The seed funding will support AIRMO’s space-based greenhouse gas monitoring technology, including its first satellite launch and expanded airborne operations as the company moves toward scaled commercial deployment.
AIRMO, a space tech startup developing advanced greenhouse gas monitoring technology, has announced a €5 million seed round to support its first satellite mission planned for 2027 and the expansion of its airborne coverage. The round was led by Ananda Impact Ventures, with participation from Unconventional Ventures, kopa ventures, Desai Ventures, Hypernova / New Venture Securities, and two EQT Partners acting as strategic investors (Matthias Fackler and Francesco Starache). Existing investors Antler, Findus Ventures, E2MC, and Pilabs also joined the round.
Based in Berlin and Luxembourg and supported by the European Space Agency, AIRMO has developed an active spaceborne greenhouse gas monitoring instrument that combines a SWIR imager with micro-LIDAR. The company says this is the first time a sensor of this type and power has been miniaturised for use on a small satellite.
According to AIRMO, the technology delivers roughly twice the accuracy of existing systems, enabling the detection of methane leaks as small as a car from orbit.
Methane emissions are estimated to account for around 30 per cent of global warming, yet many leaks remain unreported, creating both environmental and economic challenges for energy operators.
Daria Stepanova, CEO of AIRMO, said the company’s mission is to help operators identify and stop greenhouse gas losses, starting with methane. She noted that the newly developed instrument enables the company to move beyond validation toward continuous monitoring and that the planned satellite launch represents an important step toward AIRMO’s goal of monitoring millions of energy assets worldwide.
AIRMO’s technology is already deployed in commercial drone and aircraft monitoring missions across Europe, Central Asia, and the MENA region. The company reports that major energy companies, including Uniper, Total, and ESCE, are using the system for energy infrastructure monitoring.
Commenting on the investment, Alina Bassi, Principal at Ananda Impact Ventures, said reducing methane leakage is currently one of the most effective ways to decarbonise the energy sector. She added that AIRMO’s high-precision space-based emissions measurement could help address long-standing transparency challenges and noted the firm has supported the team since its early stages as it works toward its first satellite launch.
The funding will support AIRMO’s move from pilot projects to scaled commercial operations, including its first satellite launch in 2027. The company also plans to expand airborne monitoring across Europe, MENA, and Central Asia and establish a local presence in the MENA region.