Protostar Labs

What Protostar Labs does

Protostar Labs d.o.o. is a Croatian deep-technology company, founded in 2019 in Osijek and now operating from Osijek, Belišće, and Zagreb, that designs and builds onboard data-processing systems for satellites and space missions. Its core technology stack is built around FPGA-based edge computing on Xilinx/AMD Zynq UltraScale+ MPSoC devices, with proprietary IP cores for object detection and segmentation (including a Video Fault Supervisor and Triple Modular Redundancy hardening), lossless/lossy image compression implementing ITU-T.81 JPEG, and the ProtoSDK framework that converts PyTorch and other ML models into high-performance FPGA bitstreams. The portfolio extends from the Helix-100 multispectral space camera and a PC/104 Data Processing Unit to developer-facing adapter boards (Aegis, RPI-CSI2) for Lattice Holoscan and NVIDIA Jetson platforms, plus mission-level work such as the completed ESA OPS-SAT payload and the in-development CROMIS solar telescope and LPCM light-pollution module.

The company's business model combines hardware product sales (DPU, Helix-100, adapters), software and IP-core licensing (ProtoSDK, compression and detection cores), and custom engineering services delivered as an ESA prime contractor and subcontractor. Customers and partners include the European Space Agency (OPS-SAT, CROMIS, LPCM, plus earlier awards), the Three Seas Initiative governments and Creotech Instruments for a hybrid Earth-observation constellation, Vegvisir for defense mixed-reality situational awareness, and Croatian research institutions such as Hvar Observatory and UNIZG FER. Go-to-market is B2B enterprise and event-driven: direct sales to satellite operators, defense contractors, and industrial customers; technical presence at ESA Industry Space Days, IAC, SmallSat, Space Tech Expo, and DEFCROS; and PR-driven regional visibility in Croatian media. Funding to date consists entirely of EU/Croatian government R&D grants (totalling roughly EUR 215K–275K in disclosed co-financing across 2020–2028) and the January 2026 Photon Logic acquisition; no venture or private-equity rounds have been disclosed.

The organization is small (18–25 employees and advisors) but capability-rich, with technical leadership from CEO and co-founder Filip Novoselnik, CTO Miroslav Rožić (formerly Photon Logic founder), Head of Hardware Development Ante Orešković, and an advisory board including optoelectronics authority Dubravko Babić (35 US patents, top-2% scientist ranking) and space-sector strategist Iulian Juhasz. Photon Logic is retained as a wholly owned subsidiary focused on advanced vision systems, camera modules, and FPGA design. Revenue is not publicly disclosed; contract structures are multi-year with custom quotations and no public pricing.

Name

Protostar Labs

Legal name

Protostar Labs d.o.o.

Website

https://protostar.ai

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Protostar Labs is a Croatian space-technology company that builds radiation-tolerant FPGA-based onboard data processing systems, AI/ML deployment toolkits, and multispectral cameras for satellite operators, ESA programs, defense contractors, and industrial customers across Europe.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Onboard Space Computing & Satellite Payloads

NAICS

Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing (336414), Other Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336419), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151)

SIC

Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles & Parts (3760), Services-Computer Programming Services (7371)

akta.pro primary industry

AI/Neural Processing Units (NPUs) & ML Accelerators (HDAHAJAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Spacecraft & Satellites (Civil/Commercial) (IMABACAB), Developer Experience Platforms for Enterprise (IDEs, CI/CD, Dev Portals) (HDAEAKAI)

Keywords

• Space-grade onboard processing
• FPGA edge AI
• Satellite imaging systems
• Radiation-tolerant computing
• CubeSat payloads

Headquarters

HQ city

Osijek

HQ country

Croatia

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Hardware Products: Sale of physical products including Data Processing Units, space cameras (Helix-100), development systems (Aegis Camera Adapter, RPI-CSI2 Adapter), and custom optical payloads. Products targeted at satellite operators and space missions requiring onboard computing and imaging capabilities.
2. Software Licensing (ProtoSDK): Licensing of ProtoSDK development framework for deploying AI/ML models to FPGAs. Enables satellite operators and payload developers to integrate onboard AI capabilities. Framework has flight heritage on ESA OPS-SAT mission.
3. IP Core Licensing: Licensing of FPGA IP cores for object detection, segmentation, and data compression. Customers can integrate these cores into their own FPGA designs or the Protostar DPU platform. Configurable for specific use cases and resource constraints.
4. Engineering Services: Custom R&D and engineering services for complex, mission-critical projects. Full-stack engineering covering prototyping, custom camera development, hardware/software development, AI/ML optimization, and FPGA design. Includes ESA contracts as prime contractor.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Protostar Labs develops and sells space-grade onboard data processing systems for satellites and small spacecraft. Its product portfolio includes the ProtoSDK AI/ML-to-FPGA deployment framework, a radiation-tolerant Data Processing Unit built on Zynq UltraScale+ MPSoC, FPGA IP cores for object detection/segmentation and image compression, and the Helix-100 multispectral space camera. The company also delivers custom R&D and engineering services for space, defense, and industrial customers.

