ALE
ALE Co., Ltd. is a Tokyo-based private space entertainment company that builds and operates micro-satellites producing on-demand artificial shooting stars (SKY CANVAS) for enterprise event customers, while also monetizing atmospheric data captured during re-entries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersShibadaimon, Japan
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What ALE does
ALE Co., Ltd. is a Tokyo-based private space entertainment company founded in September 2011 by Lena Okajima, a University of Tokyo PhD in astronomy. The company develops and operates micro-satellites that release specially formulated particles to generate artificial shooting stars on demand through controlled atmospheric re-entry. Its flagship commercial offering, SKY CANVAS, sells branded shooting-star events to enterprise customers — typically municipalities, event organizers, and corporate sponsors — as large-scale entertainment spectacles, with secondary revenue from atmospheric data captured during each re-entry event and licensed through Atmospheric Data Services.
ALE's technology stack centers on a sequence of progressively more capable satellites (ALE-1, ALE-2, and the engineering-model-complete ALE-3) carrying proprietary payloads, precision release mechanisms, and ground-based tracking infrastructure. The company has also developed an Electrodynamic Tether (EDT) concept for space-debris mitigation, which was commercially separated into BULL Co. in July 2023 to allow ALE to focus on entertainment. Business model elements include bespoke enterprise pricing for shooting-star events, government and institutional grants (e.g., JAXA J-SPARC), and exploratory consumer touchpoints such as a partnered electricity plan.
ALE is backed by Horizons Ventures (Li Ka-shing), SPARX Group, and Tohoku University Venture Partners, with cumulative funding of approximately 4.9 billion JPY (~$35–40M). Strategic collaborators include JAXA, Tohoku University, Tokio Marine, NTT, RIKEN, NAOJ, Rocket Lab, and Dawn Aerospace. The company is venture-backed, employs between 11 and 50 staff, and is positioning for first recurring commercial revenue tied to the ALE-3 platform in 2024–2025.
ALE firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- ALE
- Legal name
- 株式会社ALE
- Website
- https://star-ale.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- ALE Co., Ltd. is a Tokyo-based private space entertainment company that builds and operates micro-satellites producing on-demand artificial shooting stars (SKY CANVAS) for enterprise event customers, while also monetizing atmospheric data captured during re-entries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
ALE industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Space Entertainment Services
- NAICS
- Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing (336414), Other Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336419)
- SIC
- Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles & Parts (3760)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Spacecraft & Satellites (Civil/Commercial) (IMABACAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Spacecraft Integration, Assembly & Test (IAT) (IMABACAK), Space Structures, Mechanisms & Thermal Control (IMABACAF), Spacecraft Avionics, Flight Computers & Software (IMABACAI)
Keywords
Where ALE is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Shibadaimon
- HQ country
- Japan
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices1 record
Markets served
ALE business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- SKY CANVAS - Artificial Shooting Star Events: ALE sells artificial shooting star displays to event organizers, corporations, and governments for entertainment events, corporate promotions, sports events, concerts, tourism attractions, and regional revitalization initiatives. Clients pay for custom shooting star events at specific locations, dates, and colors. The service is offered globally wherever satellite orbit permits.
- Atmospheric Data Services: ALE monetizes upper atmosphere (mesosphere, 60-80km) data acquired through artificial shooting star observations. Data is sold or licensed to meteorological agencies, research institutions, and industries requiring weather prediction improvement, climate research, disaster prevention, shipping/airline route optimization, and agricultural/logistics planning.
- EDT Device Sales (Space Debris Mitigation): ALE manufactures and sells EDT (Electrodynamic Tether) devices to satellite operators, launch providers, and space agencies for integration into satellites and rocket upper stages to enable post-mission disposal (PMD) and prevent space debris generation. Business partnership established with Space BD for sales agency.
