Hubble Network has raised $200 million in a Series C at a $1.6 billion valuation to expand a network that lets ordinary Bluetooth Low Energy devices send location and sensor data through satellites. The Seattle startup is targeting businesses that need to follow packages, vehicles, pharmaceuticals and other assets beyond cellular or local Bluetooth coverage.
The product avoids a dedicated satellite terminal. Hubble says a software update enables standard Bluetooth Low Energy radios already inside devices to broadcast directly to low-Earth-orbit satellites. Those signals can carry an asset’s position and small sensor readings such as temperature or pressure, while the low-power radio allows compact devices to run for long periods.
Hubble pairs the satellites with a terrestrial tracking network. It currently operates six satellites and nearly 90 million ground scanners, according to GeekWire, and says the service is live for pilot customers including software company Samsara. More spacecraft should increase both data speeds and the frequency of updates.
The commercial bet is that commodity Bluetooth hardware can move tracking down from expensive cargo to individual items. Hubble says its newest design adds less than $0.50 to a device’s bill of materials, while GeekWire reports an intended subscription of about $4 per month. The company says comparable cellular and conventional satellite modems cost about 10 and 15 times more, respectively.
Hubble has used partnerships to push the system into different form factors. SiliconANGLE reports work with Texas Instruments on direct location and sensor transmissions without gateways, GPS or cellular; with InPlay on chips for item-level tracking at RFID-tag scale; and with Reelables on printable active wireless labels for cargo.
Smith Point Capital led the round, joined by Seraphim, Carthona Capital, Earthshot Ventures, Y Combinator and RPM Ventures. The financing takes Hubble’s total funding to $300 million, following a $70 million round a year earlier. Hubble plans to complete a 60-satellite constellation with Muon Space by 2030.