Space Shift
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersTokyo, Japan
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
Space Shift firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Space Shift
- Legal name
- 株式会社スペースシフト
- Website
- https://spcsft.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Space Shift industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Satellite Data Analytics
- NAICS
- Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services (541360), Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services (54136)
- SIC
- Services-Computer Processing & Data Preparation (7374), Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Satellite Imagery & Remote Sensing Geospatial Platforms (BPAMANAM)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Remote Sensing & Earth Observation Analytics (Satellite/UAV/LiDAR, Image Processing) (EUAHAKAD), Remote Sensing & Geospatial Vision (satellite/drone imagery) (HDAAAEAL), Remote Sensing & Imaging (Satellite, UAV/Drone, Aerial, Multispectral/Hyperspectral) (AFAGALAC), Farm Data Management & Decision Support Services (FMIS Setup, Data Integration, Analytics) (AFACACAC)
Keywords
Where Space Shift is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Tokyo
- HQ country
- Japan
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices1 record
Markets served
Space Shift business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Satellite Analytics Solutions (SAS) - Custom Analysis Projects: Project-based satellite data analysis services where Space Shift sources optimal satellite data globally and delivers analysis results in customer-specified formats. Data processing conducted on AWS. Services include building detection, idle farmland detection, and disaster detection. Update frequency customized per contract.
- SateAIs API - Subscription/Usage-Based Access: SateAIs API (beta launched April 2026) provides programmatic access to 4 analysis endpoints (ship detection, oil slick detection, new building detection, time-series change detection) using Sentinel-1 SAR satellite data. Free tier with 500 credits/month; additional usage through paid plans.
- Data Marketplace Distribution: Distribution of satellite-derived data products (e.g., New Building Detection Data) through third-party data marketplaces such as Snowflake Marketplace. Data products delivered in ready-to-use formats within the marketplace environment, with 30-day free trials and Private Offers for full-period data.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Monthly | SateAIs API Free Tier - 500 credits/month for SAR satellite analysis |
| Subscription | Annual | Snowflake Marketplace - New Building Detection Data with 30-day free trial |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels7 records
Marketing channels6 records
Space Shift product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Space Shift converts Earth observation satellite data (SAR and optical) into actionable information through proprietary AI algorithms, delivered via the SateAIs platform. The company offers object detection (buildings, ships, oil slicks), change detection, disaster monitoring, idle farmland detection, and tree health assessment as domain-specific AI packages. Distribution occurs through a self-serve API (SateAIs API), full-service consulting (Satellite Analytics Solutions), data marketplace listings (Snowflake), and partner channels.
Product overview
Space Shift is a Tokyo-based satellite data and AI company offering SateAIs, a comprehensive satellite data analytics platform that organizes proprietary AI algorithms into purpose-specific packages by domain (City, Earth, Agriculture, Time, Ocean, Environment) and delivery model (API, SAS service, co-creation programs). The core SateAIs platform leverages SAR and optical satellite data processed through various AI capabilities including object detection (buildings, ships, oil slicks), change detection, anomaly detection, and agricultural monitoring. Access is provided via SateAIs API (self-service with Free tier), Satellite Analytics Solutions (full-service consulting), and co-creation programs (SateBiz with 68+ partners, SateLab). Key products include building detection, ship detection, oil slick detection, disaster detection, idle farmland detection, tree health assessment, and SqueeSAR (InSAR ground displacement). The company also developed proprietary Eclipse band signal processing for SAR data enhancement and offers data products on Snowflake Marketplace for financial applications.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- SateAIs™: Satellite data analytics brand that categorizes Space Shift's proprietary satellite data analysis algorithms by application and delivery model, including sub-brands for City, Ocean, Earth, Environment, Agriculture, and Time domains.
- SateBiz
- SateLab
Products and services
- SateAIs (サテアイズ) Satellite data analytics platform organizing Space Shift's proprietary AI algorithms into domain-specific packages (City, Earth, Agriculture, Time, Ocean, Environment) for municipalities, enterprises, and research institutions monitoring urban development, disasters, farmland, oceans, and the environment.
- SateAIs API Self-service API enabling programmatic access to SateAIs satellite analytics with browser-based account registration and API key issuance. Provides endpoints for ship detection, oil slick detection, new building detection, and time-series change detection, plus MCP integration for generative AI assistants and BI tool connectivity.
- Satellite Analytics Solutions (SAS) Full-service satellite data analytics offering covering satellite data selection and procurement, AI analysis, and delivery of results in customer-specified formats. AWS-powered processing with flexible update frequencies from annual to semi-annual and post-disaster ad hoc.
- SqueeSAR InSAR (Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar) technology provided via business partner TRE Altamira (Italy) that detects ground surface displacement with millimeter-level accuracy for infrastructure monitoring, construction management, and landslide risk assessment.
