TechCrunch Startup News Near Space Labs nabs $20M to take its high-res imaging Swift robots into the stratosphere
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May 1, 2025 AI Snips
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Near Space Labs' Unique Imaging Tech
- Near Space Labs uses helium balloons to lift their Swift aircraft into the stratosphere for high-res Earth images.
- This approach requires no special licenses and can cover vast areas quickly and cheaply compared to drones or satellites.
Founders' International Journey
- Rima Mativa Sayan, CEO, studied math in Yerevan and met co-founder Ignacy Looch at Skolkovo Institute.
- Their connection through the Skolkovo-MIT partnership led them to start Near Space Labs in the U.S.
Insurance to Agriculture Market Shift
- The insurance industry is the biggest customer segment for Near Space Labs due to disaster tracking needs.
- The company plans to extend high-res imagery use to agriculture and build customized coverage plans.