AIRMO, a space tech
startup developing advanced greenhouse gas monitoring technology, has announced
a €5 million seed round to support its first satellite mission planned for 2027
and the expansion of its airborne coverage. The round was led by Ananda Impact Ventures, with participation from Unconventional Ventures, kopa ventures, Desai
Ventures, Hypernova / New Venture Securities, and two EQT Partners acting as
strategic investors (Matthias Fackler and Francesco Starache). Existing
investors Antler, Findus Ventures, E2MC, and Pilabs also joined the round.
Based in Berlin and
Luxembourg and supported by the European Space Agency, AIRMO has developed an
active spaceborne greenhouse gas monitoring instrument that combines a SWIR
imager with micro-LIDAR. The company says this is the first time a sensor of
this type and power has been miniaturised for use on a small satellite.
According to AIRMO, the technology delivers roughly twice the accuracy of
existing systems, enabling the detection of methane leaks as small as a car from
orbit.
Methane emissions
are estimated to account for around 30 per cent of global warming, yet many
leaks remain unreported, creating both environmental and economic challenges
for energy operators.
Daria Stepanova, CEO
of AIRMO, said the company’s mission is to help operators identify and stop
greenhouse gas losses, starting with methane. She noted that the newly
developed instrument enables the company to move beyond validation toward
continuous monitoring and that the planned satellite launch represents an
important step toward AIRMO’s goal of monitoring millions of energy assets
worldwide.
AIRMO’s technology
is already deployed in commercial drone and aircraft monitoring missions across
Europe, Central Asia, and the MENA region. The company reports that major
energy companies, including Uniper, Total, and ESCE, are using the system for
energy infrastructure monitoring.
Commenting on the
investment, Alina Bassi, Principal at Ananda Impact Ventures, said reducing
methane leakage is currently one of the most effective ways to decarbonise the
energy sector. She added that AIRMO’s high-precision space-based emissions
measurement could help address long-standing transparency challenges and noted
the firm has supported the team since its early stages as it works toward its
first satellite launch.
The funding will support AIRMO’s move
from pilot projects to scaled commercial operations, including its first
satellite launch in 2027. The company also plans to expand airborne monitoring
across Europe, MENA, and Central Asia and establish a local presence in the
MENA region.