- SKY CANVAS Membership & NFT: ALE offers membership-type NFT products ('SKY CANVAS Shooting Stars NFT') and related membership privileges as part of its consumer-facing digital engagement strategy. The '流れ星でんき' (Nagareboshi Denki) electricity plan with au Energy & Life provides another recurring consumer revenue stream, where a portion of electricity fees supports the artificial shooting star project.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
ALE product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ALE creates on-demand artificial shooting stars and meteor showers by launching proprietary satellites that release specially formulated meteor source particles into the upper atmosphere (60-80km altitude), producing plasma light emissions visible across a 200km diameter area. The company also develops and sells Electrodynamic Tether (EDT) devices for satellite deorbiting and space debris mitigation, and licenses atmospheric data collected from mesosphere observations. Customers include event organizers, corporations, governments, satellite operators, and meteorological research institutions.
Product overview
ALE operates as a space entertainment company with three interconnected business areas: the core SKY CANVAS space entertainment business that creates artificial shooting stars using proprietary satellites releasing meteor source particles at altitudes of 60-80km, atmospheric data services that collect valuable mesosphere data during shooting star observations for climate research, and small satellite R&D including space debris mitigation technology (EDT). The company has developed three generations of artificial shooting star satellites (ALE-1, ALE-2, ALE-3) with increasing particle capacity and reliability, targeting commercial service launch in 2025.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- SKY CANVAS: Space entertainment business that creates artificial shooting stars using proprietary satellite technology. Transforms the night sky into a canvas for unprecedented entertainment experiences.
- AETHER
Products and services
- SKY CANVAS Artificial Shooting Star Entertainment A satellite-based service that releases proprietary meteor source particles (1cm spheres) at 60-80km altitude to produce controllable, multi-color plasma light emissions visible from a 200km diameter area. Sold to event organizers, corporations, sports leagues, tourism boards, theme parks, cruise operators, and government bodies for one-time custom entertainment displays.
- Atmospheric Data Services
- EDT (Electrodynamic Tether) Debris Mitigation Device
- ALE-3 Third-Generation Artificial Shooting Star Satellite
Quantifiable outcome
- Artificial shooting stars visible from a 200km diameter area on the ground
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use ALE
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
ALE technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
ALE partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
27 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- PR TIMEScoreCorporate partner in the 'Starlight Challenge' project (targeting artificial shooting star demonstration by FY2028). PR TIMES launched the '地上的星プロジェクト' (Ground Stars Project) to expand the circle of companies supporting challenge-oriented businesses.
- au Energy & Life (auエネルギー＆ライフ)coreCorporate partner in Starlight Challenge. Provides the '流れ星でんき' (Nagareboshi Denki) electricity plan where a portion of electricity fees support the artificial shooting star project. Also offers 'space development work experience' and membership benefits to subscribers.
- Takara Standard (タカラスタンダード)coreCorporate partner in Starlight Challenge. Conducts space environment testing and demonstration using high-quality enamel (ホーロー) materials. Contributes to technical verification under extreme space conditions.
- Trusco Nakayama (トラスコ中山)coreCorporate partner in Starlight Challenge. Promotes the space industry's activation and wider support for ALE's challenge through its industrial supplies distribution network.
- Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance (東京海上日動火災保険)coreBasic agreement signed for collaboration on EDT space debris mitigation device commercialization. Tokio Marine brings risk management expertise and serves as a leading space insurance provider in Japan. Collaboration covers EDT business feasibility and technology development.
- NTT, RIKEN, and NAOJ (AETHER Project)coreIndustry-academia collaboration project AETHER for commercial weather satellite demonstration. First Japanese project of its kind. Aims to advance atmospheric observation technology using ALE's artificial shooting star and satellite technology combined with NTT communications, RIKEN research, and NAOJ (National Astronomical Observatory of Japan) expertise.
- Dawn AerospacecoreDawn Aerospace (based in New Zealand and Netherlands) supplies thrusters for ALE-3 (ALE satellite 3). Uses nitrous oxide and propylene green propellant. Technology has been flight-proven on Vega, Falcon 9, and Soyuz launches. ALE participated in TeamNL Tokyo Expo showcasing this partnership.
- US Department of State / Secretary Antony BlinkenminorCEO Lena Okajima participated in a roundtable with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken featuring Japanese women entrepreneurs. Discussed SDGs contributions, climate change initiatives, and space entertainment business. Blinken expressed interest in seeing the artificial shooting stars.
