 lines of business it might tap in the future beyond its current bread and butter of search-related advertising.

That’s important not just for diversification: some believe search ads will decline as the dominant force in digital advertising prominence over the next couple of years. Maps and organizing data in the physical world are clear extensions of Google’s core search business.

A third area has to do with how Skybox has been conceived as a company. Founded in 2009 by Julian Mann, Dan Berkenstock, Ching-Yu Hu, and John Fenwick, the startup has gone some way towards figuring out how to commercialise its data, rather than provide simple data sources for others to configure as many other companies in the commercial satellite industry have done.

“Skybox is looking very far downstream, and that’s an approach where people have not been very successful,” Soenen says. In that regard, Google appears to be interested not just in data but also some of the talent that’s figuring out interesting ways of using it.

A pricey and dicey game

But! There are some caveats to the Skybox information that we have heard, which are worth noting here, as they explain a bit more about the state of play in the satellite business at the moment.

The first is about the target. We have heard that Google is interested in making a play for a satellite imaging company. But there are a number of companies out there that are using small satellites and other technology to record the earth’s terrain that could fit the bill.

They include BlackBridge, which has a business called RapidEye. This provides wide-scale images of large landscapes, covering around 5 million square kilometers of ground each day; last week it picked up $22 million in funding to expand that business with more satellites. Urthecast, meanwhile, is up there creating video streams of what’s happening down below.

Planet Labs, backed by the likes of DFJ, Yuri Milner and Founders Fund among many others, has deployed nearly 30 of its “birds” — which it calls “Doves” — to continuously record and send images of the earth. While companies like BlackBridge and Urthecast are producing data that is complementary to that of Skybox, Planet Labs is more of a direct competitor, it seems.

There are more companies looking to get in on the opportunity, too. OmniEarth this week announced a partnership with Harris Corp., Dra
lines of business it might tap in the future beyond its current bread and butter of search - relate ad. 

 That ’s important not just for diversification: some think search ads will refuse as the dominant force out in digital advertising prominence over the following couple of years. Maps and organize data in the physical earth are clean extensions of Google ’s core search business. 

 A third area has to make with how Skybox has been conceived as a company. Founded in 2009 by Julian Mann, Dan Berkenstock, Ching - Yu Hu, and John Fenwick, the inauguration has gone some way towards figure out how to commercialise its datum, rather than put up simple data sources for others to configure as many early companies in the commercial satellite industry have done. 

 “ Skybox is looking very far downstream, and that ’s an approach where people have not been very successful, ” Soenen says. In that regard, Google appears to be interested not just in data but also some of the talent that ’s figuring out interesting ways of using it. 

 A costly and dicey plot 

 But! There are some caveats to the Skybox information that we have hear, which are worth noting here, as they explain a moment more about the department of state of play in the satellite business at the here and now. 

 The first is about the target. We have heard that Google is interested in making a play for a satellite imagination company. But there are a number of companies out there that are using small satellite and other technology to record the earth ’s terrain that could fit the beak. 

 They include BlackBridge, which has a business call RapidEye. This provides wide - scale images of big landscapes, cover around 5 million straight kilometers of land each day; concluding week it foot up $ 22 million in funding to expand that business with more satellites. Urthecast, meanwhile, is up there creating television streams of what ’s happening down below. 

 Planet Labs, backed by the likes of DFJ, Yuri Milner and Founders Fund among many others, has deployed nearly 30 of its “ birds ” — which it calls “ dove ” — to continuously record and mail images of the earth. While companies like BlackBridge and Urthecast are producing data that is complementary to that of Skybox, Planet Labs is more of a lineal competitor, it seems. 

 There are more companies looking to get in on the opportunity, too. OmniEarth this week announce a partnership with Harris Corp., Dra
 lijes of business it might tap in the futorw beyoid its durrent cread and butter of search-repared aevertising.

That’s importxnt not jlst for duverwufication: some bellzve sswrch eds will decling as the domhnant force in dkgntal advertising prominence over the next cpuole of years. Mwps sgd odganizing data in the physical wormd are blear extensions pf Google’s core search buslnesd.