- SateBiz (サテビズ) Satellite data business co-creation program with 68+ member companies (as of late 2025) including international firms across finance, energy, IT, construction, and agriculture. Offers monthly newsletter, free seminars, study sessions, workshops, and the Practical Fundamentals Course on Satellite Data Business.
- New Building Detection Data (Japan) on Snowflake Marketplace Japan New Building Detection Data product (SAR x AI Annual YoY Diff) distributed on Snowflake Marketplace as alternative data for financial and investment applications. Provides polygon geography format with AI confidence scores for 46 prefectures with 30-day free trial and Private Offer options.
Quantifiable outcome
- Map building update rate improved 1.8x (from ~5.7% to ~10.1% of procured data) and map maintenance costs reduced 13.2% for GeoTechnologies
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Space Shift
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
Space Shift technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration6 records
AI capability13 records
Feature10 records
Space Shift partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
17 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Overseas Agricultural Development Consultants Association (ADCA)minorADCA hosted Space Shift's workshop on satellite data and the future of African agriculture. Collaboration with development consultants for satellite data deployment in global south agricultural projects.
- ウエスコ株式会社 (WESCO)minorJoint application selected for JAXA Space Strategy Fund Phase 2 for satellite data-based embankment detection and sediment collapse risk evaluation social implementation.
- シティコンピュータ (City Computer)minorMOU signed to accelerate satellite data and AI adoption across public and private sectors in Japan. Partnership focused on expanding Space Shift's solutions to municipal and enterprise customers.
- Spatial Decisions Vietnam Company Ltd.coreMOU signed at Vietnam-Japan Space Horizons 2026 Forum for commercialization of satellite data analytics AI in Vietnam and Southeast Asia. Collaboration areas: urban monitoring (new/demolished building detection), flood/disaster detection, and agricultural monitoring. SDVN is a SateBiz partner company.
- Tellus Inc. (株式会社Tellus)coreCollaborative partner in JAXA Space Strategy Fund Phase 2 project 'Creating a Space Information Industry Ecosystem through AI-Driven Satellite Data Utilization Platforms.' Space Shift contributes satellite data analysis AI expertise. Tellus provides satellite data platform and computing infrastructure. Other partners: Degas Ltd. and NEC Corporation.
- Degas Ltd.minorCollaborative partner in JAXA Space Strategy Fund Phase 2 project. Degas contributes AI development capabilities and domain-specific expertise alongside Space Shift, Tellus, and NEC Corporation.
- NEC CorporationminorCollaborative partner in JAXA Space Strategy Fund Phase 2 project. NEC brings AI development experience and satellite data analysis capabilities alongside Space Shift, Tellus, and Degas.
- WHERE Inc.minorMOU to develop and provide real estate solutions utilizing satellite data. Joint development of satellite-based geospatial solutions for the real estate sector.
- ジオテクノロジーズ株式会社 (GeoTechnologies, Inc.)coreCollaborative solution for map maintenance DX using SAR satellite data and AI building change extraction. Achieved 1.8x improvement in building update rate and 13.2% cost reduction for GeoTechnologies' Japan-wide map maintenance operations. Full commercial deployment initiated in fiscal 2024. GeoTechnologies is also a SateBiz member.
- Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)coreMultiple collaborations with JAXA including EO-RA4 research program for ALOS-4 algorithm development, On-Orbit Demonstration AI Application program, and Space Strategy Fund Phase 2 project. JAXA provides satellite data access and research framework.
- Shinyo Corporation (新陽株式会社)minorSpace Shift is a subcontractor to Shinyo Corporation on a Ministry of Defense / Defense Innovation Science & Technology Institute project for investigation and study on data analysis for sustainable ground asset monitoring. Project period October 2025 - March 2026.
- Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO)minorSpace Shift participated in TICAD 9 signing ceremony with JETRO support, accelerating satellite data utilization business in African nations.
- VegaCosmos Co., Ltd. (Vietnam, under Vegastar Group)coreStrategic business partnership for geospatial application and technology development using satellite data in Vietnam. VegaCosmos operates under the Vegastar Group which provides geospatial services in Vietnam. Partnership supports Space Shift's Vietnam market entry and regional expansion.
- トヨタ自動車株式会社 (Toyota Motor Corporation)minorMOU signed for joint study on solving social problems using satellite and vehicle data. Exploratory collaboration on data integration for mobility and environmental applications.
- 三井住友海上火災保険株式会社 (Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance)minorPartnership for utilizing satellite data and AI analysis technology in the insurance sector and development of new insurance solutions.
- SateLab Program PartnersminorSatellite data co-creation program SateLab launched May 28, 2024. Space Shift's co-creation initiative for satellite business partnerships and collaborative development projects.
