EUROCONSULT HONORS THE MOST PROMISING START-UPS
WITH THE 2ND FINSPACE AWARDS
Paris, Washington D.C., Montreal, Yokohama, October 25, 2018 – During Euroconsult’s annual World Satellite Business Week, awards were presented to the four most promising start-ups, as selected by an independent jury, after a pitch competition during the FinSpace cocktail reception at Euroconsult’s Summit for Satellite Financing, which brings together the leading decision makers of the satellite-enabled business sector. FinSpace is supported by MAXAR and Global Space Ventures.
130 companies were identified, after which 36 were shortlisted and 12 were invited to pitch. The four winners were selected from those 12 companies, based on the assessment of qualitative criteria, including innovation, existing and future customer base, amount of capital raised, level of maturity and market approach.
This year’s award categories and winners:
Best Newcomer: Akash Systems
Best Pitch: Hiber Global
Most Innovative Technology: Isotropic Systems
Entrepreneur of the Year: Rafael Jordá Siquier, CEO of Open Cosmos
The participants had the opportunity to present their projects during the FinSpace event and cocktail reception and also received €10,000 worth of Euroconsult’s research products and coaching from Global Space Ventures.
The jury, which had been in deliberation over the summer, was composed of leading figures from the satellite industry:
- Jury President: Jean-Jacques Dordain, Member of Advisory Board, SpaceResources.lu
- Pacôme Révillon, CEO, Euroconsult
- Hélène Huby, Partner, Global Space Ventures
- Will Porteous, Partner, COO, RRE Ventures
- Serge Van Herck, Space Entrepreneur
“The success of the 2nd edition of FinSpace is one of the many signals of “new space” taking momentum in Europe. Its growth involves more and more entrepreneurs and investors, more and more companies, long standing and new, big and small, from the space sector and from outside the space sector, all with the support of space agencies. The movement is now irreversible along a sustainable path paved with more and more clusters and ecosystems covering the total value chain. Congratulations and long life to the four winners!”
– Jean-Jacques Dordain, Jury President & Member of Advisory Board, SpaceResources.lu
“The future and growth of our industry will be shaped through innovative ideas and disruption. The FinSpace Awards recognize the most promising start-ups for their outstanding new concepts and initiatives, while at the same time facilitating exchanges and the formation of partnerships between them, established industry players and investors.”
– Pacôme Révillon, CEO, Euroconsult
About Euroconsult
Euroconsult is the leading global consulting firm specialized in high technology industries, with expertise in the space industry, satellite-based applications and aero connectivity. As a privately-owned, fully independent firm, we provide first-class strategic consulting, develop comprehensive research and organize executive-level annual summits and training programs for the industry. With more than 30 years of experience, Euroconsult is trusted by over 600 clients in more than 50 countries. Euroconsult is headquartered in Paris, France, and has offices in Washington D.C. and Montreal, as well as representatives in Singapore and Tokyo.
MEDIA CONTACTS
Lorraine Whitfield: whitfield@euroconsult-ec.com – +33 6 76 89 42 42
Annette Chatterton: chatterton@euroconsult-ec.com – +33 1 49 23 75 17
www.euroconsult-ec.com
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Euroconsult, 465 Rue McGill, Suite 1103, Montreal, Quebec H2Y 2H1 Canada
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Elizabeth Romero FleishmanHillard
919-457-0749
elizabeth.romero@fleishman.com
Renowned Space Satellite Industry Expert Joins Akash Systems as It Files for Experimental License with FCC
Brian Holz’s wealth of experience to fuel Akash’s space aspirations
SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 27, 2018 – Akash Systems, Inc., focused on resolving the explosive growth of data consumption by enabling smarter and lighter satellite systems, has appointed industry leader Brian Holz as Chief Architect. Holz brings extensive space satellite experience from his work directing the design and construction of satellite constellations for leading commercial organizations.
“With competition becoming fierce in the crowded satellite industry, we recognized the need to bring the best minds to our team,” says Akash Co- founder, CEO and GaN-on-Diamond inventor Felix Ejeckam. “A proven visionary, Brian is one of those minds, and he will bolster our systems development as we ramp up efforts to deliver next-generation RF communications links to a world that continues to demand increased connectivity.”
With extensive experience in space systems engineering, program management and executive leadership, Holz will further Akash’s mission of reimagining tomorrow’s communication systems by developing the next generation of small satellites and the components that power them. He was previously Chief Executive Officer of OneWeb Satellites, and Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, O3b Networks. He brings expertise in startup management, global supply chain operations, multi-discipline team leadership and core technology development.
“Today the satellite industry is massively hindered by bandwidth constraints and Akash’s components will be game-changing for the entire industry,” says Khosla Ventures investor, Delian Asparouhov. “Brian is a key component of helping us transform communications in space.”
Holz joins Akash Systems just as the company has completed its critical FCC filing for an experimental license, which grants organizations the ability to conduct scientific and research missions.
About Akash Systems
Akash Systems, Inc., (San Francisco, CA) founded in 2016 by Felix Ejeckam and Ty Mitchell, is focused on developing and supplying the next generation of small satellites (CubeSats), and the RF Power Amplifiers that power them. A pioneering new material, GaN-on-Diamond, is at the heart of the company’s RF technology and products.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Ty Mitchell
Akash Systems, Inc.
