Airmo Raises €5M to Detect Methane Leaks From Space
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Munich-based SpaceTech startup Airmo has closed a seed financing round of 5 million euros. The funds will flow into the launch of the first satellite mission in 2027 and the expansion of air-based monitoring of greenhouse gases. Ananda Impact Ventures led the round, with participation from Unconventional Ventures, kopa ventures, Pi Labs, and Antler.
Airmo is developing a space-based monitoring instrument that combines a shortwave infrared imager (SWIR) with micro-LIDAR. The technology, supported by the European Space Agency, has been miniaturized for the first time to fit on a small satellite. According to the company, accuracy is twice as high as existing systems – in concrete terms: methane leaks the size of a car can be detected from 500 kilometers altitude.
Methane Leaks Cost Energy Industry Billions
Methane emissions account for around 30 percent of global warming, yet 70 percent of leaks remain undetected according to Airmo. For the energy industry, losses add up to approximately 86.6 billion euros annually – equivalent to 15 percent of upstream investments in oil and gas. Direct revenue losses amount to 25.9 billion euros. AIRMO technology is already in commercial use: on drones and aircraft in Europe, Central Asia, and the MENA region. Customers include Uniper, Total, and ESCE.
CEO Daria Stepanova, rocket scientist and serial entrepreneur, explains the strategy: “Airmo has a simple mission: to help operators find and stop greenhouse gas losses, starting with methane. We have developed this unique instrument to achieve this goal.” The planned first satellite mission is an important step toward realizing the company’s goal of monitoring 12 million energy facilities worldwide.
Satellite Launch 2027 and International Expansion
The fresh capital drives the transition from pilot projects to scaled operations. Airmo plans regular monitoring campaigns in Europe, MENA, and Central Asia, complete integration of the satellite payload, and a local presence in the Middle East. The first satellites are scheduled to launch into orbit in 2027 and deliver operational data. The company had already completed a pre-seed round of 5.2 million euros in 2023.
Alina Bassi, Principal at Ananda Impact Ventures, sees a breakthrough in the technology: “Methane leakage reduction is the most effective way to decarbonize the energy industry today. Airmo’s ability to quantify greenhouse gas emissions from space with such high precision is a game-changer, finally solving a significant transparency problem for the energy sector.” Alan Poensgen, Partner at Antler, adds: “We backed Airmo at inception because we saw a team with the technical depth and grit required to tackle one of the planet’s most urgent challenges.”
