The limitations in capacity and communications are preventing industries around the globe from effectively utilizing satellite connectivity. This issue is worse in remote areas that are often lacking in connectivity infrastructure.
In addition, the era of deglobalization requires data to be analyzed where it’s generated due to stricter data residency laws. These factors have created a digital divide that is not allowing industries to unlock the full potential of their data. Armada is aiming to change that through a full stack of AI-powered tools for edge commuting.
Armada, an SF-based startup redefining the future of connectivity, edge computing, and generative AI, emerged from stealth with $55M in funding. This funding will advance Armada’s mission to bridge the global digital divide, empowering businesses and communities to leverage all of their data, regardless of where it’s generated.
The funding was led by Founders Fund, Shield Capital, Lux Capital, and 8090 Industries, with participation from Marlinspike, Felicis, Contrary, 137 Ventures, Valor Equity Partners, Koch Real Estate Investments, 8VC and other strategic investors.
Armada is working closely with Elon Musk’s SpaceX to build this platform and is one of the first companies to build on top of Starlink, which is SpaceX’s network of internet-provider satellites. The funding takes Armadas’ valuation up to $250M – an admirable achievement for a one-year-old startup.
“Today, AI—including large language models, multimodal AI, and predictive models—is revolutionizing every facet of our lives and work, but not everyone has the same opportunity,” Armada CEO Dan Wright said in a release. “What’s truly astounding is that vast swaths of the world still lack basic internet access, much less the ability to derive tangible value from their data.” Wright is the former CEO of DataRobot.
(By BeeBright/Shutterstock)
To accomplish its edge computing goals, Armada has built a suite of products. The Commander platform is the cornerstone of Armada’s ecosystem. It acts as a central hub for the platform, allowing users to manage all their edge operations from a single portal. It can be used to download partner applications, deploy and manage Galleon data centers, connect IOT devices, and purchase and control Starlink terminals.
With the Armada Connect, users get a dedicated operating system for Starlink and other connected devices. Organizations gain unprecedented control over their Starlink assets. It also has an AI assistant to offer troubleshooting support and real-time contextual alerts.
“Armada has a best-in-class team building at the edge of what’s technically possible right now,” said Trae Stephens, Partner at Founders Fund and co-founder and Chairman at Anduril. “Armada’s edge computing platform will fundamentally reshape entire industries.”
A key component of the platform is the Armada Edge, which is the command center for Galleons, AI applications, connectivity, and IoT assets. It enables edge computing and data processing anywhere. In addition, it supports multiple data processing and AI applications at the edge.
Armada also introduced the new cloud-based Armada EdgeAI which has tools that can be used for a variety of applications including autonomous vehicle operations, automatic detection and analysis of motion in streaming video, and processing real-time automated narration. The EdgeAI applications can be deployed either on Galleon hardware or on other platforms.
(amgun/Shutterstock)
Armada’s platform is only at the proof-of-concept stage and therefore it is still not generating any revenue. However, that hasn’t stopped investors from being bullish about its potential.
“Armada plays a vital role in addressing the growing compute needs of industrial IoT for manufacturing and industrial applications, a sector that has been vastly underserved but is crucial in today’s landscape,” said Justin Wilson, Managing Director at Koch Real Estate Investments.
The $55M funding might be just what Armada needed to get to the next level. The startup is swiftly advancing with certifications and securing strategic partnerships to achieve its goal of extending AI and remote connectivity to every corner of the world.
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