SETI Institute
The SETI Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit scientific research organization dedicated to searching for life and intelligence beyond Earth, conducting astrobiology, astronomy, and technosignature research for NASA, NSF, and the global scientific community.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1984
- HeadquartersMountain View, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What SETI Institute does
The SETI Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit scientific research organization founded in 1984 and headquartered at 339 Bernardo Ave, Mountain View, California. Its mission is to search for life and intelligence beyond Earth through astrobiology, astronomy, and SETI research, education, and public outreach. The institute serves three principal constituencies: the professional scientific research community (astronomers, astrobiologists, planetary scientists), government space agencies led by NASA and NSF, and the general public engaged through lectures, podcasts, citizen science, and artist-in-residence programs.
Core technical assets center on the Carl Sagan Center for Research, which houses more than 100 scientists across seven disciplines. Major instrumentation and programs include the Allen Telescope Array (42 antennas at Hat Creek Radio Observatory, expandable to 350, operating 1-14 GHz), COSMIC (a commensal signal-processing backend at the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array delivering real-time technosignature search), LaserSETI (an optical network monitoring the night sky for nanosecond laser flashes), CAMS (a NASA-sponsored global camera network tracking meteors across 19 locations), the Virtual Planetary Laboratory (exoplanet habitability and biosignature modeling), the MARBLE Earth-as-exoplanet mission concept, and the newly launched Discovery and Futures Lab for post-detection societal studies. The Data Science team operates principal pipelines for NASA's Kepler and TESS missions, credited with detecting a significant share of the nearly 6,000 confirmed exoplanets to date.
The business model is nonprofit research funding: there are no commercial products or pricing models. Revenue streams consist of (1) research grants primarily from NASA and NSF, (2) charitable donations including a transformational $200 million bequest from Franklin Antonio's estate in 2024 funding the STRIDE program, and (3) collaborative partnership contributions. Operating geography spans the United States (California, New Mexico, Hawaii), with international observational footprint across New Zealand, South Africa, Europe, the UAE, Australia, Chile, Brazil, Namibia, Puerto Rico, the Canary Islands, and now Saudi Arabia via the 2026 AlUla Manara partnership. Strategic co-development partners include NRAO, UC Berkeley, Breakthrough Listen, Lockheed Martin LMSAL, and Unistellar (a 12,000+ citizen astronomer network co-founded by institute scientist Franck Marchis).
SETI Institute firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- SETI Institute
- Legal name
- SETI Institute
- Website
- https://seti.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1984
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- The SETI Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit scientific research organization dedicated to searching for life and intelligence beyond Earth, conducting astrobiology, astronomy, and technosignature research for NASA, NSF, and the global scientific community.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
SETI Institute industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Scientific Research (Astrobiology and SETI)
- NAICS
- Space Research and Technology (9271), Web Search Portals and All Other Information Services (51929)
- SIC
- Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826)
- akta.pro primary industry
- International Science, Technology & Space Cooperation Organizations (BPADAAAK)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Space Payloads & Instruments (Sensors, Comms, EO/IR) (IMABACAD)
Keywords
Where SETI Institute is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Mountain View
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
SETI Institute business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations
Revenue model
- Research Grants: Primary funding from government research grants, primarily from NASA and NSF. The organization conducts extensive NASA-sponsored research across multiple disciplines.
- Donations and Charitable Contributions: The organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit funded by donations from individuals. Notable $200M gift from Franklin Antonio's estate to fund the STRIDE program.
- Partnership Programs: Collaborative partnerships with other organizations that contribute to research capabilities, including the SkyMapper blockchain network participation.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
SETI Institute product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The SETI Institute conducts scientific research into the origin and prevalence of life in the universe, operating radio and optical telescopes to search for technosignatures, processing NASA mission data for exoplanet discovery, and tracking meteors through global camera networks. It complements this research with educational programs, internships, and public outreach focused on space science and the search for extraterrestrial intelligence. Funding is sourced primarily from NASA and NSF research grants, supplemented by private donations and a membership program.
Product overview
The SETI Institute is a nonprofit research organization dedicated to finding life beyond Earth through astrobiology and SETI research. Its core offerings include research programs such as the Allen Telescope Array (radio telescope for SETI searches), COSMIC (radio signal processing at VLA), LaserSETI (optical SETI network), Virtual Planetary Laboratory (exoplanet habitability modeling), CAMS (meteor tracking network), and Discovery and Futures Lab (post-detection preparedness). These research programs are complemented by educational services including internships, fellowships, public lectures, podcasts, and outreach publications. The institute also operates grant programs (STRIDE and Technosignature Grants) to fund innovation in the field. The organization does not offer commercial software products but provides research services and public education as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Carl Sagan Center for Research: The research division of the SETI Institute housing over 100 scientists conducting research in astrobiology, astronomy, exoplanets, and SETI.
- LaserSETI
- COSMIC
- CAMS
- Discovery and Futures Lab
- Virtual Planetary Laboratory (VPL)
Companies that use SETI Institute
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
SETI Institute technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability7 records
Feature6 records
SETI Institute partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered strategic, core and minor.
- Royal Commission for AlUlastrategicDeveloping AlUla Manara, a major astronomy complex in Saudi Arabia, in partnership with Saudi Space Agency, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, and SETI Institute.
