Satlyt, founded by a former Google and SpaceX product manager, raises $8M to run AI on satellites

Rama Afullo, a former Google and SpaceX product manager, has founded a company called Satlyt with the goal of running AI on satellites. Afullo's background in both Google's cloud computing and SpaceX's Starlink communications network led him to believe that there was untapped potential for computers in space. Despite initially being rejected by both companies for his ideas, Afullo co-founded Satlyt in Sunnyvale, California, and Nairobi.

The company has secured an $8 million seed round to develop software that enables multiple satellites to share the workload of large computing jobs in space.

Satlyt's software is set to launch on a SpaceX rocket alongside Google's Project Suncatcher. Unlike other companies, Satlyt does not plan to build its own spacecraft. Instead, the team focuses on building software that operates AI models on satellites, similar to VMware and Snowflake. By doing so, Satlyt aims to offer software that works across many companies' satellites, creating a horizontally integrated and open ecosystem.

The company has already flown its software on two demonstration missions. One of the initial focuses is to find operational efficiencies for spacecraft, as ground flight controllers typically handle any issues that arise. By processing data on the satellite itself, or downlinking less information, Satlyt claims to save significant amounts of money for each satellite annually.

This week's launch will see Satlyt's software deployed onboard a spacecraft built by TakeMe2Space, an Indian startup that builds computing hardware for satellites. The mission involves three customers: NASA, Stellerian, and TakeMe2Space itself.

Currently, few high-powered GPUs are in orbit, making the most likely opportunity lie in the types of workloads Satlyt is working on. However, the company's long-term goal is to create a shared computing system, or a cloud, spanning two different satellites. This would allow Satlyt to become a third-party provider of managed services to spacecraft builders.

Afullo believes that by 2030, virtually every spacecraft builder will be putting GPUs and advanced processors in their satellites, making Satlyt's approach increasingly valuable.