{"version":1,"type":"story","url":"https://digestai.news/story/satlyt-raises-8m-to-run-ai-on-satellites-with-google-deepminds-gemma","json":"https://digestai.news/story/satlyt-raises-8m-to-run-ai-on-satellites-with-google-deepminds-gemma.json","markdown":"https://digestai.news/story/satlyt-raises-8m-to-run-ai-on-satellites-with-google-deepminds-gemma.md","slug":"satlyt-raises-8m-to-run-ai-on-satellites-with-google-deepminds-gemma","headline":"Satlyt raises $8M to run AI on satellites with Google DeepMind’s Gemma","summary":"Satlyt, founded by former Google and SpaceX engineer Rama Afullo, has secured an $8 million seed round to develop software enabling AI workloads on satellites. The startup aims to create an open ecosystem for running AI models in orbit, reducing reliance on ground-based flight controllers and cutting costs by processing data onboard. Satlyt’s software already demonstrated a 60% reduction in transmission size for software error reports using Google DeepMind’s Gemma model on a Momentus satellite earlier this year.\n\nThe company’s first prototype will launch Thursday on a SpaceX rocket alongside Google’s Project Suncatcher. Satlyt’s software will run on a TakeMe2Space-built satellite, serving NASA, Stellerian, and TakeMe2Space itself. Investors like Non Sibi Ventures see potential in the growing number of satellites deploying GPUs, even without large-scale orbital data centers.","keyPoints":["Satlyt raised $8M seed round led by Non Sibi Ventures to develop AI software for satellites","Google DeepMind’s Gemma model on a Momentus satellite cut transmission size by 60%","Company targets 20% satellite market share by decade’s end with shared compute cloud plans"],"whyItMatters":"Satlyt’s software could slash satellite operating costs by processing AI tasks in orbit, reducing ground dependency and enabling real-time decision-making for spacecraft builders.","category":{"slug":"hardware","name":"Hardware & Compute","url":"https://digestai.news/category/hardware"},"entities":{"companies":["Satlyt","Google","SpaceX","Momentus","NASA","Stellerian"],"models":["Gemma"],"people":["Rama Afullo","Bernard Harris","Kent Lucas"]},"firstPublishedAt":"2026-10-13T16:30:00Z","updatedAt":"2026-10-13T16:30:00Z","sourceCount":1,"hasPrimarySource":false,"sources":[{"outlet":"TechCrunch AI","title":"Satlyt, founded by a former Google and SpaceX product manager, raises $8M to run AI on satellites","url":"https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/13/satlyt-founded-by-a-former-google-and-spacex-product-manager-raises-8m-to-run-ai-on-satellites","publishedAt":"2026-10-13T16:30:00Z","type":"press","primary":false,"lead":true}],"sourceNotes":null,"discussions":[],"thread":{"title":"Satlyt's AI Satellite Funding Journey","url":"https://digestai.news/thread/satlyt-raises-8m-to-run-ai-on-satellites-with-googles-gemma-model","storyCount":2},"cite":{"text":"Digest AI, \"Satlyt raises $8M to run AI on satellites with Google DeepMind’s Gemma\", 13 October 2026, https://digestai.news/story/satlyt-raises-8m-to-run-ai-on-satellites-with-google-deepminds-gemma","publisher":"Digest AI","title":"Satlyt raises $8M to run AI on satellites with Google DeepMind’s Gemma","datePublished":"2026-10-13T16:30:00Z","url":"https://digestai.news/story/satlyt-raises-8m-to-run-ai-on-satellites-with-google-deepminds-gemma"},"generatedBy":"Written by Digest AI's editorial model from the linked sources; the sources are the record.","license":"Headlines, digests and key points are written by Digest AI and may be quoted with a link to the story page. Linked articles belong to their publishers. Terms: https://digestai.news/terms#reuse"}