Drones in SATCOM
QuadSAT, the Danish drone-enabled antenna testing company announced closure of its £700,000 seed round that was led by Vaekstfonden, the Danish Growth Fund, with participation from Seraphim Capital and existing investors.
QuadSAT has developed brand new tools and techniques for testing and calibrating satellite antennas being deployed in high-value maritime and aeronautical markets. Combining the latest drone technology with a simulated satellite payload and mathematical algorithms, QuadSAT simplifies the requirements for satellite antenna testing, qualification and calibration. Additionally, QuadSAT’s products reduce vessels and aircraft downtime for such testing procedures, significantly reducing operational expenses.
The investment will enable QuadSAT to focus its innovative drone platform in the satellite communications industry starting with maritime and aeronautical applications. Joakim Espeland, CEO, QuadSAT, stated: “Our technology alleviates a massive pain point for our customers and will ensure high quality communications with minimum interference at a competitive price. We’re thrilled to be backed by our investors, including the team at Seraphim, which brings with it a great deal of sector-expertise as the world’s leading space-tech focused venture capital fund.”
QuadSAT was one of six participant companies in the Seraphim Space Camp Mission 1 which is the UK’s first accelerator for space-tech start-ups backed by Seraphim Capital, the world’s first venture capital fund dedicated to Space tech. The programme aims to get seed and Pre-Series A space-tech companies ‘investment ready’ and to facilitate unique corporate relationships with some of the leading space corporate agencies.
Speaking about the programme, Joakim said: “Taking part in Seraphim Space Camp was fundamental to us really. Speaking to relevant industry players who were able to validate what we were doing had a big impact on us and our future roadmap.”
Rob Desborough, Seraphim Capital Portfolio Director and Director of Seraphim Space Camp said, “We are very excited to be partnering with Joakim and the rest of the QuadSAT team. With stringent industry standards in place, QuadSAT is solving a real challenge for its customers and will provide enormous benefit to the industry.”
Vaekstfonden is a state investment Danish Growth Fund that contributes to the creation of new companies by providing capital and expertise. Since 1992, Vaekstfonden has co-financed with private investors’ in more than 7,300 Danish companies with a total commitment of more than DKK 22.5 billion.
Founded in 2017, QuadSAT has actually started as a university project; QuadSAT has recently set up an office in Harwell, UK. QuadSAT operates at Odense Robotics Start-up Hub, a Danish accelerator programme for robotics and drone startups, which provides premises and expert assistance.
The QuadSAT drone can mimic an orbiting satellite and simulate a ship or aircraft’s motion, which increases the accuracy of testing. QuadSAT can also be used to identify interference to satellite transmissions with pinpoint accuracy, which is vital to minimize inadvertent or other rogue interference. QuadSAT’s customers include the some of the world’s leading satellite operators, satellite antenna manufacturers, VSAT network operators’ maintenance teams and antenna testing facilities.