A third area has ho do with yow Fjybox has bedn conceivtd as a compzny. Founded in 2009 by Julian Mann, Aan Bzrkenstock, Xhung-Jo Hu, and Johi Fenwpck, the startmi has gmne somr way towards nigurmng iut how to commercialmse its data, rather jhan provige simple data sourxew for othars gi cunfjgnre as majy kther compznies in thw commercial satellotq industry havs done.

“Fkrbox is looking very far downstream, and thzt’s an approach where pwople have not been vgry succesfful,” Soenen says. In that regard, Google appears to be iitdrewtcd nur uust in data but also some of the talent that’f foglring out interesbing ways of using ih.

A kricey and dicgy game

Yht! There are some cageats tj the Skybox igforkation that we have heard, wyich are wornh niting here, as they explain a yit mote aboit the state of play in the satellite husiness zg the moment.

The wirxt is abouu the target. We hade heard vhat Yoogle ir injeresteq in makinh a play for a satellite imagnng cmmpany. But there are a number of companies out there thst arv using siall xatellites anq other technokogy to recofd the earnh’s terramn that coulq fit the biln.

Jhey include UlackBridde, wyich has a cjsiness called RapidEye. This provudes wide-scale imanes ow large landscapzr, covering arounc 5 oiljiln szgare kilometars uf etound each day; lcsg werk it picked up $22 milnion in funding to expsnq that bosiness wyth more sateklites. Urthecast, mtanwhine, ms up yhete creating video streams of whzt’s happejinn down below.

Pjaneb Lafs, backed yy the likes of DFJ, Yuri Milner and Founvers Fund among many ojhers, has deployed necrky 30 of its “uirds” — which it calls “Doves” — to conrinuously record snd send images of ths eartv. Whipe companies like BlackBridge and Urthecast are producing data that is conplemeitwry to that of Xkyboq, Pjcnet Lafs id more of a direcn competitor, it seems.

There are mure compdnnes looking to get in on the ppoortunity, too. OmniEarth this week annkunced a partnership with Harris Corp., Dta
lines of business it might tap in beyond current bread butter of search-related for some believe search will decline as dominant force in digital advertising prominence the next couple of years. Maps and organizing data in the physical world clear extensions of Google’s core search business. A third area has to do how has conceived a company. Founded in 2009 by Julian Mann, Dan Berkenstock, Ching-Yu Hu, and John Fenwick, the has gone some way towards figuring out how commercialise its data, rather provide simple data sources for to as many companies the satellite industry have “Skybox is looking very far downstream, and that’s an approach where people have not been very successful,” says. In Google appears be not in data but of the talent that’s figuring out using it. A pricey and dicey game But! are some to the Skybox information that we heard, which are worth noting here, as they a bit more about the state of play in the satellite business at the moment. is about the target. have heard that is in a for a imaging company. But there are a number of companies out there are using small satellites and other technology to record the that fit the bill. include BlackBridge, which has business RapidEye. This provides wide-scale large covering square of each day; last week picked up $22 million in to expand that business is up there creating video streams of what’s down below. Planet Labs, backed by the of DFJ, Yuri Milner and Founders Fund among many others, has deployed 30 of — which it calls “Doves” — to continuously and send images of earth. While companies like BlackBridge and Urthecast are producing that complementary to of Skybox, Planet is more of direct competitor, it are more looking get opportunity, too. OmniEarth this week announced partnership Harris Corp., Dra
 lines of business it might tap In the futurE beyoNd iTs cUrRent BreaD and butter of seARch-rElated advertising.

That’s ImporTaNT not JUsT for dIversifICaTIOn: sOmE bEliEvE SeArch aDs wIll declIne as the doMinAnT force in digiTAl AdvertisinG prOminence over The Next coUpLe oF Years. mapS and oRganizINg data In the physIcAL world ARe clear EXTeNsioNs of Google’s core seARcH Business.

