What Golbriak Space does

Golbriak Space OÜ is an Estonian aerospace company founded in 2017 in Tallinn, building optical (laser) communication terminals and ground-segment services for satellite and airborne platforms. The company's core technology replaces traditional RF satellite links with high-frequency optical beams that have 3-4x narrower divergence, enabling higher data rates (2.5 Gbps and above in LEO) at lower cost-per-bit while inherently resisting jamming, spoofing, and interception. Because optical satellite communication is not regulated by the ITU, Golbriak's terminals can be deployed without the lengthy frequency coordination required by RF systems — a structural regulatory advantage embedded in the technology choice.

The product portfolio spans three hardware SKUs (ERMES AI for small/micro satellites, ERMES AI+ with full-dome gimbal and up to 25,000 km link range, and ARES AI for drones and high-altitude platforms), plus a usage-based optical downlink service priced from €18/min at 1 Gbps. All terminals integrate an AI-enabled Data Hub that supports sandboxing, virtual missions, and onboard execution of third-party ML/deep-learning algorithms, allowing customers to run analytics directly on payload data. The FSSCat mission — for which Golbriak delivered two optical inter-satellite link terminals that launched in September 2020 — provides the company's primary in-orbit heritage, including the first demonstrated optical communication link between CubeSats.

Golbriak operates a consultative enterprise go-to-market via direct quotation, targeting small-satellite operators, airborne platform operators, and ground-station operators across LEO/MEO mission profiles. The company has no disclosed revenue, no disclosed equity funding (its only documented funding event is non-dilutive accelerator participation), one publicly named customer reference (FSSCat, a research consortium with Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya), and 1-10 employees. Revenue mechanics center on custom-quote hardware sales supplemented by nascent recurring service revenue from downlink and emerging groundstation operations.

Name

Golbriak Space

Legal name

Golbriak Space OÜ

Website

https://golbriak.space

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Golbriak Space OÜ is an Estonian aerospace company that designs and sells optical/laser communication terminals (ERMES, ERMES+, ARES) plus ground-segment downlink services for small-satellite, drone, and high-altitude-platform operators, with AI-enabled onboard data processing.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Optical Satellite Communication Hardware

NAICS

Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing (336414), Other Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336419), Satellite Telecommunications (51741)

SIC

Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles & Parts (3760), Computer Communications Equipment (3576), Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827)

akta.pro primary industry

Space Payloads & Instruments (Sensors, Comms, EO/IR) (IMABACAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Satellite Ground Segment & Gateway Services (Teleports, Gateways, Ground Station-as-a-Service) (HDAIAJAH), Optoelectronic Receivers & Transceivers (Photodetectors/Optical Modules) (HDAHALAM), Satellite Network Operations & Capacity Services (NOC, Capacity Leasing, Managed Payload Services) (HDAIAJAI)

Keywords

• Optical communication terminals
• Satellite laser communications
• Inter-satellite link terminals
• Aerospace photonic systems
• Free-space optical communication

Headquarters

HQ city

Tallinn

HQ country

Estonia

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Operations

Revenue model

1. Optical Communication Terminals: Sale of hardware optical communication terminals (ERMES, ERMES+, ARES) designed for satellites and airborne platforms. These are compact, AI-enabled laser communication systems sold as products to aerospace customers.
2. Downlink Services: Provides optical downlink services starting from 18€/min for 1 Gbps data transfer. This usage-based pricing model allows customers to pay per minute of data transmission, complementing terminal hardware sales.
3. Ground Station Services: Optical groundstation development for high-speed data up and downlink services, providing infrastructure for receiving and transmitting data from space missions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Golbriak Space designs, manufactures, and sells compact AI-enabled optical/laser communication terminals (ERMES, ERMES+, ARES) for small satellites, drones, and high-altitude platforms. The company also provides optical downlink services for satellite data reception and develops optical ground station infrastructure. Core deliverable is license-free, high-throughput, jam-resistant optical communication hardware for distributed aerospace missions.

