Descartes Labs Geospatial analytics platform
Acquired7 known investors
Geospatial analytics company that turns multi-source satellite data into forecasts for commercial and government users.
Also known as Descartes Labs · Descartes Labs, Inc. · DL
Investors · 7
Company profile
researched Aug 2026Descartes Labs is a geospatial analytics provider that combines imagery and data from a mix of third-party satellites on a cloud-based platform, enabling customers to generate forecasts and operational insights. Its analytics serve agriculture, energy, sustainability, mining, shipping, financial services and other sectors, and the company also supports government customers in processing multi-source geospatial data. Reported applications include comparing optical red-green-blue imagery with synthetic aperture radar data to detect illegal fishing.
The company markets commercial products including Marigold, Iris and Ascend, which address mineral exploration, insurance and commodity trading, while its wholly owned subsidiary Descartes Labs Government, Inc. supplies the Retina and Wayfinder products used by the U.S. Government. The company describes its offering as a portfolio of dual-use commercial products built on a core technology stack that transforms data into actionable and predictive insights relating to climate change, sustainability, food security and natural resources.
Founding story
The company originated as a 2014 spin-off from the U.S. Energy Department's Los Alamos National Laboratory.
Business model
Descartes Labs sells cloud-based geospatial data analysis and analytics products to enterprises and to government agencies, including through its Descartes Labs Government subsidiary, which holds U.S. federal contracts.
Traction
Customers span insurance, energy, mining and U.S. defense and intelligence segments; the company secured a $1.5 million U.S. Air Force contract in 2020 and its government products Retina and Wayfinder are used by the U.S. Government.
Latest developments
On October 15, 2024, EarthDaily Analytics announced its acquisition of Descartes Labs and Descartes Labs Government, Inc. EDA stated the Descartes Labs products Marigold, Iris, Ascend, Retina and Wayfinder would be augmented with data from the EarthDaily Constellation, scheduled to launch in 2025.
▸Full profile — market position, technology, go-to-market, geography, history
Market position
Positioned as a provider of actionable geospatial intelligence for global enterprises and U.S. defense and intelligence customers; after the 2024 acquisition its verticals form part of EarthDaily Analytics' vertically integrated Earth observation business.
Technology
A cloud-based platform that ingests and processes multi-source geospatial data, including optical and synthetic aperture radar imagery from third-party satellites and data from autonomous aerial vehicles, applying analytics and AI/machine learning to produce predictive insights.
Go-to-market
Direct sales of vertical products into insurance, energy, mining, agriculture, commodity trading and financial services, plus contracting with U.S. defense and intelligence customers through Descartes Labs Government, Inc.
Enterprises in insurance, energy, mining, agriculture, commodity trading, shipping and financial services, and U.S. government, defense and intelligence agencies.
Geography
Headquartered in Santa Fe, New Mexico, serving global enterprise customers and U.S. government agencies; following the 2024 acquisition it is part of EarthDaily Analytics, headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, with offices in New York.
History
Descartes Labs was spun off from the U.S. Department of Energy's Los Alamos National Laboratory in 2014. In 2020 it disclosed a $1.5 million contract with the U.S. Air Force. In August 2022, private equity firm Antarctica Capital acquired a controlling stake, installing operating partners Richard Davis as CEO (succeeding Terry Cunningham) and Graeme Shaw as chief operating officer. In October 2024, EarthDaily Analytics — also an Antarctica Capital portfolio company — announced it had acquired Descartes Labs and its government subsidiary, with the combined business led by EDA CEO Don Osborne.
Compiled by commissioned research from 4 cited public sources — announcements, filings, and press listed under research sources below.
Key figures
latest reportedCompany-reported or press-reported figures, each dated to when it was claimed — not independently audited.
Non-dilutive funding · 3 SBIR/STTR awards
Federal grants — no equity taken| Agency | Phase | Year | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Air ForceAir Force | Phase II | 2020 | $1.4M |
| U.S. Air ForceAir Force | Phase I | 2020 | $49.2K |
| Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency | Phase II | 2017 | $1.5M |
Source: SBIR.gov award data (U.S. Small Business Administration). SBIR/STTR awards are competitive federal R&D grants and contracts — non-dilutive capital alongside any venture rounds above.
Timeline · 5
launches, deals, and filingsEarthDaily Analytics announced it had acquired Descartes Labs and its wholly owned subsidiary Descartes Labs Government, Inc. The combined company is led by EDA CEO Don Osborne. Both companies were owned by Antarctica Capital.
Private equity firm Antarctica Capital announced on Aug. 4, 2022 that it had bought a controlling stake in Descartes Labs for an undisclosed sum. Antarctica operating partners Richard Davis and Graeme Shaw became CEO and chief operating officer respectively, with Davis replacing Terry Cunningham as CEO.
As part of the Antarctica Capital transaction, operating partners Richard Davis and Graeme Shaw were named CEO and chief operating officer of Descartes Labs; Davis replaced Terry Cunningham.
Descartes Labs said it had secured a $1.5 million contract to help the U.S. Air Force draw intelligence from imagery and other data collected by satellites and autonomous aerial vehicles.
$1.5M source ↗
Descartes Labs was spun off from the U.S. Energy Department's Los Alamos National Laboratory in 2014.
Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.
▸Research sources · 4
primary sources listed
- Geospatial analysis provider Descartes Labs sold to private equity firm - SpaceNewsspacenews.com · web
4 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does Descartes Labs Geospatial analytics platform do?
- Geospatial analytics company that turns multi-source satellite data into forecasts for commercial and government users.
- Who are Descartes Labs Geospatial analytics platform's investors?
- Descartes Labs Geospatial analytics platform's investors include Crosslink Capital, Expansion Venture Capital, Sun Mountain Capital, Union Grove Venture Partners, Valuestream Ventures, Cultivian Sandbox Ventures, DCVC (Data Collective).