Charlottesville’s Astraea acquired by Fla. satellite company

Astraea, a Charlottesville-based geospatial analytics firm, has been acquired by Nuview, a Florida-based company developing a satellite imaging constellation, the companies announced Tuesday.

Financial terms of the deal were not available.

Founded as a for-profit benefit corporation in 2016, Astraea applies data science and artificial intelligence to analyze imaging and sensor data gathered from Earth-observing satellites.

“This acquisition of Astraea will allow Nuview to diversify and strengthen its position across multiple markets, leveraging its expanding client base and expertise,” according to a news release from the companies announcing the acquisition.

Founded in 2022, Orlando, Florida-based Nuview is developing a constellation of satellites planned for launch in 2025 that will use lidar technology to scan and map large areas of Earth terrain from space, creating 3D imaging. The acquisition of Astraea will add advanced geospatial image analysis to Nuview’s capabilities. The startup was named to Time magazine’s list of the best inventions of 2023 for its planned lidar satellite constellation. Nuview’s clients include the U.S. Department of Defense and commercial interests.

“Nuview’s lidar technology will provide centimeter-scale accuracy in geospatial intelligence and mapping that is pivotal for defense, climate initiatives, telecommunications, agriculture, energy and national mapping initiatives,” according to the news release.

Astraea CEO and co-founder Daniel Bailey said, “Nuview shares Astraea’s passion for finding solutions to some of the world’s toughest problems through Earth observation and data analytics. With only an estimated 5% of the world mapped with the accuracy that only lidar technology can bring, Nuview’s groundbreaking space-based lidar, coupled with Astraea’s platform infrastructure, is poised to offer unprecedented AI solutions and indispensable data vital for advancing global climate initiatives and sustainable development.”

When the war between Ukraine and Russia began, Astraea spearheaded an effort to provide free satellite imagery that could be used to assist Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense, as well as civilians and humanitarian organizations. In July 2022, Astraea closed an oversubscribed $6.5 million Series A round led by Aligned Climate Capital and Carbon Drawdown Collective with participation from CAV Angels, Tyndall Investment Partners and the University of Virginia Licensing & Ventures Group Seed Fund.