- Space Frontier Fund (宇宙フロンティアファンド) / Sparx GroupcoreSpace Frontier Fund operated by Sparx Innovation for Future Co., Ltd. Participated in Series A additional round (~2.2 billion JPY total). Supports Japan's NewSpace industry development.
- THVP-2 (Tohoku University Venture Partners 2)coreInvestment fund operated by Tohoku University Venture Partners. Participated in Series A additional round. Reinforces the strong university-industry partnership between ALE and Tohoku University.
- J&TC Frontier (合同会社J&TC Frontier)minorCo-investment vehicle established by JFE Engineering and Tokyo Century. Participated in Series A additional round. Supports startups creating new value for the future.
- JETRO (Japan External Trade Organization) & ShogakukanminorTrilateral collaboration to produce manga 'Make My Dreams Come True' about artificial shooting stars. JETRO provides startup globalization support, Shogakukan provides publishing and creative execution. Scientifically supervised by Tokyo University of Science professor. Published in 3 installments.
- Space BDcoreLOI signed for sales agency agreement for EDT space debris prevention components. Space BD leverages its existing relationships with satellite operators and launch service providers to market EDT devices.
- Rocket LabcoreRocket Lab's Electron rocket launched ALE-2 on December 6, 2019, from Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand. Rocket Lab maintains 100% mission success rate for commercial customers and provided live webcast of the launch.
- Spaceflight (launch services provider)coreSpaceflight Inc. served as mission management and launch services broker for ALE-2, arranging the Rocket Lab Electron launch.
- G20 Osaka Summit / Japanese GovernmentcoreALE's EDT technology was exhibited at the G20 Osaka Summit 'Japan Innovation Lounge' as a representative Japanese advanced space technology, demonstrating national-level recognition of ALE's space debris mitigation technology.
- JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency)coreJ-SPARC partnership for EDT (Electrodynamic Tether) space debris mitigation device development. JAXA brings extensive EDT R&D expertise. The partnership progressed from concept co-creation (2019) to joint demonstration phase (2020). Goal is to launch EDT device on a nano-satellite in FY2021 and commercialize the device.
- Junichiro Kawaguchi (Technical Advisor)coreDr. Junichiro Kawaguchi, former Hayabusa project leader and current JAXA Senior Fellow, serves as Technical Advisor to ALE. Provides consultation on satellite design review and operations, particularly for thruster development for ALE-2 and orbit control technology.
- FamilyMart (ファミリーマート)minorOfficial Partner for the SHOOTING STAR challenge project. FamilyMart was to support the project's consumer-facing activities as part of its corporate social responsibility and innovation positioning.
- Japan Airlines (日本航空)minorOfficial Partner for the SHOOTING STAR challenge project. Japan Airlines was to support the project's reach and logistics as part of its innovation and entertainment initiatives.
- Tohoku University (桒原研究室)coreLong-standing academic partnership for satellite bus development, system integration, and satellite operations. Dr. Toshinori Kuwahara (Associate Professor, Tohoku University) serves as CTO of ALE. The university provides ground station operations and joint satellite development. This partnership has produced all three ALE satellites (ALE-1, ALE-2, ALE-3).
- Nihon University (阿部新助氏)minorAssociate Professor Shinsuke Abe from Nihon University contributed to luminescence observation and meteor source material development.
- Kanagawa Institute of Technology (渡部武夫氏)minorAssociate Professor Takeo Watanabe from Kanagawa Institute of Technology contributed to material analysis, structural analysis, and meteor source release mechanism development.
- Nakashimada Engineering Works (中島田鉄工所)coreCo-developed the DOM (De-Orbit Mechanism) membrane-deployment device with Tohoku University for satellite orbital departure. Holder of DOM/DOMR trademark. ALE-1 carried this device for its altitude descent mission.
- Shinsei Corporate Investment (新生企業投資)minorParticipated in Series A round (2019) alongside Horizons Ventures, SPARX Group, QB Capital, and individual investors.
- QB Capital (QBキャピタル)minorParticipated in Series A round (2019) as an investor in ALE's space entertainment and satellite technology business.
