Extellis

Based in Durham, North Carolina, Extellis develops advanced satellite imaging antennas using patented metasurface technology and synthetic aperture radar to provide high-volume, all-weather Earth monitoring. Originating from a decade of research at Duke University, the organization was founded by Michael Boyarsky and David Smith to enable satellites to capture one hundred times more images per day. This proprietary hardware delivers reliable day-and-night imagery within fifteen minutes of collection, supporting industrial-scale applications across the defense, energy, agriculture, and maritime shipping sectors. To commercialize these capabilities for critical tasks like pipeline assessment and disaster response, Extellis previously secured a $2,300,000 grant from DARPA. The venture-funded startup recently announced an oversubscribed $6,800,000 seed round led by Oval Park Capital, with participation from Duke Capital Partners and First Star Ventures to fund its first satellite launch.