Draper Associates

Draper Associates, established in 1985, is a California-based venture capital firm specializing in seed-stage investments. The company focuses on backing exceptional teams globally that are developing transformative technologies in sectors such as new media, gaming, SaaS, cloud, fintech, IoT, and mobile. Draper Associates aims to facilitate growth and industry disruption, with portfolio companies demonstrating significant market impact and potential for future fundraising.

Sahir Ali

Limited Partner

Maxime Bucaille

Investor

Megan Kurohara

Investor

Tyrone Lee

Venture Partner

Past deals in Geospatial

Near Space Labs

Series B in 2025
Near Space Labs, headquartered in the United States, is an aerial imagery and earth observation company that provides comprehensive remote sensing solutions for various sectors. The company's services facilitate the monitoring of assets and enable remote access to both broad and specific areas through cloud-based delivery of fully processed images via an API. Near Space Labs supports a range of industries including insurance, utilities, infrastructure, conservation, smart cities, retail, energy, government, and disaster response. By offering affordable and frictionless imaging, the company assists clients in tracking construction progress, addressing issues such as pipeline leaks and vegetation encroachment, and responding to weather-induced damage, thereby providing actionable geospatial information that enhances mobility, leisure, and urban planning.

Team Wildfire

Pre Seed Round in 2023
Team Wildfire specializes in developing innovative solutions for wildfire suppression and environmental protection. The company manufactures advanced jet engine sprays designed to effectively suppress fires, capture embers, defend structures, and enhance the safety of evacuation routes. Through the application of sophisticated engineering, tactics, and chemistries, Team Wildfire addresses a range of environmental challenges, including wildfire management, reforestation efforts, dust control, oil spill remediation, and protection against nuclear and biological threats. By focusing on these critical areas, the company aims to safeguard people, property, and the environment.

Team Wildfire

Seed Round in 2023
Team Wildfire specializes in developing innovative solutions for wildfire suppression and environmental protection. The company manufactures advanced jet engine sprays designed to effectively suppress fires, capture embers, defend structures, and enhance the safety of evacuation routes. Through the application of sophisticated engineering, tactics, and chemistries, Team Wildfire addresses a range of environmental challenges, including wildfire management, reforestation efforts, dust control, oil spill remediation, and protection against nuclear and biological threats. By focusing on these critical areas, the company aims to safeguard people, property, and the environment.

Slingshot Aerospace

Series A in 2022
Slingshot Aerospace, Inc. is a technology company that develops online tools and platforms to provide geospatial information for the aerospace and defense industries. With its suite of platforms, including Slingshot Earth, Slingshot Orbital, Slingshot Edge, and Slingshot Imagery, the company integrates data streams from various sources, such as satellites, drones, and ground-based sensors, to deliver critical insights that enhance decision-making for its clients. Operating from its headquarters in El Segundo, California, and an additional office in Austin, Texas, Slingshot Aerospace serves a diverse range of sectors, including energy, aerospace, insurance, military, government, engineering services, and emergency management. The company's mission is to empower both government and commercial space organizations by providing simulation and analytics solutions that improve mission success and ensure safe, reliable operations in complex environments.

Lord of the Trees

Pre Seed Round in 2022
Lord of the Trees is a global reforestation initiative that utilizes precision drone technology to enhance the planting of seeds and restore ecosystems in degraded lands. The organization develops advanced drone systems specifically designed for this purpose, featuring weather-sealed and shock-resistant capabilities. These drones are equipped with sophisticated sensing technology that allows for efficient and effective replanting in deforested areas. By leveraging this innovative approach, Lord of the Trees aims to improve the success rate of replanted regions and contribute to the restoration of vital ecosystems worldwide.

Slingshot Aerospace

Series A in 2022
Slingshot Aerospace, Inc. is a technology company that develops online tools and platforms to provide geospatial information for the aerospace and defense industries. With its suite of platforms, including Slingshot Earth, Slingshot Orbital, Slingshot Edge, and Slingshot Imagery, the company integrates data streams from various sources, such as satellites, drones, and ground-based sensors, to deliver critical insights that enhance decision-making for its clients. Operating from its headquarters in El Segundo, California, and an additional office in Austin, Texas, Slingshot Aerospace serves a diverse range of sectors, including energy, aerospace, insurance, military, government, engineering services, and emergency management. The company's mission is to empower both government and commercial space organizations by providing simulation and analytics solutions that improve mission success and ensure safe, reliable operations in complex environments.

Near Space Labs

Seed Round in 2018
Near Space Labs, headquartered in the United States, is an aerial imagery and earth observation company that provides comprehensive remote sensing solutions for various sectors. The company's services facilitate the monitoring of assets and enable remote access to both broad and specific areas through cloud-based delivery of fully processed images via an API. Near Space Labs supports a range of industries including insurance, utilities, infrastructure, conservation, smart cities, retail, energy, government, and disaster response. By offering affordable and frictionless imaging, the company assists clients in tracking construction progress, addressing issues such as pipeline leaks and vegetation encroachment, and responding to weather-induced damage, thereby providing actionable geospatial information that enhances mobility, leisure, and urban planning.

Iceye

Series B in 2018
ICEYE Oy, founded in 2014 and based in Espoo, Finland, specializes in Earth observation through its extensive synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite constellation. This technology allows for near real-time imaging and monitoring across various sectors, including insurance, natural disaster response, and maritime activities. ICEYE's radar satellites can capture images regardless of weather conditions or sunlight, making them invaluable for applications such as monitoring illegal fishing, oil spills, storm damage, forest growth, and crop health. The company's capabilities extend to mapping flood damage, aiding humanitarian efforts, and tracking maritime activities like piracy and port operations. By providing comprehensive and timely data, ICEYE supports informed decision-making for clients in defense, government, and insurance industries.

