SuperSharp is a Cambridge University spin-out developing an unfolding, heat-detecting telescope that fits large apertures into small satellites using its 'self-alignment technology'. The company aims to occupy the middle ground between large, expensive low-earth-orbit imagers and small, low-cost frequent imagers by delivering higher-resolution thermal images at a competitive price point. Its thermal telescope can reportedly identify heat loss at the level of an individual home, enabling applications from building-insulation monitoring to agricultural crop assessment. SuperSharp positions this capability as a potential 'killer app' for thermal satellite imagery, useful to local authorities and homeowners seeking to reduce energy consumption. The startup recently secured £5mn from the UK Space Agency to develop its first in-orbit demonstrator. That demonstrator is scheduled to launch in 2026, and the company’s award is part of a broader UK Space Agency funding package supporting new space technologies.

Total raised

$6M

Funding rounds

1

Latest round

Equity

Latest activity

Jul 2024