The latest raise was led by Main Sequence with PAN Group also coming into the fold as well as Marc and Lindy De Stoop of Climatech Group.
Australia-based start-up Quasar Satellite Technologies, a space ground station company, has announced $6m of pre-Series A funding. The round was led by Main Sequence Ventures and included PAN Group (known for empowering founders) and Marc and Lindy De Stoop of Climatech Group. This follows closely behind the announcement of a $5.3m Defence Innovation Hub contract.
Speaking about the funding, Martin Duursma, Partner, Main Sequence Ventures, said: “Quasars outstanding team is building the next generation of satellite communications technology which will place Australia firmly at the vanguard of the worlds space and communications industries. Quasars solution will likely touch every human on earth as internet including streaming services, IoT, earth imagery and sensor data is beamed from satellites to earth. Helping Australias Defence industry gain the ultimate high ground doesnt hurt either.”
Quasar intends to use the funds to continue to fast-track its defence contract, and maintain its pace developing more efficient and powerful phased arrays in multiple RF bands. The company is looking to grow its ground segment with arrays to serve the swelling numbers of satellites which all need to speak to earth. The company has received keen interest from the largest players in the worlds ground segment and is working to capitalise on that interest this year. The team is currently at 14 and will grow to 24 by this years end including operational capacity.
Phil Ridley, CEO and Founder, Quasar, added: “Quasar will launch our true multi-beam Generation 1 digital phased array technology later this year. Our world-first technology was born from the CSIROs radio-astronomy division and this foundation technology will help us change space communications forever. As satellites continue to launch there will be around 50,000 in a decades time earth just doesnt have enough of right real-estate, and ground station companies enough CAPEX and OPEX, to speak to this many satellites efficiently. Our array roughly the size of a coffee table – can replace up 35+ parabolic dishes and run them for a fraction of the cost. We and are committed to growing a large Australian company serving the global space industry.”
A phased array is digitally controlled and created radio beam which can be steered in different directions rapidly without any moving hardware parts. Quasars true multi-beam array is very different to other phased arrays which have two to three beams and are coupled to specific makes of satellites. Quasars phased array has up to 100 beams, is not brand coupled and can scan the whole sky instantaneously. Quasars phased array can be compared to a large data centre instead of a single PC.