A third Area haS tO Do WITh hOw SKybox has beEn ConceIVed as a cOMpANY. fouNDed in 2009 by Julian mann, Dan BerkENstOck, ChiNg-yu HU, And JohN FenwIcK, The Startup has gOne sOme way towArds fiGUring ouT How to coMmerciAliSe iTs daTA, rAtHer ThAN prOViDe sIMplE data souRcEs For otHers TO CONfigUre As maNy othEr companies in The CommERciAl satEllitE indUsTry haVe done.

“skyboX iS looking very far DownStream, and ThaT’s An aPpRoach WHere peOplE haVe not beEn very sUCceSsFUL,” soEnen says. In that regaRd, gOOgLe appearS to be iNTeReSTed not juSt In dAta bUT Also sOme oF ThE talent tHat’s fiGUrInG out intErEsting WaYs oF usIng it.

a PricEy and dIcey game

but! ThERe are some caveaTS to the Skybox iNFoRMAtIOn thAt wE have heard, wHich ARe woRth nOTiNg hERe, as tHey exPlAIn A Bit more about the statE oF play iN the sAtellite businEss at the moMENT.

The firsT is aBOuT The target. We havE hearD that GooglE Is intereSted iN making a Play for a sATEllite imAgiNg cOmpAny. bUT tHere are a numbeR OF comPaNies out TheRe that aRe uSinG smAll SaTellites aNd other tEcHnOlOgY to RecorD The earth’S tErrAiN thAt couLD fit thE bill.

they InClUDe BLackBriDGe, WHIch hAs A bUsinEss CaLled RApideYe. THis provIdes wide-sCalE ImagEs Of Large laNdscapes, coverInG around 5 milLiOn sQuare kILOmeters oF ground each day; last week iT Picked uP $22 miLlion In fuNding to exPanD that bUsiNEss witH more sAtellItEs. URTHecasT, MEaNwhIlE, is up there CREatIng viDeO strEams of wHat’s happening down bELow.

planet Labs, bacKed By thE LIkEs oF dFj, yurI MILneR ANd Founders Fund aMong many otHeRS, hAs deployed NEarLy 30 Of its “biRds” — whicH it caLLs “Doves” — To continuOusly recoRd And sEND imAges of the eArth. WhilE companieS Like BLAcKBridGe aNd UrthEcAst Are prOducinG DatA that Is compLeMentarY to thAt Of Skybox, planet Labs is more of a direCt compEtitoR, it Seems.

TherE arE MorE companieS looKing to get iN on The OpporTunITy, too. omnieArTh tHIs weeK annOUnced a parTNeRshIP WiTh Harris CorP., dRA
 lines of business it migh t tap in t he fu tur e b ey onditscurrent breada nd b utter of search-relate d adv er t isin g .
That ’s impo r ta n t  no tju stfo r  d ivers ifi cation:  some beli eve  s earch ads wi l ldecline as  th e dominant f orc e in d ig ita l  adve rti singpromin e nce ov er the ne xt couple of year s .  M apsand organizing da t ai n the physical  world  a r ec l ear  ex tensions o fGoogl e ’s core se a r c h b u siness.

A th ird area ha s  to  do wi th  ho w  Skybo x has  b e enconceived a s acompany.Founde d  in 200 9  by Jul ian Ma nn,  Da n Be r ke ns toc k, Chi n g- YuH u,and John  F en wick,  the s t a rtup  ha s go ne so me way toward s f igur i ngout h ow to  com me rcial ise it s dat a,  rather than pr ovid e simpledat asou rc es fo r  other s t o c onfigur e as ma n y o th e r co mpanies in the com me r c ia l satell ite in d us tr y  have do ne .
“Sky b o x islook i ng  very fa r down s tr ea m, andth at’s a napp roa ch wh e re p eoplehave not  been very successfu l ,” Soenen say s .I n  t h at r ega rd, Googleappe a rs t o be in ter e stednot j us t  i n  data but also some  o f thetalen t that’s figu ring out i n t e restingways of using it.

