Akash raises $14.5m in Series A round

Akash Systems Inc of San Francisco, CA, USA – which is focused on developing and supplying small satellites (CubeSats) and the RF power amplifiers (based on GaN-on-diamond) that power them – has raised $14.5m in its Series A funding round, including $10m in new equity funds and an additional $4.5m converted from prior convertible notes. Investors include Khosla Ventures, Founders Fund, ACME Capital, Sriram Krishnan, and Correlation Ventures. Akash will deploy the new capital toward scaling its transmit/receive radio modules and power amplifier business, moving it closer to profitability. “Our aim is to be the RF communications link for every satellite in space,” says co-founder, CEO & GaN-on-diamond inventor Felix Ejeckam.

Akash has designed its satellite transmit/receive radio modules to easily integrate with existing ground-station and satellite infrastructure for satellite makers in all markets. Its radios, which are expected to be available for purchase in late 2019, promise performance not yet seen on the market, it is claimed.

“Akash Systems is playing a critical role in meeting the growing and vital need for improved satellite communications infrastructure,” comments Delian Asparouhov of Founders Fund, which is focused on assisting entrepreneurs to build impactful new energy and technology companies.

“It’s rare to see a young company with such transformative technology already approaching commercialization,” says Alex Fayette of ACME Capital. “Akash’s business lies squarely at the intersection of major trends like global connectivity, high-performance telecommunications and space-based infrastructure. Their foundational technology will underpin other solutions across these industries,” he adds.

“What Akash has been able to achieve in its first few years is remarkable, as it has already attracted major customers across the ecosystem,” notes angel investor Sriram Krishnan. “The company is quickly shaping trends in global telecommunications.”

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 ever made), yielding a dramatic reduction in the waste heat generated from the power amplifier and hence the entire satellite system (since, in the communications base stations of space, the RF power amplifier is typically responsible for the bulk of the power consumed and the heat generated). The cooler state of operation gives RF and satellite system designers a previously unattainable thermal envelope to improve a satellite’s communication bandwidth and energy efficiency while simultaneously shrinking the system’s size, weight and operating costs, says Akash.

Akash is currently manufacturing GaN-on-diamond-based power amplifiers and radio modules for customers who make satellites requiring high frequency and high power efficiency. Its radio products are on track to hit the market in fourth-quarter 2019.

See related items:

Akash appoints space industry veteran Montauti as VP of radios

Akash granted FCC approval for satellite launch of GaN-on-diamond power amplifier

Space satellite industry expert joins Akash as it files for experimental license with FCC

Akash raises $3.1m in seed round funding led by Khosla Ventures

Akash Systems formed to apply GaN-on-diamond technology to SatComs

Tags: GaN-on-diamond

Visit: www.AkashSystemsInc.com