SKIFI's unique technology dramatically improves the performance of satellites, significantly reduces their costs and allows access to the Internet anywhere and at any time.
Tel Aviv, February 25, 2016, the Israeli start-up SkyFi today presented the technology it developed in the field of satellites at the innovation conference of the Microsoft Research and Development Center Think Next 2016, which was attended by the CEO of Microsoft Global, Satya Nadella. This is a breakthrough technology that brings the good news of the Internet everywhere on the globe and allows billions of people around the world to communicate with each other.
The company raised $3 million led by the JVP venture capital fund and with the participation of Liberty Israel. The amount raised will be used for product development until a demonstration in space and initial market entry.
The ability to make the Internet connection accessible on a global level through a network of satellites scattered in space is applicable today, but it is a very expensive technology with considerable operative risks, and therefore has a rather limited business viability.
The innovative technology developed by SkyFi is based on an unfolding reflector (antenna plate) and a unique and flexible sub-reflector that allows high precision required for fast communication. This technology makes it possible, among other things, to equip dozens of nano-satellites launched into space with a communication system that includes a deployable reflector with a diameter of about 60 cm. This antenna, which is folded into the satellite at the time of launch, unfolds after the satellite settles in place, allowing for a significant reduction in launch costs alongside a dramatic improvement in communication speed (up to 500 times the performance of nano satellites that are not equipped with the system).
The creation of 60 such satellites orbiting the earth, and based on the technology developed by SkyFi, will allow the world's population access to the Internet from any point on the globe at any given time. This is a technological breakthrough and a paradigm shift in the way the Internet is currently accessed by the world's inhabitants.
SkyFI's nanosatellite system will provide bandwidth of up to 1 gigabit per second anywhere on Earth. In addition, SkyFi's system makes it possible to regularly change the coverage pattern of a satellite on the Earth's surface after the satellite has already orbited the Earth, thus enabling a much more efficient coverage than the currently existing alternative.
Founders of SkyFi; Dr. Raz Itzhaki Tamir, Daniel Rockberger and Danny Spiratos come with extensive background and experience. In the last decades, the three served in senior management positions in the aerospace industry, Gilat Satellite Networks and RaySat. As part of their duties, they were engaged in the field of space engineering, developing nanosatellites and designing space antennas. The three even registered more than 20 patents cumulatively.
"We believe that the technology we have developed has the potential to bridge large gaps and give every person in the world to be part of a large and connected global community" said Dr. Raz Itzhaki Tamir, co-founder and CEO of SkyFi. "The combination of very advanced materials engineering combined with engineering and algorithms at the highest level allows SkyFi to design satellite communication systems as never seen before." Said Daniel Rockberger, founder and VP of Operations at SkyFi, "Using advanced electromagnetic technologies and providing learning capabilities to the communication system, we enable the provision of global broadband service according to the needs of the various customers," said Danny Spiritos, founder and VP of Technologies at SkyFi.
"SkyFi is blessed with a strong founding team that brings with it proven skills and rich and diverse experience in the development of technologies in the field of satellites and space," says Rafi Kasten, managing partner of the JVP Foundation. "The company's technology changes the rules of the game and meets a significant market need. We are happy to lead the round of investment in the company and believe in the great potential inherent in it."
About SKYFI:
SkyFi (formerly NSLComm) established in 2012, is an Israeli company that has developed technology to reduce the costs of launching satellites while significantly increasing the width of the film. This technology allows the use of nano-satellites to achieve a communication rate of 1 gigabit to every point on Earth. At the core of the technology is a deployable antenna and an adaptive secondary reflector that enables high precision in the shape of the deployable antenna. Also, the technology enables a change in the form of the earth's coverage in a dynamic way while the satellite is flying at a level that was unattainable until today.
The founders of the company are Dr. Raz Yitzhaki Tamir (CEO), Daniel Rockberger (CEO of Operations) and Danny Spiritos (CEO of Technology). The founders have many years of experience in the space industry and space communications (aeronautical industry, Gilat Communications Networks, RaySat and more).
The company's customers include space industries, security, commercial satellites and satellite developers. The company inscribed on Digla the ability to improve the ability to transmit communication through space while dramatically lowering communication costs and expanding coverage to fully cover the earth.
The company's development base is located in Kiryat Airport. The company currently employs 5 employees and plans to hire additional employees in the coming year.
In July 2012, SkyFi won the first prize of 100 dollars on behalf of NASA in an international startup competition in the field of space.
In October 2015, SkyFi won the first prize in "THE PITCH" competition held by Ernst. & Young Israel.
One response
Well done. A breakthrough that contributes to strengthening the space sector in Israel for global applications.