The Berlin-based climate-tech startup has launched a miniaturized micro-LiDAR and SWIR imager that can be mounted on a nanosatellite, capable of detecting methane leaks as small as a car from orbit.
AIRMO, based in Berlin and Luxembourg, has raised €5 million in a seed round to finance its first satellite launch planned for 2027, and to enhance its airborne services in Europe, the Middle East, and Central Asia.
Ananda Impact Ventures, a Munich-based impact venture capital firm, led the funding round, with new participants including Unconventional Ventures, kopa ventures, Desai Ventures, and Hypernova / New Venture Securities. Individual strategic investors Matthias Fackler and Francesco Starace, from EQT, also contributed, along with previous investors Antler, Findus Ventures, E2MC, and Pi Labs.
AIRMO’s technology integrates a short-wave infrared pushbroom spectrometer with a proprietary micro-LiDAR system, marking the first miniaturized deployment of such advanced sensors on a small satellite. This combination provides double the accuracy of current satellite monitoring, identifying methane plumes as small as a leaking vehicle from 500 kilometers above.
Collaborating with Bulgarian manufacturer EnduroSat, AIRMO aims to launch the first satellite on the ESPA-class FRAME-15 platform in 2027, forming a 12-satellite constellation. This will deliver commercial data products to various sectors, including oil and gas operators, financial institutions, regulators, and NGOs.
Founded in 2022 by Daria Stepanova, AIRMO is led by a team with extensive experience in space tech. The company is supported by the European Space Agency’s InCubed programme, with previous funding rounds including a €3.7 million contract within its €5.2 million pre-seed round in 2023.
Methane accounts for about 30% of global warming, with emissions often underreported. As regulatory pressures grow, AIRMO’s technology offers a solution superior to many existing methods, already serving customers like Uniper, Total, and ESCE for energy infrastructure monitoring.
CEO Stepanova states the seed funding will transition AIRMO from validation to continuous monitoring, with the satellite launch advancing the goal of monitoring millions of energy assets globally. Ananda Impact Ventures, a longtime supporter, highlights methane reduction as a key decarbonization strategy. AIRMO plans to increase its presence in the MENA region, where it holds an office in Abu Dhabi.