SkyFi expands virtual constellation with Vantor satellite imagery

WASHINGTON — SkyFi, a commercial geospatial intelligence firm, has added satellite imagery from Vantor to its platform, widening access to high-resolution Earth observation data for commercial and government users.

The agreement, announced Jan. 7, makes Vantor products available through the SkyFi marketplace. The company integrated its “Vantor Hub,” which allows users to order imagery on demand, into SkyFi’s platform so that their customers can seamlessly order Vantor content.  Financial terms were not disclosed.

Will Cocos, Vantor’s chief transformation officer, said SkyFi’s platform and growing customer base made it a strong distribution partner. SkyFi has a “fast-growing user base and an easy-to-use platform, making them an ideal partner to help us bring the most advanced space-based intelligence to more customers,” Cocos said.

Based in Austin, Texas, SkyFi was founded in 2021 to build what it calls an “earth intelligence” platform. Rather than operating its own satellites, the company aggregates imagery and analytics from dozens of partner-operated spacecraft, creating a virtual constellation. Users can search large imagery archives, task new collections, or apply analytical tools such as object detection and change monitoring through web and mobile apps or an application programming interface.

The approach contrasts with traditional Earth observation procurement, which has often relied on long-term contracts and bespoke sales processes. SkyFi emphasizes transparent, pay-as-you-go pricing and self-service ordering, an approach it says lowers barriers for smaller customers while still supporting defense and intelligence users.

“Integrating Vantor into the SkyFi platform represents a major step forward in our mission to make Earth observation data simple, accessible, and cost-effective for both businesses and individuals,” said Luke Fischer, SkyFi’s co-founder and chief executive.

Amazon-like imagery superstore

Vantor, formerly known as Maxar Intelligence, focuses on very-high-resolution optical imagery and derived geospatial products. Its portfolio includes 3D terrain models used in applications ranging from mapping and precision agriculture to infrastructure monitoring and defense intelligence.

The latest integration builds on an earlier partnership between the companies. Last year, SkyFi built the “Maxar Connect” storefront, a self-service platform that gave users access to Maxar’s imagery, archives and 3D terrain products through SkyFi’s infrastructure. The effort was highlighted in mid-2025 as a way to broaden access to high-end geospatial data through a modern, software-driven interface.

Fischer said the addition of Vantor strengthens SkyFi’s role as an intermediary between satellite operators and a widening pool of buyers. He described the platform as part of a broader shift toward software-first distribution models that abstract away the complexity of satellite tasking and operations.

He said the Vantor deal makes SkyFi the largest virtual constellation of assets in the world. “I think of our platform as the big Amazon superstore where you can get anything you want, any type of sensor, any type of resolution, all over the world,” Fischer said.

For satellite operators, SkyFi offers a way to serve smaller, more fragmented orders without diverting sales teams from large government contracts. Fischer said SkyFi negotiates imagery pricing to make data accessible for customers seeking coverage of limited areas, a segment that has historically been difficult for operators to serve efficiently.

“When SkyFi got started, its main challenge was to get satellite companies to join the platform,” Fischer said. “Now they’re coming to us.”

Demand remains strongest for high-resolution electro-optical imagery, he said, while interest in synthetic aperture radar data continues to grow for defense and intelligence applications. Beyond imagery access, SkyFi is also investing in analytics, using artificial intelligence to deliver insights rather than raw pixels.

“It’s not a problem to get imagery now, it’s the answers,” Fischer said. “That’s what warfighters and commercial customers really want. They want to know the answer to something, and so that’s where you will see a lot of focus in 2026.”