- JX PRESS Corp.minorJoint development of comprehensive intelligence system combining Space Shift's satellite data analysis with JX PRESS's FASTALERT social media analysis technology. Improves disaster analysis accuracy by combining satellite data with social media geolocation and imagery.
Scale indicators9 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Space Shift competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Taranis: AI-driven precision agriculture company using aerial and satellite imagery for crop monitoring and field-level decision support. Comparable in agricultural sub-brand only (SateAIs Agriculture), but focused on a different sensor mix and primary use case.
- SkyWatch: Satellite data marketplace and API distribution platform, similar in go-to-market positioning to Space Shift's Snowflake Marketplace play. Indirect competitor in the satellite-data-as-a-service layer for enterprise and developer customers.
Direct peers
- Tellus Inc. Japanese satellite data platform (Tellus) that aggregates multiple satellite datasets and partners with AI developers like Space Shift. Competes and collaborates in the same JAXA Space Strategy Fund Phase 2 ecosystem; serves overlapping enterprise and government customers.
- Orbital Insight: US-based geospatial analytics company applying AI to satellite imagery for object detection, change detection, and economic indicators. Closely comparable business model (analytics layer over multi-source satellite data) and overlapping customer use cases in financial services, agriculture, and supply chain monitoring.
- Synspective: Tokyo-based SAR satellite operator and analytics provider. Direct comparable in Japan for SAR-based land and infrastructure monitoring, also building change detection. Similar funding stage (Series C/D scale) and same target customer segments in Japanese government and infrastructure.
- ICEYE: Finnish SAR satellite operator and analytics provider delivering frequent SAR imagery with object detection overlays for flooding, maritime, and infrastructure. Same SAR modality, same all-weather differentiator, and overlapping maritime and disaster response use cases.
- Capella Space: US SAR satellite operator with tasking and analytics services. Closely comparable in SAR-based object detection (ships, vehicles, infrastructure) and target enterprise and government customers needing all-weather monitoring.
- PASCO Corporation: Major Japanese geospatial information services firm using satellite and aerial data for government, infrastructure, and disaster response. Directly competes for Japanese municipal and prefectural government satellite analytics contracts, with overlapping use cases in land monitoring and disaster mapping.
Broad incumbents
- Planet Labs: Public satellite imagery company operating the largest commercial fleet of Earth observation satellites, with its own analytics layer. Competes broadly on building/land change detection and agricultural monitoring use cases Space Shift serves, though with different sensor modalities (optical daily revisit vs. SAR all-weather).
- Maxar Technologies: Large US satellite imaging incumbent offering high-resolution optical imagery and geospatial intelligence products. Overlaps with Space Shift's urban monitoring, defense, and government analytics use cases at the broader-portfolio level rather than the niche analytics specialization.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Space Shift social profiles
Digital presenceSpace Shift financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Space Shift leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Space Shift funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Space Shift 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 Space Shift
What does Space Shift do?
Space Shift converts Earth observation satellite data (SAR and optical) into actionable information through proprietary AI algorithms, delivered via the SateAIs platform. The company offers object detection (buildings, ships, oil slicks), change detection, disaster monitoring, idle farmland detection, and tree health assessment as domain-specific AI packages. Distribution occurs through a self-serve API (SateAIs API), full-service consulting (Satellite Analytics Solutions), data marketplace listings (Snowflake), and partner channels.
Is Space Shift a public or private company?
Space Shift is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Space Shift founded?
Space Shift was founded in 2009. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Space Shift based?
Space Shift is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, in the Asia region.
How does Space Shift make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Satellite Analytics Solutions (SAS) - Custom Analysis Projects are the primary driver. The others are sateAIs API - Subscription/Usage-Based Access and data Marketplace Distribution.
Who are Space Shift's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Taranis and SkyWatch. Direct peers are Tellus Inc., Orbital Insight, Synspective, ICEYE, Capella Space and PASCO Corporation. Broad incumbents are Planet Labs and Maxar Technologies.
Does Space Shift have an API?
Yes. SateAIs API provides programmatic access to satellite data analytics services. Available as beta version with Free tier (500 credits/month). Provides 4 analysis endpoints: ship detection, oil slick detection, new building detection, and time-series change detection. Users can access via console.spcsft.com with self-service API key issuance. Supports integration with BI tools (Tableau, Power BI, Looker) for dashboard visualization and with MCP-enabled generative AI assistants (ChatGPT, Claude) for conversational analysis. Developer documentation is at docs.spcsft.com.
What industry is Space Shift in?
Space Shift's product category is Satellite Data Analytics. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAMANAM, Satellite Imagery & Remote Sensing Geospatial Platforms, with a secondary code of EUAHAKAD, Remote Sensing & Earth Observation Analytics (Satellite/UAV/LiDAR, Image Processing). Its NAICS code is 541360 and its SIC code is 7374.