Product overview

Protostar Labs offers a full-stack portfolio of onboard data processing products for space missions, built around the ProtoSDK development framework as the core enabling technology for deploying AI/ML models to FPGAs. The Data Processing Unit serves as the hardware platform, while specialized IP cores (Object Detection & Segmentation, Data Compression) provide mission-specific processing capabilities. Space cameras (Helix-100) provide optical payloads, and Development Systems (Aegis Camera Adapter, RPI-CSI2 Adapter) enable rapid prototyping. The company also develops space missions (ESA OPS-SAT, LPCM, CROMIS) as part of its product ecosystem. Through the Photon Logic acquisition, the company expanded its camera systems and FPGA design capabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ProtoSDK Complete software toolkit for deploying AI/ML models directly to FPGAs, enabling low-latency, high-efficiency onboard data processing. Converts signal or image-processing models into high-performance onboard accelerators without writing low-level code. Targets satellite operators and payload developers seeking onboard AI capabilities.
• Data Processing Unit (DPU) Compact, radiation-tolerant computing module built on Zynq UltraScale+ MPSoC for high-reliability onboard data processing and seamless integration with satellite subsystems. PC/104 form factor for CubeSat integration, combining embedded processing with programmable logic for software-defined acceleration. Targets satellite operators and space missions requiring onboard AI inference.
• Object Detection & Segmentation IP Cores Suite of optimized FPGA IP cores enabling real-time onboard object detection, segmentation, and classification directly in orbit. Includes Video Fault Supervisor (VFS) for continuous data integrity monitoring and radiation-tolerant Triple Modular Redundancy (TMR) design. Targets mission teams and satellite operators needing onboard AI inference.
• Data Compression IP Cores FPGA IP cores implementing differential Huffman encoding per ITU-T.81 JPEG standard for lossless and lossy image compression. Highly configurable, radiation-resilient, supports up to 16-bit color depths and up to 4 planes, and can be hardened with TMR with minimal utilization overhead. Targets satellite operators needing downlink efficiency.
• Helix-100 Space Camera Flight-ready optical payload delivering high performance for CubeSat and small satellite missions. Configurable for Visible (RGB), NIR, and SWIR detectors with custom optical filters. Hybrid FPGA/MCU architecture with onboard real-time image processing pipeline including bad-pixel correction, flat-field calibration, lossless/lossy compression, and ROI extraction. Targets Earth observation and small satellite mission operators.
• Aegis Camera Adapter Dual MIPI CSI-2 camera interface board with IMU support for embedded vision prototyping. Compatible with Lattice Holoscan Sensor Bridge and NVIDIA Jetson AGX platforms (Thor, Orin, Xavier). Supports GPIO, I2C, SPI peripheral expansion and TDK InvenSense ICM-42688-P IMU interfacing. Targets engineers prototyping computer vision and edge AI systems.
• RPI-CSI2 Adapter Compact flex-rigid interface board connecting Raspberry Pi-style MIPI CSI-2 cameras to Lattice Versa development kits. Features onboard DC-DC boost converter and signal level translation for power and IO compatibility. Targets engineers needing rapid sensor integration in embedded vision and edge AI workflows.
• Custom Engineering & Space Solutions Services Full-stack custom engineering services for complex, mission-critical projects covering prototyping, custom camera development, hardware/software development, AI/ML optimization, and FPGA design. Includes prime contractor roles on ESA contracts such as OPS-SAT and CROMIS. Targets space agencies, defense contractors, satellite operators, and industrial companies.

Quantifiable outcome

• Lossless compression reduces image size by 31.07%; lossy compression achieves 75.03% reduction while maintaining quality
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

