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US-based aerospace and defence multinational Lockheed Martin has topped up Sydney startup Arlula's bank balance as it seeks to push the boundaries of space technology with its Earth observation (EO) data platform, which allows developers to search and order data from satellite archives.
Arlula reveals Lockheed Martin Ventures made a "significant strategic investment" in the company for an undisclosed sum. A spokesperson confirms this is on top of the $2.2 million raised in May in a round led by the CSIRO's deep tech innovation fund Main Sequence Ventures with participation from Black Nova Venture Capital.
Arlula, founded by Sebastian Chaoui and Arran Salerno in 2018, has built an application programming interface (API) that integrates commercial and government satellite imagery from operators around the world, in order to reduce the time it takes to access Earth observation data.
The company highlights the investment not only brings the financial resources needed for growth but also helps Arlula draw on Lockheed Martin Ventures' wealth of aerospace industry knowledge, expertise, and access to a global network of partners and customers.
"Lockheed Martin’s investment is a validation of our technology and our vision for the future of satellite imaging," says Arlula co-founder and CEO Sebastian Chaoui.
"We are thrilled to have an investor that shares our commitment to innovation and our dedication to pushing the boundaries of what's possible in the space industry."
Chaoui, who previously led Australia’s first-ever mission to the International Space Station with his startup Cuberider, says high-res aerial imagery enables governments and organisations to understand a multitude of changes on Earth’s surface, from environmental degradation and wildlife movement to natural disasters and urbanisation.
Through its cloud-based infrastructure, Arlula provides businesses on the ground with the ability to integrate and manage satellite data feeds from anywhere in the world.
Remote asset managers in the fields of mining, oil and gas, and forestry can now acquire and operationalise satellite imagery at scale, eliminating the need for complicated technology integrations, lengthy business contracts and negotiations.
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