- Saudi Space AgencystrategicPartner in development of AlUla Manara observatory complex with SETI Institute providing expertise.
- King Abdulaziz City for Science and TechnologystrategicPartner in development of AlUla Manara observatory complex with SETI Institute providing expertise.
- National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO)coreNRAO operates the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array in New Mexico where SETI Institute's COSMIC project is installed. COSMIC receives a copy of radio signals from VLA antennas for real-time technosignature analysis.
- University of California, BerkeleycoreUC Berkeley SETI Research Center collaborates with SETI Institute on the COSMIC project and is involved in Breakthrough Listen initiatives.
- Breakthrough ListencoreBreakthrough Listen initiative collaborates with SETI Institute on COSMIC project and technosignature research using VLA and other facilities.
- Lockheed Martin Solar and Astrophysics Lab (LMSAL)coreLMSAL leads NASA missions including MUSE, IRIS, SDO, Hinode, and EUVST in which SETI Institute scientists participate. SETI Institute collaborates on data analysis and pipeline development for these solar physics missions.
- UnistellarcoreUnistellar is a global citizen science network of over 12,000 amateur astronomers. SETI Institute scientist Franck Marchis co-founded Unistellar and serves as Chief Scientific Officer.
- American Museum of Natural HistoryminorMeteorite fragments from the Hillsborough meteorite are curated at the American Museum of Natural History for further study following SETI Institute and NASA research.
- NASAcoreNASA is the primary research funding source for SETI Institute. Scientists participate in NASA missions including Kepler, TESS, JWST, and various planetary exploration missions.
- National Science Foundation (NSF)coreNSF provides research grants supporting SETI Institute astronomy, astrobiology, and planetary science programs.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights7 records
SETI Institute competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Breakthrough Listen: The largest SETI-focused research program, hosted at UC Berkeley. Directly comparable to SETI Institute's technosignature mission and a key collaborator on the COSMIC project at the VLA.
- The Planetary Society: A 501(c)(3) nonprofit space science advocacy and education organization. Comparable in nonprofit structure, public engagement model, and mission focus on space exploration and the search for life beyond Earth.
- Carl Sagan Institute: Cornell University research center dedicated to the study of life in the universe and exoplanet habitability. Directly comparable in astrobiology research mission and methodology, including biosignature modeling overlap with SETI's Virtual Planetary Laboratory.
Broad incumbents
- Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI): Operates Hubble and JWST science operations under NASA contract. Comparable as a NASA-affiliated space science research organization, but much larger and focused on observational astrophysics rather than SETI specifically.
- Universities Space Research Association (USRA): A nonprofit research consortium of universities conducting space and aerospace research. Comparable as a nonprofit research entity serving NASA's scientific mission, though broader in scope than SETI's astrobiology focus.
- Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA): A consortium that operates major astronomical observatories including NSF's NOIRLab. Comparable as a nonprofit enabling astronomical research infrastructure, though focused on observatory management rather than dedicated research programs.
Others
- National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO): Operates the Karl G. Jansky VLA where SETI's COSMIC project runs. A key infrastructure partner and adjacent peer in radio astronomy, with overlap on radio observation methodology and technosignature-relevant research.
- American Astronomical Society (AAS): The major professional society for astronomers in the US. Comparable as an organizing body for the astronomy community that SETI Institute operates within; relevant for understanding the broader ecosystem but not a direct research peer.
Emerging players
- Blue Marble Space Institute of Science: A younger nonprofit astrobiology and space science research organization. Comparable in nonprofit research mission and astrobiology focus, but smaller in scale and infrastructure footprint.
- Earth-Life Science Institute (ELSI): Tokyo Institute of Technology research institute focused on origins of life and habitable worlds. Comparable in astrobiology research scope and interdisciplinary approach, but operating in a different geography and with a different institutional structure.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat7 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
SETI Institute social profiles
Digital presenceSETI Institute financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
SETI Institute leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
SETI Institute funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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SETI Institute M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
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Frequently asked questions about SETI Institute
What does SETI Institute do?
The SETI Institute conducts scientific research into the origin and prevalence of life in the universe, operating radio and optical telescopes to search for technosignatures, processing NASA mission data for exoplanet discovery, and tracking meteors through global camera networks. It complements this research with educational programs, internships, and public outreach focused on space science and the search for extraterrestrial intelligence. Funding is sourced primarily from NASA and NSF research grants, supplemented by private donations and a membership program.
Is SETI Institute a public or private company?
SETI Institute is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was SETI Institute founded?
SETI Institute was founded in 1984. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is SETI Institute based?
SETI Institute is headquartered in Mountain View, United States, in the North America region.
How does SETI Institute make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Research Grants are the primary driver. The others are donations and Charitable Contributions and partnership Programs.
Who are SETI Institute's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Breakthrough Listen, The Planetary Society and Carl Sagan Institute. Broad incumbents are Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI), Universities Space Research Association (USRA) and Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA). Others are National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) and American Astronomical Society (AAS). Emerging players are Blue Marble Space Institute of Science and Earth-Life Science Institute (ELSI).
Does SETI Institute have an API?
No public API is recorded for SETI Institute.
What industry is SETI Institute in?
SETI Institute's product category is Scientific Research (Astrobiology and SETI). 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 NAICS code is 9271 and its SIC code is 8731.