vehicles, vessels, aircraft and individual people. BlackSky's vertically integrated approach, encompassing satellite production and proprietary AI development, provides customers with flexible access to real-time intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance data. The Gen-3 constellation expansion continues on schedule, increasing capacity for tactical battlefield monitoring and strategic defence applications.
BlackSky Technology has secured a seven-figure award under its NGA Luno A Facility Monitoring Delivery Order. The funding renewal for the four-year contract follows customer satisfaction with the company's high-cadence, AI-enabled change detection analytics. Under the delivery order, BlackSky performs AI-enabled object and pattern-of-life change detection to monitor trends and anomalies in vehicle, aircraft, vessel, railcar and ground equipment activity at military and economic facilities worldwide. The company monitors over 14 million square kilometres of Earth's surface for the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. BlackSky recently added advanced, very high-resolution Gen-3 satellites to its constellation. The company's CEO Brian O'Toole highlighted the value of reliable commercial space-based monitoring services, particularly in a constrained budget environment.
BlackSky Technology has reported fourth quarter 2025 revenue of $35.2 million, up 16% year-over-year, bringing full-year revenue to $107 million. The space-based intelligence company achieved positive adjusted EBITDA of $0.9 million for 2025, marking its second consecutive profitable year on that measure. The company's backlog grew 32% to $345 million, driven largely by international defence contracts for its Gen-3 satellite technology. BlackSky converted several international pilot programmes into subscription contracts, with one customer reaching a seven-figure quarterly run rate. Cash and cash equivalents totalled $126 million as of 31 December 2025. For 2026, BlackSky projects revenue between $120 million and $145 million, with adjusted EBITDA of $6 million to $18 million. The company plans capital expenditures of $50 million to $60 million.
BlackSky Technology has completed a public offering of 10 million shares of Class A common stock at $4.00 per share. Underwriters exercised their option to purchase an additional 1.5 million shares, bringing total gross proceeds to approximately $46 million before fees and expenses. The space-based intelligence company filed a shelf registration statement with the SEC for the offering, which was managed by Oppenheimer & Co. and Lake Street Capital Markets as joint book-running managers. BlackSky plans to use the proceeds to enhance operational capacity and maintain its competitive position in the real-time intelligence services sector. The company serves government agencies and commercial enterprises, competing in a rapidly evolving market for space-based data and analytics capabilities.