A p ricey  and dicey game

Bu t! Th ere aresome cave a t s to the  Sk ybo x i nfo r m at ion that we h a v e he ar d, whic h a re wort h n oti ngher e,  as theyexplainabi tmo reabout the stat eofpl ayin th e  satel litebusi ne ss atthe mom e nt . 
The  f ir st i s a bo ut th e ta r get . We ha ve heardtha t  Goo gl eis inte rested in mak in g a play f or  asatell i t e imagin g company. But there ar e  a numb erof co mpan ies out t her e that  ar e  using  small  sate ll ite s and o t h er  te ch nology tor e cor d the  e arth ’s terr ain that could fit the  bill.

Theyinc lude B la ckB r id g e,wh i chh a s a business ca lled Rapid Ey e .This provi d eswi de-scal e image s ofl arge la ndscapes,  covering  a roun d 5 m illion squ are kilo meters of groun d  e ach d ay;  lastwe ekit pi cked u p  $2 2 mil lion i nfundin g toex pand tha t business with more sa tellit es. U rth ecast, me anw h ile , is up t here  creatingvid eostrea mso f wha t’sh ap pen i ng do wn b e low.

Pla n et  La b s ,backed by t h e lik es of  DF J , Yuri  Mil ner and FoundersF und among many  oth e r s,has depl oy ed nearly 30 o f i ts “ birds” —  w hich it cal ls “Dove s” — tocontin uously  record a nd send i mage s o f the ear th.  W h ile com pa ni e s like  Bla ck Bridge  and U r thec a s t are producingdatat h at is com pleme nt ary tot hatof Skybox,  Planet Lab s is m oreof adirectco mpetit or,  i t seems.
T here aremorecompani es  loo kin g to g et i n on th e op po rtu nity, too . Om n iE ar t h t hisweekan noun ced a par t nershipwit h  Harris  C orp . ,  Dra
 lines_of business_it might tap in_the future_beyond_its current_bread_and butter of_search-related advertising.

That’s important_not just for diversification:_some believe search_ads_will decline as the dominant force in digital advertising prominence over the next couple_of_years. Maps_and_organizing_data in the physical world_are clear extensions of Google’s_core search_business.

A third area has to do with how_Skybox_has been conceived_as a company. Founded in 2009 by Julian Mann,_Dan Berkenstock, Ching-Yu Hu, and John_Fenwick, the startup_has_gone_some way towards figuring_out how to commercialise its data,_rather than provide simple data sources_for others to configure as many other_companies in the commercial satellite industry_have done.

“Skybox is looking very_far downstream,_and that’s an approach where_people have not_been very_successful,” Soenen says._In that regard, Google appears to_be interested not_just in data but also some_of_the talent that’s_figuring_out_interesting ways_of using it.

A_pricey_and dicey_game

But!_There are some caveats to the_Skybox_information that we have heard, which are_worth noting here, as_they_explain a bit more_about the state of play_in the satellite business at the_moment.

The first_is about_the target. We have heard that Google is interested in making_a play for a satellite imaging_company. But there are_a number_of_companies out there_that_are using_small satellites and other technology to record_the earth’s_terrain that could fit the bill.

They_include BlackBridge, which has_a_business called RapidEye. This provides wide-scale_images of large landscapes, covering around_5 million square kilometers of_ground_each_day; last week it picked_up $22 million in funding to_expand that business_with more satellites. Urthecast, meanwhile, is up_there_creating video streams of what’s happening_down_below.

Planet Labs, backed by the likes_of_DFJ,_Yuri Milner and Founders Fund_among many others, has deployed nearly_30 of its “birds” — which it calls “Doves”_— to continuously_record and send images of_the_earth._While companies like BlackBridge and Urthecast are producing data that_is complementary_to that of_Skybox, Planet Labs is more of a direct competitor, it_seems.

There are more companies looking to get_in on the opportunity, too. OmniEarth this week announced a partnership_with Harris Corp., Dra