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Specx

Category: AI in Climate / Energy

Korean deep-tech startup building hyperspectral satellite imaging technology with an end-to-end AI data pipeline for Earth observation Specx was founded in 2024. The company is led by Yoon Sung-chul (윤성철) & Jung Woong-seob (정웅섭). Based in Jeju-si, Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, South Korea. Team size: 11-50. Total funding raised: $3.3M. Latest round: Pre-Series A. Key investors include Triangle Partners, E&Venture Partners, JX Partners, Jeju Center for Creative Economy & Innovation (Jeju CCEI), MYSC (Merry Year Social Company).

Founded
2024
Headquarters
Jeju-si, Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, South Korea
Team size
11-50
Total funding
$3.3M

Value proposition

Applying 3D astronomical spectroscopy technology adapted for Earth observation, enabling high-precision hyperspectral data acquisition, processing, and analysis from satellite platforms for agriculture, environmental monitoring, and defense applications

Products and solutions

Hyperspectral satellite payloads (100kg-class and 10kg-class CubeSat), End-to-end satellite observation data platform (acquisition, processing, analysis), 3D high-dispersion spectroscopy technology for Earth observation

Unique value

Only private Korean company developing space-grade hyperspectral imaging technology, leveraging world-class expertise from Seoul National University astronomy and KASI (Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute), with Korea's first astronaut leading global business development

Target customer

Domestic and international government agencies, private space companies, precision agriculture firms, environmental monitoring organizations, defense/security sectors

Industries served

Aerospace & Defense, Precision Agriculture, Environmental Monitoring, Climate/Energy, National Security

Technology advantage

3D high-dispersion spectroscopy technology originally developed for space telescopes (NISS), adapted for Earth observation; proprietary vacuum/cryogenic chamber for space environment testing; end-to-end platform covering data acquisition to AI-powered analysis

How they differentiate

Only private Korean company in satellite hyperspectral imaging; technology derived from world-leading astronomical 3D spectroscopy (NISS instrument for space telescope); team includes Korea's first astronaut (Lee So-yeon) for global business development; vertically integrated from hardware (satellite payloads) to software (data analysis platform)

Main competitors

Orbital Sidekick (US), Pixxel (India)

Key partnerships

Jeju Center for Creative Economy & Innovation (Jeju CCEI), MYSC, K-우주포럼 (K-Space Forum), Deep Tech TIPS program (Ministry of SMEs and Startups)

Notable customers

Government agencies (B2G contracts), Korea Space Agency (우주청) forum participant

Major milestones

2024-08: Company incorporated, 2024-09: Selected as first investment of Jeju Early-Stage Startup Fund, 2024-11: Selected for Deep Tech TIPS program (₩1.5B R&D funding), 2025-09: Exhibited at IAC Sydney, 2025: Lee So-yeon (Korea's first astronaut) joined as GBD, 2026-06: Raised ₩3B Pre-Series A follow-on funding

Growth metrics

12 employees (as of April 2026); 7 new hires in past year; 1 B2G contract

Market positioning

Early-stage Korean deep-tech startup positioning as the only domestic private player in satellite hyperspectral imaging, competing globally against US (Orbital Sidekick) and India (Pixxel) players in the rapidly growing Earth observation data market projected to reach $379.9B by 2032

Geographic focus

South Korea (domestic); Global markets via IAC and international partnerships

Patents and IP

3D high-dispersion spectroscopy technology for Earth observation (adapted from astronomical NISS instrument technology)

About Yoon Sung-chul (윤성철) & Jung Woong-seob (정웅섭)

Yoon Sung-chul: Professor at Seoul National University, Department of Physics & Astronomy; expert in astrophysics and supernova research. Jung Woong-seob: Principal Researcher at Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI); led development of NISS (Near-infrared Imaging Spectrometer) — world's first wide-field infrared hyperspectral space telescope; participated in NASA SPHEREx project.

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