- NHKminorNHK's Masakame TV featured CEO Lena Okajima as a 'master' in their 'Dream' final episode, introducing ALE's artificial shooting star project to a broad Japanese audience.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
ALE competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Astroscale: Tokyo-headquartered space debris removal and satellite servicing company. Most directly comparable to ALE's EDT debris mitigation business as a Japanese space startup addressing orbital sustainability, and comparable in funding stage and mission orientation toward commercializing novel in-orbit services.
- ispace: Tokyo-based lunar exploration company developing commercial lunar landers. Comparable as a high-profile Japanese space startup with similar funding profile (Horizons Ventures backed), similar headcount scale, and similar reliance on Japanese government and academic partnerships for technical credibility.
- Axelspace: Tokyo-based microsatellite operator managing a commercial Earth observation constellation. Directly comparable as a Japanese small satellite company developing satellite buses and operating them commercially; similar development approach to ALE's microsatellite platform work with Tohoku University.
- Synspective: Tokyo-based SAR satellite constellation startup that builds and operates small satellites for commercial data services. Comparable as a Japanese space startup combining satellite manufacturing with data-as-a-service revenue, similar funding trajectory, and similar partnerships with Japanese academic institutions and investors.
- Pale Blue: Japan-based small satellite propulsion and component provider. Comparable as a Japanese space startup developing critical hardware subsystems for small satellites, with overlapping customer base of smallsat operators including Japanese universities and emerging commercial constellation builders.
Broad incumbents
- Rocket Lab: US-listed small launch and space systems company that launched ALE-2 aboard its Electron rocket. Comparable as an end-to-end smallsat operator combining launch services with spacecraft manufacturing, and a potential competitor / partner depending on how ALE's vertical integration evolves.
- ICEYE: Finland-headquartered SAR satellite constellation operator and smallsat manufacturer. Comparable as a commercial smallsat operator selling satellite-derived data products and building its own satellite buses, with overlapping customer base in government and commercial Earth observation.
- Satellogic: Argentina/US-based Earth observation satellite operator building and launching its own smallsat constellation. Comparable as a vertically-integrated commercial smallsat operator monetizing imaging data products, with similar cost-conscious approach to smallsat manufacturing and operations.
- Planet Labs: US-listed Earth observation satellite operator managing the largest commercial imaging constellation. Comparable as a vertically-integrated smallsat operator monetizing satellite-derived data services, though operating at significantly greater scale and serving commercial/government remote sensing customers rather than entertainment.
Others
- Spaceflight Inc. US-based launch services broker and mission management provider that arranged ALE-2's Rocket Lab launch. Comparable as a space infrastructure enabler that brokers rideshare launch services for smallsat operators including ALE, and overlapping relationship with Rocket Lab's launch cadence.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
ALE social profiles
Digital presenceALE financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
ALE leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
ALE funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds8 records
Investors10 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
ALE M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about ALE
What does ALE do?
ALE creates on-demand artificial shooting stars and meteor showers by launching proprietary satellites that release specially formulated meteor source particles into the upper atmosphere (60-80km altitude), producing plasma light emissions visible across a 200km diameter area. The company also develops and sells Electrodynamic Tether (EDT) devices for satellite deorbiting and space debris mitigation, and licenses atmospheric data collected from mesosphere observations. Customers include event organizers, corporations, governments, satellite operators, and meteorological research institutions.
Is ALE a public or private company?
ALE is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was ALE founded?
ALE was founded in 2011. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is ALE based?
ALE is headquartered in Shibadaimon, Japan, in the Asia region.
How does ALE make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. SKY CANVAS - Artificial Shooting Star Events are the primary driver. The others are atmospheric Data Services, EDT Device Sales (Space Debris Mitigation) and SKY CANVAS Membership & NFT.
Who are ALE's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Astroscale, ispace, Axelspace, Synspective and Pale Blue. Broad incumbents are Rocket Lab, ICEYE, Satellogic and Planet Labs. Spaceflight Inc. is listed as an others.
Does ALE have an API?
No public API is recorded for ALE.
What industry is ALE in?
ALE's product category is Space Entertainment Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABACAB, Spacecraft & Satellites (Civil/Commercial), with a secondary code of IMABACAK, Spacecraft Integration, Assembly & Test (IAT). Its NAICS code is 336414 and its SIC code is 3760.