Kepler Communications has raised $122.7 million CAD ($92 million USD) in Series C funding. The spacetech startup has raised more than $200 million in equity overall, as it hopes to become one of Canada’s largest satellite firms.
IA Ventures led the funding with support from Costanoa Ventures, Canaan Partners, Tribe Capital, BDC Capital’s Industrial Innovation Venture Fund, and other undisclosed investors.
“Exponentially decreasing launch costs make space more accessible than ever.”
Toronto-based Kepler Communications is a satellite telecommunications provider on a mission to build the internet for space. Incorporated in 2015, Kepler provides real-time, continuous connectivity for space communications.
Kepler will use the funding to launch more high-speed space-to-earth satellites, service from which will be available to consumers by the first quarter of 2025.
“Exponentially decreasing launch costs make space more accessible than ever, but connectivity beyond Earth is still costly, challenging, and inconsistent,” said Brad Gillespie, general partner at IA Ventures.
According to Gillespie, Kepler is able to provide a fast network with working connectivity between any asset in space and Earth. “With proven customer demand for their high-speed optical network, we are excited to lead this funding round to enable Kepler to continue its rapid growth and achieve profitability,” Gillespie said.
Kepler plans to launch two satellites in the fall, testing and validating its optical communication technology. The company’s newest satellites build on the launch of its existing 21 satellites. Kepler already launched two additional spacecraft in mid-April 2023.
Kepler claims its service enables low earth orbit satellites to deliver 2.5 gigabytes-per-seconds for real-time connectivity.
Feature image courtesy Unsplash.
