Event Horizon Telescope
Event Horizon Telescope is an international research consortium that operates a planet-scale array of synchronized radio telescopes using VLBI at 1.3mm wavelengths to image supermassive black holes at 20-microarcsecond resolution, serving over 300 astronomers across 13 institutions and funded by government grants and foundations rather than commercial revenue.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersFinland, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Event Horizon Telescope does
Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) is an international academic research consortium hosted by Harvard University that operates a planet-scale array of synchronized ground-based radio telescopes using Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) at 1.3mm wavelengths to image supermassive black holes at unprecedented angular resolution of approximately 20 microarcseconds. The collaboration links observatories across 4 continents (including ALMA in Chile, SMT in Arizona, SPT in Antarctica, JCMT/SMA in Hawaii, IRAM 30m in Spain, LMT in Mexico, and the Greenland Telescope) via hydrogen maser atomic clocks and specialized R2DBE/Mark6 digital backends recording at 64 Gbps per site, producing petabytes of raw data per campaign that are correlated at MIT Haystack Observatory and the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy in Bonn. Proprietary computational imaging algorithms and GRMHD simulations, combined with the unique observational dataset, have produced the first direct images of black holes M87* (April 2019) and Sagittarius A* (May 2022), plus the first polarized event-horizon image (March 2021). The collaboration comprises over 300 researchers from 13 stakeholder institutions across more than 20 countries, governed by a Science Board and Collaboration Board.
The organization's business model is non-commercial: there is no pricing, no product sales, and no licensing revenue. Operations are funded through multi-year grants and institutional contributions from governmental agencies (US National Science Foundation, European Research Council, Max Planck Society, and agencies in Taiwan, Germany, Mexico, UK, Japan, Canada, China, Netherlands) plus philanthropic foundations (Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, John Templeton Foundation). Observation time is allocated through competitive peer-reviewed proposal processes managed by time allocation committees, and calibrated data products are released publicly through CyVerse Data Commons and the ALMA Science Portal. Its customers are the global astronomy and astrophysics research community, which accesses telescope time via proposals and consumes published data for black hole imaging, strong-field general relativity tests, accretion physics studies, and jet formation research.
Growth vectors include geographic expansion (the 2026 Africa Millimetre Telescope contract adding the first African node in Namibia), algorithmic extension into AI-driven dynamic 3D imaging (TomoGrav project funded by a £4M UK Royal Society Faraday Fellowship in December 2025), and continued public data releases across the 2017, 2018, and 2021 observation campaigns. Outreach and education programs (TIMESTEP internships, NSBP/SAO Scholars, ALMA Kids) and a formal Speakers Bureau extend the collaboration's reach beyond pure research.
Event Horizon Telescope firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Event Horizon Telescope
- Legal name
- The President and Fellows of Harvard College
- Website
- https://eventhorizontelescope.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Event Horizon Telescope is an international research consortium that operates a planet-scale array of synchronized radio telescopes using VLBI at 1.3mm wavelengths to image supermassive black holes at 20-microarcsecond resolution, serving over 300 astronomers across 13 institutions and funded by government grants and foundations rather than commercial revenue.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Event Horizon Telescope industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Radio Astronomy Research Infrastructure
- SIC
- Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826)
- akta.pro primary industry
- International Science, Technology & Space Cooperation Organizations (BPADAAAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Space Payloads & Instruments (Sensors, Comms, EO/IR) (IMABACAD), Space & Astronomy Programs (EDAMABAE)
Keywords
Where Event Horizon Telescope is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Finland
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Event Horizon Telescope business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Research Funding: EHT is funded through international governmental and private research funding agencies. Major funders include US National Science Foundation (NSF), European Research Council (ERC), and support from agencies in Taiwan, Germany, Mexico, UK, Japan, Canada, China, Netherlands, and others. No commercial revenue model.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
Event Horizon Telescope product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Event Horizon Telescope operates a planet-scale array of synchronized radio telescopes linked via Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) at 1.3mm wavelengths to directly image black hole event horizons with ~20 micro-arcsecond angular resolution. Its core deliverable is observational research products—first-ever images of M87* and Sgr A*, polarized magnetic field maps, calibrated VLBI data sets, and GRMHD theoretical simulations—provided to the global astronomy community through peer-reviewed proposal processes and public data repositories.
