Akash Systems, a company focused on resolving the explosive growth of data consumption by enabling smarter and lighter satellite systems has raised $3.1 million to close its seed funding round. Led by Khosla Ventures, the seed round also included Social Capital, Data Collective, Ruvento Ventures, Sriram Krishnan, and Backstage Capital. The funding will allow Akash to further its mission of reimagining tomorrow’s communication systems by developing the next generation of small satellites and the components that power them.
Today’s worldwide data demand is outpacing the bandwidth and power capabilities of our current communication infrastructure. Akash Systems have the technology and capability to look beyond current satellite systems in order to enable the design of small satellite (Cubesat) systems and subsystems in the very near future.
With clarity on the limitations of existing satellite capacity and networks, Akash has set out to revolutionize the future of fast, affordable satellite communications using gallium nitride (GaN)-on-Diamond technology. Akash’s patented GaN-on-Diamond science is enabling smaller, lighter and higher performing satellites that will pave the way to lower launch costs, reduced cost-per-bit, more launch cycles, and increased communications access and throughput.
The breakthrough new composite material, gallium nitride (GaN)-on-Diamond, invented by Akash cofounder Ejeckam, is at the heart of Akash’s products. In GaN-on-Diamond, the hottest part of a transistor is brought to within tens of nanometers of synthetic diamond – the most thermally conductive material known to the industrial world. The result is a dramatic reduction in the effect of heat on the power amplifier, and therefore the satellite system. The cooler state of operation gives RF and satellite system designers a previously unattainable thermal envelope to improve energy efficiency and shrink the system’s size, weight, and operating costs.
Phase one of their business approach was to develop GaN-on-Diamond MMIC Power Amplifiers (which are currently available in the market). Phase two would be to work with satellite system makers to design small satellite (Cubesat) systems and their transmitters by 2019.
Click here to learn more about GaN-on-Diamond Technology.