(408) 800-9022
Info@akashsystemsinc.com
Akash Systems Raises $3.1 million in Seed Round Funding Led by Khosla Ventures
Sky is the limit for company that aims to reimagine satellites and the components that power them
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 30, 2018 – Akash Systems, Inc., focused on resolving the explosive growth of data consumption by enabling smarter and lighter satellite systems, announced today it has raised $3.1 million and closed its seed round funding. Led by Khosla Ventures, the seed round also included Social Capital, Data Collective, Ruvento Ventures, Sriram Krishnan, and Backstage Capital. The funding will allow Akash to further its mission of reimagining tomorrow’s communication systems by developing the next generation of small satellites and the components that power them.
“Today’s worldwide data demand is outpacing the bandwidth and power capabilities of our current communication infrastructure,” said Co-founder, CEO and GaN-on-Diamond Inventor Felix Ejeckam. “We have the technology and innovation to look beyond current satellite systems in order to enable the design of small satellite (Cubesat) systems and subsystems in the very near future.”
With clarity on the limitations of existing satellite capacity and networks, Akash has set out to revolutionize the future of fast, affordable satellite communications using gallium nitride (GaN)-on-Diamond technology. Akash’s patented GaN-on-Diamond science is enabling smaller, lighter and higher performing satellites that will pave the way to lower launch costs, reduced cost-per-bit, more launch cycles, and increased communications access and throughput.
“Technology is all around us, and the constant use of communication strains our satellite infrastructure more each year,” said Sven Strohband, partner at Khosla Ventures. “Akash Systems is here to revolutionize satellite communications by creating high-performance components to get ahead of current satellite limitations such as heat generation and efficient cooling.”
Creating this future begins with Akash’s high-performance components – phase one of their business approach – which includes GaN-on-Diamond MMIC Power Amplifiers that are currently on the market. Akash plans to move into phase two, working with satellite system makers to design small satellite (Cubesat) systems and their transmitters by 2019.
About Akash Systems
Akash Systems, Inc., (San Francisco, CA) founded in 2016 by Felix Ejeckam and Ty Mitchell, is focused on developing and supplying the next generation of small satellites (CubeSats), and the RF Power Amplifiers that power them. A pioneering new material, GaN-on-Diamond, is at the heart of the company’s RF technology and products.
Email: Info@akashsystemsinc.com
www.AkashSystems.com
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Ty Mitchell
Akash Systems, Inc.
(408) 800-9022
Info@akashsystemsinc.com
Akash Systems Debuts, Transforms Satellite Communications with Revolutionary GaN-on-Diamond Technology
Confirms agreement to acquire GaN-on-Diamond patents and intellectual property
SAN FRANCISCO, March 20, 2017 – With worldwide data demand outpacing the frequency, bandwidth and power capabilities of our current communications infrastructure, Felix Ejeckam and Ty Mitchell, both experts in gallium nitride (GaN)-on-Diamond technology have joined forces to create Akash Systems, Inc. (Akash), a company committed to revolutionizing the future of fast, affordable satellite communications.
Through the application of GaN-on-Diamond materials, Akash’s technologies can resolve issues critical to the expansive growth of data use and consumption, enabling smaller, lighter and higher performing satellites that lead to lower launch costs, reduced cost-per-bit, more launch cycles, and increased communications access and throughput.
“There is a great need and demand for new satellites that are lower-cost and allow for faster downlink data rates,” said Co-founder, CEO and GaN-on-Diamond Inventor Felix Ejeckam. “Our technology will also create opportunities not envisioned today, including deep space communications, faster data links between spacecraft, and higher-density information access between human communities, no matter where they are in the universe.”
Creating this future begins with Akash’s high-performance components – phase one of their business approach – which includes GaN-on-Diamond Hybrids and MMIC Power Amplifiers that are currently on the market. Akash plans to move into phase two, working with satellite system makers to design small satellite (Cubesat) systems and subsystems, by 2019.
Ejeckam invented the GaN-on-Diamond technology in 2003, while at Group4 Labs, Inc., by lifting GaN epitaxy from its original growth substrate—for example, silicon—and transferring it to a synthetic CVD diamond substrate. Group4 Labs’ assets were acquired in 2013 by Element Six Technologies, a member of the De Beers Group of Companies.
In 2016, Ejeckam with Akash Co-founder and COO Ty Mitchell, entered into an agreement with RFHIC Corporation to jointly negotiate the repurchase of the GaN-on-Diamond intellectual property (IP), with Akash acquiring all patents and other IP rights related to GaN-on-Diamond technology for use in satellite communications and related markets.
“Imagine extending the reach of fast, affordable communications to every human on earth. Imagine the possibility of high-bandwidth communications between Earth and deep space, or even human colonies in space. At Akash, we are creating technologies to make that vision come true,” said Mitchell, who prior to forming Akash was at Cree, Inc., a $1.6B market-leading innovator of technologies and products based on GaN-on-SiC, where he served in roles including EVP/GM and VP/GM of Cree’s Optoelectronics, GaN/SiC materials, and LED Lighting businesses. “Akash is excited to acquire this IP to serve our customer base of satellite system makers around the world. We want to redefine what people believe are limitations in satellite communications.”
About Akash Systems
Akash, Systems, Inc., (San Francisco, CA) founded in 2016 by Felix Ejeckam and Ty Mitchell, is focused on developing and supplying the next generation of small satellites (CubeSats), and the RF Power Amplifiers that power them. A pioneering new material, GaN-on-Diamond, is at the heart of the company’s RF technology and products.
Email: Info@akashsystemsinc.com
www.AkashSystems.com
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