Russian startup tests technology that filters SpaceX Starlink passes from astronomical observations
A Russian startup is testing a technology that filters out disruptive passes of SpaceX’s Starlink satellites from astronomical observations. Developed by St. Petersbourg, Russia-based Stealth Transit, the technology detects bright approaching satellites and closes the telescope’s shutter to prevent the spacecraft from ruining the image. In a statement emailed to Space.com, the company said the technology works with narrow and medium fieldread more
Pakistan’s B2B marketplace and digital ledger platform Bazaar raises $30 million
A one-year-old startup that is building a business-to-business marketplace for merchants in Pakistan and also helping them digitize their bookkeeping is the latest to secure a mega-round in the South Asian market. Bazaar said on Tuesday it has raised $30 million in a Series A round. The new financing round — the largest Series A in Pakistan — was led byread more
Pakistan’s Airlift raises $85 million Series B for international expansion of its quick commerce platform
Lahore-headquartered quick commerce startup Airlift has raised $85 million in the largest-ever funding round for a Pakistani startup. The round is also the largest Series B raised by a startup in the Middle East, North Africa & Pakistan, and includes some high-profile investors. Responding to a question by MENAbytes, the startup has confirmed that the round is a single close (notread more
Tucson space startup Phantom acquires microsatellite tech firm
Fast-growing Tucson-based startup Phantom Space Corp. has acquired Micro Aerospace Solutions, a Florida-based provider of communications and propulsion systems and electrical design for spacecraft and rockets. Phantom is developing systems to launch microsatellites into space for research, communications and other applications, with plans to mass-produce launch vehicles, satellites and space propulsion systems in Tucson. The company was co-founded in 2019read more
Planet Labs and Google Cloud join forces in data analysis agreement
Satellite operator Planet Labs is beefing up its existing partnership with Google Cloud. Under a new agreement, Planet customers can use Google Cloud to store and process data, and access Google’s other products such as its data analytics warehouse BigQuery. The two companies’ collaboration stretches back to 2017, when Google sold its satellite imaging business, Terra Bella, to Planet. As part ofread more
US cybersecurity firm acquires Avast for over $8 billion
LONDON: To create a leading consumer business after the pandemic fuelled online activity, US cybersecurity giant NortonLifeLock is to buy Czech rival Avast for over $8 billion, the companies announced Wednesday. The deal, equivalent to more than 6.7 billion euros, “is a huge step forward for consumer cyber safety and will ultimately enable us to achieve our vision to protectread more
WhatsApp now allows transferring chats between Android, iOS
In a major development for smartphone users, WhatsApp will finally enable them to transfer data between platforms — from Android to iOS and vice-versa. The platform has rolled out the feature currently for Samsung phones, but it will soon be available for every mobile phone, Android and iOS, WhatsApp chief Will Cathcart said. “Want to securely take your WhatsApp historyread more
How one founder bucked the data-driven trend and created a startup based on inspiration
When Oleg Stavitsky and his co-founders started Endel, they didn’t necessarily expect for it to become a venture-backed business with the likes of Amazon’s Alexa Fund as investors. Stavitsky and his founding team describe themselves as a “collective of imaginative creatives and artists,” and the group had previously developed a unique set of apps for children called Bubl that wereread more
SpaceX to acquire satellite connectivity startup Swarm Technologies
SpaceX will be acquiring satellite connectivity startup Swarm Technologies, the first such deal for the 19-year-old space company headed by Elon Musk. Swarm operates a constellation of 120 sandwich-sized satellites as well as a ground station network. The deal would transfer control of Swarm’s ground and space licenses to SpaceX, in addition to any licenses pending before the commission. If theread more
How To Get Visibility When You’re An Early Stage Startup
When it comes to marketing and communications strategies, there’s a common debate within early stage startups: Do we hire an agency or do we keep it in-house? And while many agencies will tell you it’s smart to hire outside help, and agencies indeed bring a breadth and depth of experience to the table, I advocate for in-house teams for veryread more