An example of ultrabroadband hyperspectral imaging. Photo: Matter Intelligence

A new remote sensing startup Matter Intelligence emerged from stealth mode on Wednesday with $12 million in seed funding. The startup aims to capture hyperspectral data of “all matter on Earth, from surface to atmosphere.” Climate-focused VC firm Lowercarbon Capital led the funding round with participation from Toyota Ventures, Pear, Mark Cuban, and E2MC. 

The company is based in California and preparing to launch its first satellite, Earth-1, which will provide sub-meter hyperspectral and thermal imaging capability. Matter Intelligence said it will announce a launch date soon. 

Matter Intelligence plans to use the funding to advance its sensing infrastructure and said its sensors are designed for deployment on satellites, drones, and aircraft. The company said this satellite will be able to provide “more than 500 times the information density” of existing sensors. 

The company outlined military asset tracking, identifying critical mineral reserves and monitoring crops and biodiversity as use cases for this type of data. 

The founding team consists of Former NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) engineers Vishnu Sridhar and Thomas Chrien and former Caltech scientist Nathan Stein.

CEO Vishnu Sridhar has led NASA missions like the SuperCam on the Perseverance rover and REASON on the Europa Clipper deep space mission. According to the company’s release, Technical Director Thomas Chrien developed the first airborne hyperspectral broadband imaging spectrometer, and directed the U.S. Air Force ARTEMIS payload for TacSat-3 hyperspectral mission.

“Matter is pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in Earth observation,” said co-founder and CEO Vishnu Sridhar. “We are developing sensors that allow us to understand material makeup at the molecular level — capturing composition, temperature, and structure from orbit with sub-meter precision. This is a game changer for industries that rely on detailed, real-time data to make critical decisions.”