Product overview

Golbriak Space offers a portfolio of optical communication terminals for aerospace applications: ERMES AI (compact 1.5U terminal for small satellites, 1.1Gbps/5000km), ERMES AI+ (enhanced version with full dome gimbal, up to 25000km), and ARES AI (airborne terminal for drones, 2.5Gbps through atmosphere). The company also provides a Downlink Service for ground-based data reception. All terminals integrate with AI-powered Data Hubs that enable sandboxing, virtual missions, and direct execution of third-party ML/deep learning algorithms on-board.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ERMES AI Compact optical telecommunication terminal for small and micro satellites. From 2U size, from 1.2 kg weight, 15W peak power, 2.5 Gbps data rate in LEO, link distance from 10,000 km for the base model, with +/-2 degree spacecraft pointing correction for formation flights and fixed constellation interconnectivity. Integrates AI-enabled data hub for onboard processing, sandboxing, and execution of third-party ML/deep learning algorithms.
• ERMES AI+ Enhanced optical telecommunication terminal for space with full dome pointing gimbal enabling autonomous pointing with gimbal rotation compensation. Improved optical train with 50mm aperture supporting up to 10,000 km link distance, or 76mm aperture supporting up to 25,000 km. Supports 808nm or 1550nm PAM wavelengths for space-based inter-satellite links and long-range downlinks.
• ARES AI

Quantifiable outcome

• 2.5 Gbps data rate in LEO with ERMES terminal
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Space ITcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2022Started co-development of MilCam with Space IT in September 2022. This represents an active partnership for developing specialized camera/mission capabilities for space applications.
• ESA Business Incubation Centre (BIC) EstoniacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Golbriak Space was accepted as one of the very first start-ups to ESA BIC Estonia in January 2018. ESA BIC provides business incubation support, mentorship, and resources for space-related startups in Estonia.
• Copernicus AcceleratorminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Golbriak Space was nominated as Copernicus Accelerator 'Start-up of the Month' in January 2018, receiving acceleration support and visibility for the startup's satellite communication innovations.
• Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2017Golbriak Space is part of the FSSCat consortium with UPC, working towards demonstration of the first optical communication link between CubeSats. The FSSCat project won the Copernicus Masters Award in 2017. Company delivered two OISL terminals to FSSCat integrator, and the satellite launched in September 2020.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• SA Photonics (CACI): SA Photonics, now part of CACI, designs and manufactures free-space optical communication terminals for airborne, naval, and space applications. They compete directly with Golbriak's ARES airborne and ERMES satellite product lines.
• Cailabs: Cailabs is a French deep-tech company developing optical ground stations and laser communication solutions for space-to-ground links. They overlap with Golbriak's optical groundstation development (April 2023) and downlink service offerings.
• Tesat-Spacecom: Tesat-Spacecom is a German specialist in optical satellite communication, with established flight heritage on government and commercial programs (e.g., Copernicus, European Data Relay System). They compete head-to-head with Golbriak in space-to-ground and inter-satellite optical links.
• Mynaric: Mynaric is the most direct competitor — a publicly traded specialist in laser communication terminals for airborne and space platforms (CONDOR, HAWK products). They serve the same smallsat constellation and HAP customers that Golbriak targets, with significantly greater scale and capital.

Emerging players

• Skyloom Global: Skyloom Global is a US-based startup developing optical inter-satellite link terminals and space-to-ground data relay services. They compete in the same LEO optical comms segment as Golbriak with similar enterprise and government customers.
• Aalyria: Aalyria (spun out of Loon/Alphabet) develops advanced optical communication and network orchestration for aerospace applications. They are an emerging competitor in space-based laser comms with stronger software/networking positioning than Golbriak.
• Fibertek: Fibertek develops space-qualified laser communication terminals and optical sensors for NASA and DoD programs. They compete with Golbriak in the small-sat and airborne optical terminal segments, primarily serving US government customers.
• Archangel Lightworks: Archangel Lightworks is a UK-based early-stage company building optical communication terminals for small satellites, with a similar focus on nanosat and constellation applications. Comparable in scale and target market to Golbriak.

Broad incumbents

• Thales Alenia Space: Thales Alenia Space is a major European prime with optical communication capabilities embedded in larger satellite programs. They compete with Golbriak indirectly when customers procure full satellite platforms with integrated laser comms.
• Ball Aerospace: Ball Aerospace (now BAE Systems) is a large prime contractor with capabilities spanning space-qualified optical communication terminals and full spacecraft integration. They overlap with Golbriak's space terminal business but as part of a much broader portfolio serving government and prime-contractor customers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/golbriakspace
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/golbriak.space

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Golbriak Space