{"id":68720,"date":"2017-03-08T00:01:25","date_gmt":"2017-03-07T16:01:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-productionenv-bjg9h2g2bgg5b8aa.southeastasia-01.azurewebsites.net\/news\/entrepreneurs-go-head-to-head-at-startup-space-pitch-contest-2\/"},"modified":"2017-03-08T00:01:25","modified_gmt":"2017-03-07T16:01:25","slug":"entrepreneurs-go-head-to-head-at-startup-space-pitch-contest-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/news\/entrepreneurs-go-head-to-head-at-startup-space-pitch-contest-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Entrepreneurs Go Head-to-Head at Startup Space Pitch Contest"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>A spread of entrepreneurs ranging from experienced engineers to young college students took the stage at SATELLITE 2017\u2019s new Unveiled Theater, hoping to clinch the grand prize at the Startup Space 2017 Entrepreneur Pitch Contest.<\/p>\n<h2>Ragnarok Industries<\/h2>\n<p>Luigi Balarinni, CEO and founder of Ragnarok, has some fairly ambitious goals: he is looking to compete with some of the biggest global satellite operators in his pursuit to bring connectivity to the North Pole. \u201cThere is a gap of coverage from the North pole down to 67 degrees,\u201d Balarinni explained. Millions of passengers are flying over this \u201cdonut\u201d-shaped region with no internet, as well as \u201cships involved in oil, gas and mining,\u201d he added. Balarinni\u2019s solution to this problem is centered around a future constellation of cubesats that could provide connectivity at \u201c60 megabits per second using Ku-band,\u201d and that\u2019s just on the low end, he said.<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/yAHHUPKfScyFwPFgzOle_ShowDaily17_Cover3_DGTL-300x225.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" style=\"width: 120px; height: auto;\" decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/yAHHUPKfScyFwPFgzOle_ShowDaily17_Cover3_DGTL-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/yAHHUPKfScyFwPFgzOle_ShowDaily17_Cover3_DGTL-800x599.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/yAHHUPKfScyFwPFgzOle_ShowDaily17_Cover3_DGTL-640x480.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/yAHHUPKfScyFwPFgzOle_ShowDaily17_Cover3_DGTL.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\">\t\t\t<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"fs-5 mt-0\">Explore the Show Daily 2017 Day 3 Issue<\/h3>\n<p class=\"mb-0 fs-smaller text-balance\">Check out more from this issue and find your next story to read.<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t<button class=\"btn btn-primary\" type=\"button\" data-bs-toggle=\"offcanvas\" data-bs-target=\"#offcanvasMENU\" aria-controls=\"offcanvasExample\" aria-label=\"button\" style=\"white-space: nowrap;\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\tView More <i class=\"bi bi-arrow-right-circle\"><\/i><br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/button><\/p>\n<p>According to Balarinni, Ragnarok boasts two industry firsts. The company is pushing to be the first to deploy cubesats with both internal and external radiation-hardened components, and the first to leave LEO to offer this kind of connectivity service. Balarinni sees that as Ragnarok\u2019s primary competitive advantage, as well as its niche position as a polar internet provider.<\/p>\n<p>Despite stealing market share from some larger satellite operators, Balarinni believes that the company\u2019s comparatively lower capital expenses will help it break even by the fourth or fifth year \u2014 if Ragnarok can reach its funding goal of $1.75 million to complete development of its avionics, launch demo flights to test connectivity, and obtain Service Level Agreements (SLAs) for its four cubesats.<\/p>\n<p>Balarinni and his Ragnarok team were also one of five finalists for NASA\u2019s Cube Quest Challenge.<\/p>\n<p><script>var AIAD_fcd45f981d570e35cee941b23edc69c7_6a6b3443c4a51;googletag.cmd.push(function(){var AIMAP_29b58f13885ebf8ea6b032f958eb0748 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([992, 100], [[970, 90], [970, 250]]).addSize([768, 100], [728, 90]).addSize([320, 100], [320, 50]).build();var AIMAP_737ce075cc05dd766c8f8ea08f3faa73 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([768, 100], [728, 90]).addSize([320, 100], [320, 50]).build();var AIMAP_21fe3bcfb86a8660aba4e721ee9338f3 = googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([1200, 100], [970, 250]).addSize([768, 100], [600, 300]).addSize([320, 100], [300, 250]).build();AIAD_fcd45f981d570e35cee941b23edc69c7_6a6b3443c4a51 = googletag.defineSlot('\/987\/satellitetoday.com\/via-satellite-digital-issue-ads', [ [600, 300], [300, 250], [970, 250] ], 'div-gpt-ad-1774631144891- 0-6a6b3443c4a52').defineSizeMapping(AIMAP_21fe3bcfb86a8660aba4e721ee9338f3).setCollapseEmptyDiv(true).addService(googletag.pubads());   });<\/script><script>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1774631144891- 0-6a6b3443c4a52'); });<\/script><\/p>\n<h2>RBC Signals<\/h2>\n<p>RBC Signals CEO Christopher Richins also hopes to tackle the issue of connectivity, but with a focus on real-time data collection from LEO. \u201cAll of the value that is generated in space today is because of data being transmitted from space to the ground,\u201d he said. Most satellites that will orbit in the next 10 years will reside in LEO, which presents a significant communication challenge as those satellites are \u201cin view of one spot on the Earth for maybe 10 minutes at a time.