ConstellR: Revolutionizing Agriculture with Space-Based Crop Monitoring

Harnessing Satellite Technology for Global Food Security

ConstellR is a pioneering space-tech startup at the intersection of Earth Observation and agriculture. Headquartered in Freiburg, Germany, the company is a spin-off of Fraunhofer, Europe’s largest applied science research organization.

With its proprietary HiVE satellite constellation (High-precision Versatile Ecosphere), ConstellR delivers high-quality, affordable crop health monitoring for the smart farming sector. By leveraging advanced space-based sensing technology, ConstellR provides precise water monitoring at the plot level, helping farmers optimize irrigation and conserve resources in the face of climate change.

Mission: Enabling Efficient Water Use for Every Farm

ConstellR’s mission is to support global food security by enabling efficient water management for agriculture worldwide. As climate change intensifies, access to real-time land surface temperature data is crucial for sustainable farming.

As a joint spin-off from Fraunhofer and the German Aerospace Center (DLR), ConstellR addresses the growing demand for high-resolution thermal imagery to enhance crop monitoring and boost agricultural productivity.

Innovative Satellite Technology and Strategic Growth

Founded in 2020 by former Fraunhofer scientists Max Gulde (CEO), Marius Bierdel (CTO), and Christian Mittermaier (CFO), ConstellR has rapidly gained industry recognition for its cutting-edge satellite technology.

• November 2022: Raised $10 million in a seed round led by Lakestar and VSquared, key investors in the space-tech sector. The funding supports the launch of ConstellR’s first two satellites, team expansion from 40 to 100 employees, and data platform development.
• December 2022: Signed a contract with Kongsberg NanoAvionics for two MP42 microsatellite buses, paving the way for the world’s first scalable water stress monitoring system, HiVE.
• April 2023: Acquired ScanWorld, a Belgian hyperspectral satellite analytics company. This merger enhances ConstellR’s ability to deliver comprehensive monitoring of water, carbon, energy, and crop health.
• July 2023: Secured €17 million ($19 million USD) in a second seed funding round led by Karista, with participation from Einstein Industries Ventures, FTTF, Lakestar, Vsquared, Amathaon Capital, Natural Ventures, OHB Ventures, and EIT Food. This investment accelerates the deployment of ConstellR’s 100-kg thermal imaging satellites to meet the growing demand for agricultural data.
• December 2024: Signed a multi-year contract with the German Space Agency (DLR) to provide high-resolution thermal data (30m native resolution) for Earth Observation research.
• January 14, 2025: Successfully launched its first thermal infrared satellite, SkyBEE-1, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket during the Transporter-12 RideShare Mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, USA. The satellite was integrated by EXOLaunch.

The Future of Smart Farming with ConstellR

By delivering real-time, high-resolution thermal data, ConstellR empowers farmers, researchers, and policy makers to make data-driven decisions for sustainable agriculture. With its rapidly expanding satellite network, ConstellR is set to revolutionize precision farming and drive global efforts toward climate-resilient food production.

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