Synspective has been backed by a University of Tokyo VC vehicle in its bid to launch a constellation of 25 small Earth observation satellites powered by synthetic aperture radar.
Synspective, a Japan-based synthetic aperture radar satellite developer spun out of University of Tokyo, has received ¥300m ($2.7m) of funding from investors including University of Tokyo’s Innovation Platform (IPC) unit.
IPC invested through a vehicle called IPC 1, one of a raft of university venture funds established in Japan as the country’s academic sector looks to close the innovation gap with the US. The round also featured investment firm Jafco.
Founded in February 2018, Synspective is looking to commercialise small observation satellites powered by a technology called synthetic aperture radar (SAR) that can observe Earth through natural obstructions such as clouds and nightfall.
The technology builds on government-sponsored research conducted by Shinko Shirasaka and Shinichi Nakasuka – professors at Keio University and the University of Tokyo respectively – together with Hirofumi Saito, a professor at the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, and Jiro Hirokawa from Tokyo Institute of Technology.
The spinout aims to launch a constellation of 25 SAR-powered satellites that use a specific form of antenna – dubbed the foldable passive planar deployed antenna – to achieve performance and cost-efficiency gains.
IPC 1 participates as a limited partner in fund-of-funds that actively invests in early-stage businesses linked to University of Tokyo. It also makes direct growth-stage investments in companies affiliated with the university.