Iceye

Series A in 2017
ICEYE Oy, founded in 2014 and based in Espoo, Finland, specializes in Earth observation through its extensive synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite constellation. This technology allows for near real-time imaging and monitoring across various sectors, including insurance, natural disaster response, and maritime activities. ICEYE's radar satellites can capture images regardless of weather conditions or sunlight, making them invaluable for applications such as monitoring illegal fishing, oil spills, storm damage, forest growth, and crop health. The company's capabilities extend to mapping flood damage, aiding humanitarian efforts, and tracking maritime activities like piracy and port operations. By providing comprehensive and timely data, ICEYE supports informed decision-making for clients in defense, government, and insurance industries.

SkyWard

Seed Round in 2015
Skyward specializes in providing a comprehensive drone software platform that enhances the efficiency of commercial drone operations. The company offers a cloud-based solution that integrates an interactive airspace map with essential flight planning tools, enabling seamless operations management. Additionally, Skyward provides training and consulting services to ensure that drone pilots adhere to standardized and safe flight procedures. Their software also facilitates effective fleet and crew management, creating a streamlined workflow that connects people, projects, and equipment. By combining these features, Skyward aims to support low-risk flight operations and improve overall operational efficiency for its clients in the drone industry.

SkyWard

Seed Round in 2014
Skyward specializes in providing a comprehensive drone software platform that enhances the efficiency of commercial drone operations. The company offers a cloud-based solution that integrates an interactive airspace map with essential flight planning tools, enabling seamless operations management. Additionally, Skyward provides training and consulting services to ensure that drone pilots adhere to standardized and safe flight procedures. Their software also facilitates effective fleet and crew management, creating a streamlined workflow that connects people, projects, and equipment. By combining these features, Skyward aims to support low-risk flight operations and improve overall operational efficiency for its clients in the drone industry.

Guanxi.me

Series A in 2012
Guanxi.me, operated by Guanxi Inc., is an online social discovery and interaction platform based in Shanghai, China. Founded in 2010, the platform utilizes location-based services to enhance interpersonal relationships by enabling users to connect with individuals in their vicinity. It offers innovative mobile application technologies that facilitate the discovery of potential friends and business partners, thereby fostering a network of social and professional relationships. The application notifies users when their contacts are nearby, allowing for real-time interactions. Guanxi.me aims to improve the way people maintain connections in modern life, making it easier to build and sustain a mutual network of friendships and business relations. The company has secured initial investment from SingTel Innov8, part of Singapore Telecommunications Limited.

Aerospike

Series B in 2012
Aerospike, Inc. is a provider of a high-performance NoSQL database designed for real-time, mission-critical applications. Established in 2009 and headquartered in Mountain View, California, with additional offices in Bengaluru, London, and Or Yehuda, the company offers both enterprise and open-source versions of its database. Aerospike's platform is recognized for its speed, scalability, and reliability, achieving sub-millisecond latency for read and write operations through a combination of in-memory and on-disk storage, as well as a distributed architecture. It caters to developers building applications in various programming languages, including Java, Node.js, and Python, and is particularly suited for use cases such as real-time analytics, personalized recommendations, ad targeting, and fraud detection. In addition to its core database offerings, Aerospike provides community and enterprise support, educational resources, and consulting services to help organizations consolidate and optimize their digital data infrastructure.

Aerospike

Series A in 2011
Aerospike, Inc. is a provider of a high-performance NoSQL database designed for real-time, mission-critical applications. Established in 2009 and headquartered in Mountain View, California, with additional offices in Bengaluru, London, and Or Yehuda, the company offers both enterprise and open-source versions of its database. Aerospike's platform is recognized for its speed, scalability, and reliability, achieving sub-millisecond latency for read and write operations through a combination of in-memory and on-disk storage, as well as a distributed architecture. It caters to developers building applications in various programming languages, including Java, Node.js, and Python, and is particularly suited for use cases such as real-time analytics, personalized recommendations, ad targeting, and fraud detection. In addition to its core database offerings, Aerospike provides community and enterprise support, educational resources, and consulting services to help organizations consolidate and optimize their digital data infrastructure.

Terra Bella

Series B in 2010
Terra Bella, originally known as Skybox Imaging, is a private company based in Mountain View, California, specializing in high-resolution satellite imagery and analytics services. Co-founded in 2009 by Dan Berkenstock, Julian Mann, John Fenwick, and Ching-Yu Hu, the company operates the SkySat-1 satellite, which captures detailed panchromatic and multispectral images of the Earth. Terra Bella's offerings include analyzing the movement of goods and people, providing visual data on supply chains, shipping activities, industrial operations, and humanitarian relief efforts. Through its advanced imaging technology, the company delivers critical insights to various sectors, enhancing decision-making and operational efficiency.

Terra Bella

Series A in 2009
Terra Bella, originally known as Skybox Imaging, is a private company based in Mountain View, California, specializing in high-resolution satellite imagery and analytics services. Co-founded in 2009 by Dan Berkenstock, Julian Mann, John Fenwick, and Ching-Yu Hu, the company operates the SkySat-1 satellite, which captures detailed panchromatic and multispectral images of the Earth. Terra Bella's offerings include analyzing the movement of goods and people, providing visual data on supply chains, shipping activities, industrial operations, and humanitarian relief efforts. Through its advanced imaging technology, the company delivers critical insights to various sectors, enhancing decision-making and operational efficiency.
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