Geocento
Geocento provides virtual earth observation constellation design and management services, operating an independent intermediary platform (EarthImages, Pyxis, Lyra) that connects government, defence, and enterprise clients with global satellite imagery providers across 65 countries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersAndover, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Geocento does
Geocento is a privately held UK-based company founded in 2011 that provides virtual earth observation (EO) constellation design and management services to government agencies, defence organisations, national space agencies, and multi-national commercial enterprises. The company operates as an independent intermediary between EO data buyers and the global commercial and non-commercial satellite imagery market, deliberately taking no margin on data sales so that purchases occur directly between the client and the data provider.
Its core technology is the EarthImages platform, a proprietary API-enabled system used for over a decade to support end-to-end discovery, ordering and purchasing of satellite imagery across 65 countries, with API connections to the vast majority of commercial and non-commercial data providers. Built on this foundation, Geocento launched two virtual constellation products: Pyxis Constellation (a customer-facing platform that lets organisations design and operate their own EO constellation) and Lyra Constellation (a white-label platform for primes and integrators to offer branded virtual constellations to their clients). These are complemented by product harmonisation capabilities (via partnership with NV5), a digital twin of the global EO constellation (via sister company Taitus Software Italia), and bespoke consultancy covering licensing, procurement models, business case development, and constellation design.
Geocento generates revenue through three streams: managed services for ongoing virtual constellation operation, professional services for constellation design consultancy, and transaction-related advisory fees on EO imagery licensing (without taking margin on the underlying data). All engagements are quote-based and bespoke, with no public pricing and no self-serve channel. The company sells exclusively through direct consultancy-led enterprise engagement, supported by event presence (EO Summit), thought leadership content, LinkedIn, and channel partnerships via national primes. Headcount is approximately 7, including co-founders Kim Partington (CEO) and Thomas Lefort (CTO), with a registered office in Andover, UK and a secondary office in Spain.
Geocento firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Geocento
- Legal name
- Geocento Limited
- Website
- https://geocento.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Geocento provides virtual earth observation constellation design and management services, operating an independent intermediary platform (EarthImages, Pyxis, Lyra) that connects government, defence, and enterprise clients with global satellite imagery providers across 65 countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Geocento industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Earth Observation Software
- NAICS
- Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services (54136), Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services (541360)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Satellite Imagery & Remote Sensing Geospatial Platforms (BPAMANAM)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- GIS & Spatial Data Management Platforms (BPAMANAK), Remote Sensing & Earth Observation Analytics (Satellite/UAV/LiDAR, Image Processing) (EUAHAKAD)
Keywords
Where Geocento is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Andover
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Geocento business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Virtual Constellation Management Services: Ongoing managed services providing tools and support to operate and grow a virtual earth observation constellation. Includes data provider lifecycle management, product harmonisation, optimised data collection, management services and business insights, and flexible deployment. Revenue is generated through service fees, likely subscription or contract-based for ongoing platform access and support.
- Virtual Constellation Design Consultancy: Consulting engagements covering constellation design including business needs articulation, market engagement, business case development, constellation design covering technical, operational and commercial aspects, procurement planning, licensing, product standards and SLAs. Billed as professional services as part of the full-service offering.
- Licensing of Earth Observation Imagery: Facilitation of image licensing transactions between clients and data providers. Purchases are made directly between the client and data providers; Geocento does not take margin on data sales, acting solely as an intermediary and advisor.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels8 records
Geocento product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Geocento provides virtual earth observation constellation design and management services through its proprietary EarthImages platform, enabling organisations to procure, integrate and manage commercial and sovereign satellite imagery sources. The company offers two branded constellation products (Pyxis and Lyra) alongside consultancy services for constellation design and ongoing operational management, acting as an independent advisor that takes no margin on data sales.
Product overview
Geocento offers a platform-plus-services architecture centered around virtual earth observation constellation management. The core technology is EarthImages, which provides API-driven connectivity to commercial and non-commercial data providers. Built on this are two branded constellation products: Pyxis Constellation (for organizations wanting their own customer-facing constellation) and Lyra Constellation (a white-label offering for primes and integrators to provide to their clients). These are supported by professional services including Virtual Constellation Design (consultancy for constellation planning and business case development) and Virtual Constellation Management (ongoing operational tools and support). The platform is delivered through proprietary technology augmented by partnerships with NV5 (product harmonisation) and Taitus Software (digital twin capabilities).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Pyxis Constellation: Customer earth observation virtual constellation - Geocento designs and configures the constellation, putting the customer in control.
- Lyra Constellation
- EarthImages
Products and services
- Pyxis Constellation A virtual earth observation constellation platform that enables organisations to design and configure their own constellation, providing control over data procurement and management for enterprise and government clients.
- Lyra Constellation A white-label earth observation virtual constellation platform that allows partners, primes and integrators to offer their clients their own virtual constellation under their own branding.
- EarthImages
Quantifiable outcome
- 15 years of experience in the earth observation market, supporting clients in 65 countries
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Geocento
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Geocento technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
Feature6 records
Geocento partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- SercocoreSerco is the prime contractor for the Copernicus Contributing Missions programme alongside ESA, with Geocento engaged in user feedback and service evolution recommendations alongside ESA, Serco, and programme users.
- Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC)coreGeocento joined the OGC as an Explorer Member. The OGC is an international non-profit that develops open standards for geospatial data and technologies, enabling interoperability between satellite operators, mapping platforms, sensors and databases from different providers.
- NV5coreGeocento's virtual constellation management tools are augmented with specialised product harmonisation capabilities through a partnership with NV5, enabling workflows that bring earth observation products to a common level and standard.
- Taitus Software ItaliacoreSister technology company providing the digital twin of the global earth observation constellation, which is integrated into Geocento's constellation management platform for optimised data collection tasking and feasibility assessment.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Geocento competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Airbus Defence and Space Intelligence: Airbus DS Intelligence operates the Pléiades and SPOT EO constellations and provides imagery and analytics to defence, intelligence, and commercial customers. A major incumbent that competes for the same European government/defence EO procurement programmes Geocento targets.
- Maxar Intelligence: Maxar is a leading provider of high-resolution commercial satellite imagery and geospatial intelligence, primarily serving defence, intelligence, and government customers. Comparable in target customers (defence/national security) and competes for the same procurement budgets that Geocento addresses.
- Planet Labs: Planet Labs operates one of the largest commercial EO satellite constellations and a self-serve platform (Planet Insights) for imagery and analytics. As a major data provider with growing direct-to-customer tooling, it is a broad incumbent that could compete with or complement Geocento's intermediary role.
- BlackSky: BlackSky operates a constellation of EO satellites and a tasking/analytics platform serving defence, intelligence, and commercial customers. Overlaps with Geocento in the rapid-tasking, multi-source procurement space, particularly for defence and government buyers.
- ESRI (ArcGIS Platform): ESRI's ArcGIS platform is the dominant enterprise GIS and geospatial data management system used by government, defence, and commercial customers. Comparable in serving the same enterprise/government geospatial customer base and increasingly integrating EO data, though as a much broader GIS incumbent.
Direct peers
- SkyWatch: SkyWatch operates an EO data marketplace and procurement platform (EarthCache) that aggregates commercial satellite imagery for developers and enterprises. It is the most direct comparable to Geocento's EarthImages platform in the EO procurement/marketplace category, though with a more developer/SMB tilt versus Geocento's government/defence focus.
- Apollo Mapping: Apollo Mapping is an EO imagery reseller and procurement intermediary serving commercial and government buyers across multiple satellite providers. Comparable to Geocento in the multi-source imagery procurement role, though primarily a reseller model rather than a no-margin advisor.
- European Space Imaging: European Space Imaging provides very-high-resolution satellite imagery and related value-added services to European government and commercial customers, often acting as a procurement intermediary for constellations like WorldView. Overlaps with Geocento's European government/defence EO procurement focus.
Emerging players
- ICEYE: ICEYE operates a constellation of SAR satellites and provides imagery and analytics primarily to defence, maritime, and insurance customers. Relevant as a data provider whose imagery could flow through Geocento's platform, and as a competitor in the rapid-tasking procurement space.
Others
- NV5 Geospatial (formerly Quantum Spatial): NV5 Geospatial is a major US-based provider of geospatial data, analytics, and EO-derived products. Already a strategic partner of Geocento (for product harmonisation), and adjacent in the EO services and analytics value chain.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Geocento social profiles
Digital presenceGeocento financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Geocento leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Geocento funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Geocento 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 Geocento
What does Geocento do?
Geocento provides virtual earth observation constellation design and management services through its proprietary EarthImages platform, enabling organisations to procure, integrate and manage commercial and sovereign satellite imagery sources. The company offers two branded constellation products (Pyxis and Lyra) alongside consultancy services for constellation design and ongoing operational management, acting as an independent advisor that takes no margin on data sales.
Is Geocento a public or private company?
Geocento is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Geocento founded?
Geocento was founded in 2011. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Geocento based?
Geocento is headquartered in Andover, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Geocento make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Virtual Constellation Management Services are the primary driver. The others are virtual Constellation Design Consultancy and licensing of Earth Observation Imagery.
Who are Geocento's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Airbus Defence and Space Intelligence, Maxar Intelligence, Planet Labs, BlackSky and ESRI (ArcGIS Platform). Direct peers are SkyWatch, Apollo Mapping and European Space Imaging. ICEYE is listed as an emerging player. NV5 Geospatial (formerly Quantum Spatial) is listed as an others.
Does Geocento have an API?
Yes. EarthImages technology with API connections to the vast majority of commercial (and non-commercial) data providers, supporting end-to-end discovery, ordering and purchasing of satellite imagery for clients across 65 countries. The platform is described as fully API-enabled with end-to-end integrated workflows. Specific API documentation URL, authentication method, rate limits, or SDK availability are not explicitly stated in the source material.
What industry is Geocento in?
Geocento's product category is Earth Observation Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAMANAM, Satellite Imagery & Remote Sensing Geospatial Platforms, with a secondary code of BPAMANAK, GIS & Spatial Data Management Platforms. Its NAICS code is 54136.