IoT startup Skylo raises $30M from Intel Capital & others to expand direct-to-device satellite connectivity globally

Skylo, an IoT startup providing direct-to-device (D2D) satellite connectivity, has secured $30 million in an oversubscribed funding round. The investment was led by NGP Capital, with participation from Westly Group, Intel Capital, BMW i Ventures, Samsung Catalyst Fund, Next47, and others. This brings Skylo’s total funding to $183 million.

The new capital will accelerate Skylo’s reach into Brazil, Australia, and New Zealand, while extending its U.S. coverage, including Alaska, Hawaii, and U.S. territories, through its partnership with Viasat. Skylo’s network is already in use across five continents, connecting smartphones, vehicles, and IoT devices without requiring additional hardware.

Expanding Satellite Internet for Mass Adoption

The company was founded in 2017 by CEO Parth Trivedi, Chief Technology Officer Dr. Andrew Nuttall, and Chief Hub Architect Dr. Andrew Kalman. The Mountain View Skylo emerged from stealth in January 202o with $116 million in funding led by SoftBank to bring satellite internet to a wider audience. It provides real-time and affordable IoT connectivity, making it possible to link machines, sensors, and devices in remote locations. Skylo’s $100 hub antennas distribute satellite signals to multiple Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connections, further reducing costs.

Skylo’s commercial NTN vRAN system, built on a 3GPP standards-based cloud-native base station and core, enables mobile network operators and device makers to bridge terrestrial and satellite networks. The service supports industries such as agriculture, maritime, logistics, and mining, in addition to consumer devices.

With many regions still lacking reliable cellular coverage, Skylo enables standard smartphones and IoT devices to switch seamlessly between cellular and satellite networks. The company works with Tier-1 carriers, smartphone manufacturers, and IoT providers to ensure uninterrupted connectivity in areas without infrastructure.

Affordable Connectivity and Market Impact

The idea of connecting all objects to the internet has been long pursued, but the challenge has been affordability and accessibility. Existing satellite solutions have remained too expensive for mass adoption. Skylo changes this with a low-cost satellite service starting at just $1 per user.

Skylo’s technology costs 95% less than existing satellite solutions, making it the most affordable option available. The service supports remote businesses, improves safety, boosts economic growth, and enhances disaster preparedness and response efforts. The company’s portable satellite transceiver and IoT hub aggregate and send data from previously offline sensors to the cloud via satellite.

Parthsarathi Trivedi, CEO and co-founder of Skylo, emphasized the company’s vision: “Skylo’s mission is to drive extreme accessibility of connectivity for cellular devices worldwide. Skylo is synonymous with anywhere connectivity for all, and this new funding allows us to enhance our market reach even farther and faster.”

Unlike traditional satellite providers, Skylo integrates with existing chipsets, eliminating the need for specialized hardware. Its standards-based network works with a broad ecosystem of partners, from chipset manufacturers to SIM providers, allowing mobile network operators and MVNOs to expand coverage to areas without cell towers.

Skylo’s service has already processed millions of messages worldwide and played a crucial role in emergencies. In recent months, Skylo-enabled smartphones have helped users during hurricanes and wildfires when traditional networks were down.

Debjit Mukerji, Partner at NGP Capital, highlighted Skylo’s industry leadership: “Skylo stands apart as the category leader in the direct-to-device (D2D) satellite connectivity space. It is already operating one of the world’s first commercial solutions at a significant scale, with millions of consumers connected to the Skylo network. What has unlocked Skylo’s incredible growth is the depth of its ‘standards-plus’ technology stack that democratizes access to ubiquitous mobile connectivity. We are excited to partner with Parth and his team as their global commercialization continues to inflect.”

Skylo will showcase its satellite-powered SOS, SMS, and AI chat capabilities at MWC Barcelona 2025 from March 3-6, in the GSMA Pavilion in Hall 4, Stand 4F30.