\u201d As a result, it\u2019s nearly impossible to receive data in real time from a single ground station and also leads to low utilization of pricey assets, Richins said.<\/p>\n<p>Richins\u2019 solution, as he puts it, is to offer infrastructure as a service. \u201cIn order to receive my data in near real-time, you need to have a global network of ground infrastructure. Ground stations are an expensive distraction for space companies to build themselves. We provide the excess capacity of our global network of partner stations as a service,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>Richins and his team started the company in June 2015 before launching an initial product with 15 or so partners in February 2016. RBC Signals then signed its first revenue-generating contracts in September and closed a $1.5 million seed financing round in February of this year. With a sales pipeline of 90-plus companies, Richins is optimistic about the future of RBC Signals as it expands its list of ground network partners.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOur best customers are Earth Observation (EO) companies taking optical pictures or with Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) \u2014 anything that\u2019s generating large amounts of data in space,\u201d Richins said. \u201cWe can safely serve all the demand in the market today, and we can build additional ground stations faster than companies can build and launch satellites.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Richins hopes to raise another $3 million to expand RBC Signal\u2019s ground infrastructure and to reach cash flow positive.<\/p>\n<h2>Xtronaut<\/h2>\n<p>Michael Lyon\u2019s company Xtronaut is a bit of a divergence from the tech-heavy competition. Lyon, who daylights as a lawyer, is very interested in education, and his business mission is to \u201cdevelop profitable products that encourage the next generation to pursue careers in STEM.\u201d Xtronaut is essentially where education meets entertainment, as the company produces a variety of games, workbooks and programs designed to inspire kids\u2019 interest in space-related science.<\/p>\n<p>The company\u2019s eponymous board game launched after a successful Kickstarter and went on to win the Good Housekeeping 2016 Board Game award. The game is designed for players aged 7 and up, and its objective is to develop space missions and rocket systems to explore the solar system. Lyon made a point to emphasize that none of the company\u2019s products are science fiction. \u201cWhat we do is all based on real science,\u201d he said. \u201cAll of our programs include workbooks and instructional guides to connect fun and education together.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Xtronaut also created a STEM-based education program for schools that saw successful testing in the Boys &amp; Girls Clubs of America. Furthermore, the company is developing a traveling exhibit in partnership with Gallagher &amp; Associates, a museum planning and design firm, hoping to bring science education to more rural areas in the United States. \u201cWe have access to the best private meteorite collection, including one worth about $8 million,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>So far, Lyon says Xtronaut has seen solid positive feedback from customers and believes the board game market is in the midst of a renaissance. The company is set to release its next board game titled Constellations near the end of this month, and another called Downlink in June. Ultimately, Lyon\u2019s goal is to release two to three games per year over the next four years. <strong>VS<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>,<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"widget-title\">In This Issue<\/h2>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t<!-- post id 307:  \/code\/wp-content\/themes\/ai-beehive\/template-parts\/content\/post-snippet.php --><\/p>\n<figure class=\"overflow-hidden w-100 me-3\">\n<p>\t<img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/I7J4dLBETnqrMufUQ24q_DSC_9704_web-300x200.jpg\" class=\"img-responsive wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"\" decoding=\"async\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/I7J4dLBETnqrMufUQ24q_DSC_9704_web-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/I7J4dLBETnqrMufUQ24q_DSC_9704_web-800x534.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/I7J4dLBETnqrMufUQ24q_DSC_9704_web-640x428.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/I7J4dLBETnqrMufUQ24q_DSC_9704_web.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\">\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"fs-4 w-100 line-clamp-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\tBezos Announces Eutelsat as First Customer for New Glenn Rocket<br \/>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<p><!-- .post-snippet --><\/p>\n<hr class=\"my-3 d-block d-md-none\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- post id 308:  \/code\/wp-content\/themes\/ai-beehive\/template-parts\/content\/post-snippet.php --><\/p>\n<figure class=\"overflow-hidden w-100 me-3\">\n<p>\t<img width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/eE6SYFHSTEmDZxrEcKXj_Rocket_Investor-300x200.jpg\" class=\"img-responsive wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/eE6SYFHSTEmDZxrEcKXj_Rocket_Investor-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/eE6SYFHSTEmDZxrEcKXj_Rocket_Investor-800x533.