UK thermal imaging specialist SatVu has landed £30 million in new funding, including backing from the NATO Innovation Fund (NIF), as it looks to move beyond a single demonstration satellite and build out a wider constellation for government and defence customers.
The London-based company said the raise, which brings its total equity funding to £60 million, will support upcoming launches and advance plans for multiple spacecraft, with two satellites expected to enter orbit in 2026 and more already under contract. The shift signals a move from testing the technology to putting it to work more regularly, with the aim of monitoring activity, infrastructure performance, and operational changes from space.
The round includes a mix of private and public investors, including the NATO Innovation Fund, the British Business Bank, Space Frontiers Fund II (managed by SPARX Asset Management), and Presto Tech Horizons. The round also includes participation from existing investors, including Molten Ventures. Adara Ventures, Ridgeline Ventures, NOA, Lockheed Martin, Seraphim Space Fund, and Stellar Ventures.
Trisha Saxena, senior associate at the NIF, said: “SatVu’s thermal intelligence technology can provide governments and businesses across NATO nations with a level of detailed data that was simply not available before.”
“We are pleased to support SatVu as it revolutionises the earth observation market, delivering critical insights to the security, finance, and commodities sectors to help safeguard defence and economic activity across the Alliance.”
The investment also highlights continued UK government support for domestic defence and space innovation. Luke Pollard, Minister of State for the Ministry of Defence, commented: “We are committed to strengthening national security by scaling British SMEs and start-ups which help keep the UK’s defence industry at the cutting edge of innovation.”
“Last year we backed SatVu with a defence innovation loan, which has already helped spark £30 million further private investment through this funding round. Our support for defence firms through UK Defence Innovation is building British sovereign capabilities and driving economic growth across the country.”
SatVu says its high-resolution thermal imagery can spot activity day and night, from industrial operations to military supply chains and critical infrastructure. A larger constellation would allow more frequent passes over the same locations, making it easier for customers to track changes rather than rely on occasional snapshots.
The funding comes as competition in the commercial thermal imaging market heats up, with rivals including Germany’s Constellr and US-based Hydrosat also raising significant sums to expand their own satellite fleets.