Product overview
The Event Horizon Telescope is a global scientific collaboration (not a commercial product company) operating a planet-scale array of eight ground-based radio telescopes that uses Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) at 1.3mm wavelengths to achieve unprecedented angular resolution for imaging black holes. The core offering is the EHT Array Network of synchronized telescopes, supported by proprietary imaging algorithms that reconstruct black hole images from sparse interferometric data, GRMHD simulations for theoretical modeling, and publicly released data products. Access to observing time is provided through annual proposal calls submitted via the ALMA Observing Tool. The collaboration comprises over 300 researchers across 13 stakeholder institutions.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- EHT VLBI Array Network A global network of synchronized radio telescopes operating at millimeter wavelengths (1.3mm / 230 GHz), linked via Very Long Baseline Interferometry to create an Earth-sized virtual interferometer achieving ~20 micro-arcsecond angular resolution sufficient to image black hole event horizons. Used by the global astronomy research community.
- EHT Data Products Calibrated and processed observational data products from EHT campaigns (2017, 2018, 2021), including visibility data, polarimetric data, and imaging pipeline outputs, distributed publicly via CyVerse Data Commons and ALMA Science Portal with DOIs. Used by astronomers worldwide for independent reanalysis.
- EHT VLBI Proposal System Annual proposal-based access platform for 1mm VLBI observations using phased ALMA and the EHT array, with proposals submitted through the ALMA Observing Tool and reviewed by Time Allocation Committees and the ALMA VLBI Coordinating Committee. Supports continuum and spectral-line science in bands 6 and 7.
- EHT Black Hole Imaging Algorithms Proprietary image-reconstruction algorithms that fill gaps in sparse interferometric (u,v) coverage by ranking possible reconstructions by their natural appearance and selecting physically reasonable images. Developed by collaboration members including Katie Bouman. Powers the production of all EHT black hole images.
- GRMHD Simulations and Ray-Traced Image Library General Relativistic Magnetohydrodynamics (GRMHD) numerical simulations of accretion flows and jet dynamics around black holes, combined with general relativistic ray tracing to predict observational signatures. Used to interpret EHT observations and compare theory to data.
Quantifiable outcome
- First direct visual evidence of a black hole shadow (M87*, April 2019)
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Event Horizon Telescope
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Event Horizon Telescope technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Event Horizon Telescope partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.
- Africa Millimetre Telescope (AMT) ConsortiummajorInternational consortium led by Radboud University (Netherlands) with partners University of Oxford, University of Amsterdam, University of Namibia, University of South Africa, and University of Turku (associated member). Building the Africa Millimetre Telescope in Namibia as the first African node to the global EHT network, filling a key gap in the array.
- Radboud University (Netherlands)coreLeads the Africa Millimetre Telescope consortium and hosts key EHT researchers including Heino Falcke (Science Board), Monika Moscibrodzka (EHT Polarimetry Working Group Coordinator). Core scientific contributor to M87 and Sgr A* analysis.
- mtex antenna technologymajorSpecialized partner developing and building the Africa Millimetre Telescope using a proven telescope design adapted specifically for the AMT project requirements.
- MIT Haystack ObservatorycoreServes as one of two primary correlation facilities (alongside MPIfR Bonn) for processing petabytes of EHT data. Leads the ALMA Phasing Project and hosts Deputy Project Scientist Kazunori Akiyama and Data Manager Vincent Fish.
- Academia Sinica Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics (ASIAA)coreKey partner representing East Asian participation in EHT, hosting Satoki Matsushita as Collaboration Board Vice Chair and contributing telescopes including the Greenland Telescope.
- University of ArizonacoreHome to the Arizona Radio Observatory (ARO) operating SMT and Kitt Peak 12m telescopes for EHT. Hosts Operations Manager Remo Tilanus and contributes significant observational infrastructure.
- University of ChicagocoreOperates the South Pole Telescope (SPT) for EHT, enabling critical southern hemisphere coverage essential for full Earth-rotation synthesis imaging.
- Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA)corePhased ALMA provides the largest collecting area in the EHT array (equivalent to ~75m diameter antenna). Partnership of ESO, NSF, NINS of Japan, Canada, Taiwan, Korea, and Chile.
- IRAM (Institut de Radioastronomie Millimétrique)coreProvides the IRAM 30-meter telescope in Spain and IRAM NOEMA Observatory in France, both key stations in the EHT array for European VLBI coverage.
- Large Millimeter Telescope Alfonso Serrano (LMT)core50-meter fully steerable telescope in Mexico, the largest mm-wave telescope in the array, providing critical baseline coverage between North America and Chile.
- National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ)coreContributes to EHT through East Asian Observatory operations including James Clerk Maxwell Telescope (JCMT) and Submillimeter Array (SMA) in Hawaii.
- Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics (Canada)coreHosts EHT Initiative and contributes theoretical astrophysics expertise including modeling and simulation work by researchers like Avery Broderick.
- Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO)corePartners with Harvard University as Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian, hosting Founding Director Sheperd Doeleman and contributing SMA and GLT telescopes.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Event Horizon Telescope competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA): ALMA is both a partner and the most directly comparable facility to EHT — both operate millimeter-wavelength interferometric arrays for high-resolution astronomical imaging. Phased ALMA provides EHT's largest collecting area (~75m equivalent), and the two share proposal review processes, data pipelines, and many of the same institutional users.
- National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO): NRAO operates the Very Large Array (VLA) and Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA), the U.S. national facility for radio astronomy and the historical parent of much of EHT's VLBI technology. It shares the same user community, observing model, and funding relationship with NSF, making it the closest operational and institutional peer.
- Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy (MPIfR): MPIfR co-hosts one of EHT's two correlation facilities in Bonn and contributes core personnel to the collaboration. It runs independent radio astronomy programs and shares VLBI technology heritage, making it both a partner and an institutional peer in radio interferometry.
- Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO): SAO partners with Harvard as the Center for Astrophysics, hosts EHT's Founding Director Doeleman, and contributes the SMA and Greenland Telescope to the EHT array. As a co-developer and primary institutional home, it is one of EHT's closest operational peers in radio interferometry.
- Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO): SKAO is the next-generation global radio interferometer under construction across South Africa and Australia. It shares EHT's VLBI heritage, international consortium governance model, and pursuit of unprecedented angular resolution, though at longer wavelengths and on a vastly larger capital scale.
- Institut de Radioastronomie Millimétrique (IRAM): IRAM operates the 30-meter telescope in Spain and NOEMA in France — both active EHT stations. As a dedicated millimeter-wave observatory with a similar user community, proposal model, and core science focus, IRAM is a direct operational peer.
Others
- LIGO Laboratory (Caltech/MIT): LIGO is a comparable large-scale, multi-institutional, NSF-funded physics observatory pursuing gravitational-wave detection of black hole mergers. While a different observational technique (laser interferometry vs. radio VLBI), it shares the consortium governance, federal funding model, and Nobel-tier scientific ambition that make it a natural institutional peer.
- IceCube Neutrino Observatory: IceCube is a comparable multi-institutional, NSF-funded physics observatory delivering complementary multi-messenger observations of black hole and high-energy astrophysics. Like EHT, it operates as an international collaboration with shared data products and a community of users overlapping EHT's high-energy astrophysics members.
Broad incumbents
- NASA / Goddard Space Flight Center: NASA funds U.S. space astronomy at a vastly larger scale and pursues black hole science through complementary missions (e.g., IXPE, future proposals). It is a broader incumbent in space research and a competitor for federal science funding.
- European Southern Observatory (ESO): ESO operates ALMA and other ground-based observatories, and is a core EHT stakeholder. While broader in scope (optical, infrared, millimeter), it shares EHT's intergovernmental funding model, European science community, and provides many of the same telescopes used in EHT's array.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Event Horizon Telescope social profiles
Digital presenceEvent Horizon Telescope financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Event Horizon Telescope leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
Event Horizon Telescope funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Event Horizon Telescope 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 Event Horizon Telescope
What does Event Horizon Telescope do?
The Event Horizon Telescope operates a planet-scale array of synchronized radio telescopes linked via Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) at 1.3mm wavelengths to directly image black hole event horizons with ~20 micro-arcsecond angular resolution. Its core deliverable is observational research products—first-ever images of M87* and Sgr A*, polarized magnetic field maps, calibrated VLBI data sets, and GRMHD theoretical simulations—provided to the global astronomy community through peer-reviewed proposal processes and public data repositories.
Is Event Horizon Telescope a public or private company?
Event Horizon Telescope is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Event Horizon Telescope founded?
Event Horizon Telescope was founded in 2019. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Event Horizon Telescope based?
Event Horizon Telescope is headquartered in Finland, United States, in the North America region.
How does Event Horizon Telescope make money?
One revenue line is on record: research Funding.
Who are Event Horizon Telescope's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO), Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy (MPIfR), Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO), Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO) and Institut de Radioastronomie Millimétrique (IRAM). Others are LIGO Laboratory (Caltech/MIT) and IceCube Neutrino Observatory. Broad incumbents are NASA / Goddard Space Flight Center and European Southern Observatory (ESO).
Does Event Horizon Telescope have an API?
No public API is recorded for Event Horizon Telescope.
What industry is Event Horizon Telescope in?
Event Horizon Telescope's product category is Radio Astronomy Research Infrastructure. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPADAAAK, International Science, Technology & Space Cooperation Organizations, with a secondary code of IMABACAD, Space Payloads & Instruments (Sensors, Comms, EO/IR). Its SIC code is 3826.