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/eE6SYFHSTEmDZxrEcKXj_Rocket_Investor-640x427.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/eE6SYFHSTEmDZxrEcKXj_Rocket_Investor.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\">\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"fs-4 w-100 line-clamp-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\tFinding Investment Opportunities in the Emerging NewSpace Market<br \/>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<p><!-- .post-snippet --><\/p>\n<hr class=\"my-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t<!-- post id 311:  \/code\/wp-content\/themes\/ai-beehive\/template-parts\/content\/post-snippet.php --><\/p>\n<figure class=\"overflow-hidden w-100 me-3\">\n<p>\t<img width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/DNTdgKRjRSupuBKVBrGT_1148957_10152389297264727_3865298354223843595_n-300x200.jpg\" class=\"img-responsive wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/DNTdgKRjRSupuBKVBrGT_1148957_10152389297264727_3865298354223843595_n-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/DNTdgKRjRSupuBKVBrGT_1148957_10152389297264727_3865298354223843595_n-800x533.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/DNTdgKRjRSupuBKVBrGT_1148957_10152389297264727_3865298354223843595_n-640x427.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/DNTdgKRjRSupuBKVBrGT_1148957_10152389297264727_3865298354223843595_n.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\">\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"fs-4 w-100 line-clamp-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\tOn the Future Profitability of the Smallsat Market<br \/>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<p><!-- .post-snippet --><\/p>\n<hr class=\"my-3 d-block d-md-none\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<!-- post id 306:  \/code\/wp-content\/themes\/ai-beehive\/template-parts\/content\/post-snippet.php --><\/p>\n<figure class=\"overflow-hidden w-100 me-3\">\n<p>\t<img width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/OgxLCvwhTuyzdbEpPFug_DSC_9753_web-300x200.jpg\" class=\"img-responsive wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/OgxLCvwhTuyzdbEpPFug_DSC_9753_web-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/OgxLCvwhTuyzdbEpPFug_DSC_9753_web-800x534.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/OgxLCvwhTuyzdbEpPFug_DSC_9753_web-640x428.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/OgxLCvwhTuyzdbEpPFug_DSC_9753_web.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\">\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"fs-4 w-100 line-clamp-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\tTop Satellite CEOs Discuss Potential for Market Disruption and Opportunity in a Competitive Landscape<br \/>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<p><!-- .post-snippet --><\/p>\n<hr class=\"my-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t<!-- post id 309:  \/code\/wp-content\/themes\/ai-beehive\/template-parts\/content\/post-snippet.php --><\/p>\n<figure class=\"overflow-hidden w-100 me-3\">\n<p>\t<img width=\"300\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/L8DTDA2SQOSRfZkItlVy_P3074572_web-300x225.jpg\" class=\"img-responsive wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" style=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/L8DTDA2SQOSRfZkItlVy_P3074572_web-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/L8DTDA2SQOSRfZkItlVy_P3074572_web-800x600.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/L8DTDA2SQOSRfZkItlVy_P3074572_web-640x480.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.satellitetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/L8DTDA2SQOSRfZkItlVy_P3074572_web.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\">\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n<h3 class=\"fs-4 w-100 line-clamp-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\tWill Commercial Operators Play a Greater Role in US Milspace Future?<br \/>\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<p><!-- .post-snippet --><\/p>\n<hr class=\"my-3 d-block d-md-none\">\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A spread of entrepreneurs ranging from experienced engineers to young college students took the stage at SATELLITE 2017\u2019s new Unveiled Theater, hoping to clinch the grand prize at the Startup Space 2017 Entrepreneur Pitch Contest. Ragnarok Industries Luigi Balarinni, CEO and founder of Ragnarok, has some fairly ambitious goals: he is looking to compete with [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":68721,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-68720","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/68720"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=68720"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/68720\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/68721"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=68720"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=68720"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=68720"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}