AI capability10 records

Feature9 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Three Seas Initiative Consortium (Creotech Instruments, Croatian, Polish, Greek, Czech, Slovenian, Slovakian companies)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 April 2026Protostar Labs signed Letter of Intent at Three Seas Initiative Business Forum in Dubrovnik to join establishment of Three Seas Hybrid Constellation - first joint regional hybrid satellite constellation for Earth observation. Initiative pooling satellite resources from 6 countries (Croatia, Poland, Greece, Czechia, Slovenia, Slovakia) for data sharing and interoperable ground infrastructure. ESA recommended Protostar Labs to project initiators as Croatia's leading space technology partner. Project aims to strengthen European technological sovereignty and regional security through independent satellite data capabilities.
• Photon LogiccoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 January 2026Protostar Labs acquired Photon Logic strengthening advanced vision and onboard data processing capabilities. Acquisition brings over 25 years of combined experience in embedded systems, camera design, FPGAs, battery systems, and advanced robotics. Miroslav Rožić (Photon Logic founder) joins as CTO; Ante Orešković joins as Head of Hardware Development. Collaboration on next-generation camera modules for space applications including Earth observation, rendezvous/proximity operations, and spacecraft deployment monitoring preceded acquisition.
• VegvisircoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 December 2025MoU signed establishing framework for strategic collaboration at intersection of AI and mixed reality situational awareness. Vegvisir specializes in mixed reality systems for armored vehicles and military platforms. Collaboration areas include AI algorithm integration with Vegvisir's platform for rapid data interpretation, object detection, tracking, predictive analytics, and multispectral camera evaluation for enhanced sensor fusion and operational effectiveness.
• European Space Agency (ESA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 September 2025ESA as primary institutional partner and customer. First ESA contract in 2021. Multiple ongoing contracts including OPS-SAT mission (completed), CROMIS prime contractor role, LPCM development. ESA endorsed Protostar Labs to Three Seas Initiative consortium as Croatia's leading space technology partner. ESA provides funding, flight opportunities, and credibility channel to European space sector.
• Hvar Observatory (University of Zagreb)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 September 2025Partner in CROMIS (ChROmosphere Monitoring InStrument) project providing solar physics expertise. Hvar Observatory is Croatia's leading solar physics research institution. Collaboration enables Protostar Labs' first space science instrument development as prime contractor.
• Initium SpacemajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 15 September 2025Partner in CROMIS project providing space systems engineering expertise. Supports Protostar Labs as prime contractor on ESA contract for development of solar monitoring instrument.
• BambooLab d.o.o.minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2021Grant co-recipient with Protostar Labs on SIMBA smartgrid blockchain project (2021-2023). Collaboration on blockchain-based power consumption monitoring and management system with distributed computing hardware.
• UNIZG FER (University of Zagreb Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 August 2020Project partner in UAV control system development (2020-2023). University collaboration brings academic research capabilities to joint projects involving synthetic dataset generation, AI algorithm training, and autonomous positioning systems.
• KRAKEN d.o.o.majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 August 2020Project coordinator for UAV control system development (2020-2023). Industrial partner in system development, flight mission planning, and analysis platform. Joint project delivered container transport supervision and railway infrastructure inspection capabilities.
• European Union (Cofund)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEU Cofund program supporting Protostar Labs' research initiatives. Multiple EU-funded R&D projects including anomalAIzer, PROTOSTARE, FPGA visual inspection, and international positioning projects.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Ubotica Technologies: Irish space-AI startup specializing in onboard AI inference for Earth observation satellites. Direct competitor to Protostar's ProtoSDK + FPGA AI stack, serving similar institutional and commercial satellite operator customers with comparable edge-AI positioning.
• Unibap: Swedish space-AI company providing radiation-tolerant onboard computers and AI inference for satellite operators. Direct peer in European onboard edge-AI for space, with overlapping FPGA + IP core strategy and ESA procurement relationships.
• SkyLabs: Slovenian company developing radiation-hardened FPGA-based onboard computers for space. Directly comparable as a Central European FPGA-based onboard computing specialist and fellow Three Seas Initiative partner nation supplier.
• Ramon.Space: Israeli company building radiation-hardened AI/ML computing platforms for space, including space-grade SoCs and onboard inference solutions. Competes with Protostar for next-generation onboard computing specification on commercial and institutional satellite programs.
• KP Labs: Polish onboard AI company building FPGA-based data processing units and AI software for small satellites. Competes head-to-head with Protostar, including within the Three Seas Initiative consortium where both vie for onboard computing share on regional Earth observation missions.
• Craft Prospect: UK-based space AI company building onboard processing and AI/ML solutions for small satellites. Comparable positioning to Protostar in offering AI-enabled onboard processing for institutional and commercial Earth observation missions.
• AIKO: Italian space-AI software company delivering onboard autonomy and AI inference for satellites. Direct competitor in the European onboard AI software market, particularly for ESA and ASI missions where both compete for similar onboard AI procurement dollars.

Broad incumbents

• AMD Xilinx (Space-Grade): Xilinx/AMD provides the Zynq UltraScale+ MPSoC that underpins Protostar's DPU. As a broader silicon incumbent with space-grade FPGA and emerging Versal AI Edge devices, AMD/Xilinx is both a critical supplier and a long-term competitive threat as they push up the software stack for onboard AI.
• NanoAvionics: Lithuanian small satellite bus manufacturer serving institutional and commercial customers. Comparable as a broader European small-satellite incumbent that could either integrate Protostar's subsystems or compete for the same onboard computing slots on regional missions.

Regional players

• Creotech Instruments: Polish satellite manufacturer and initiator of the Three Seas Hybrid Constellation. Comparable as a regional satellite platform provider and existing Protostar partner; represents the path from component supplier to bus-level integrator and a model for vertical integration.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/protostar-labs

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Protostar Labs