When Rafal Modrzewski and Pekka Laurila met as engineering students in Finland, they wanted to solve a critical question: how do we monitor the rapid ecological transformation of the planet, starting with the melting of Arctic ice? That mission gave the company its name: ICEYE, “the eye on ice.”

To answer this question, Rafal and Pekka attempted what many considered impossible. They miniaturized the most advanced radar imaging technology and placed it on an affordable, small satellite. In 2018, they launched ICEYE-X1, the first satellite under 100kg with radar that sees through clouds and darkness. Insurers used it to track floods and map disasters. Uses of ICEYE’s technology now extend far beyond.

Architects of the World’s Largest Satellite Constellation

For years, Europe has lagged behind in space capacity, relying on foreign systems. We believe the continent must rebuild sovereign earth-observation capabilities to preserve autonomy, resilience, and democratic values. This is a critical moment for Europe. General Catalyst is proud to lead ICEYE's Series E as they build the sovereign space infrastructure that Europe and its allies will rely on for decades.

Our conviction is grounded in the strength of ICEYE’s founders. In a decade, Rafal and Pekka have evolved from technical pioneers to architects of the world’s largest radar satellite constellation, delivering the software-enabled reconnaissance platform for democratic nations that secures our future and strengthens European resilience.

Since 2018, ICEYE has launched 62 satellites, with 22 in 2025 alone, delivering intelligence to governments and disaster response teams worldwide. Russia's invasion of Ukraine made clear that the same technology serving climate monitoring and emergency management had also become essential for defense.

Space: The New Defense Frontier

Space is quickly becoming the next essential layer of the defense stack. Lower launch costs, increased competition, and a structural shift from Geostationary Earth Orbit to the much closer and lower-latency Low Earth Orbit have reduced the barriers for satellite deployment from decades to months.

Supported by a disciplined, engineering-driven team with deep expertise across satellite design, mission operations, and defense procurement, Rafal and Pekka have made satellites 100x more cost-effective by miniaturizing synthetic aperture radar (SAR).

Satellites to Sovereignty

Rafal and Pekka control the full stack: a vertically integrated, rapidly deployable reconnaissance platform built around small SAR satellites, with a ground segment and a unified mission software layer. This architecture provides governments with persistent, all-weather visibility and sovereign control.

By designing and manufacturing its own satellites, operating its own constellation, and integrating tasking, downlink, and processing into one system, ICEYE achieves the performance and responsiveness that national missions require. Defense ministries including Poland, Greece, and Finland choose ICEYE because it works, the data arrives fast, and the system remains sovereign.

European resilience depends on technological breakthroughs like ICEYE. We’re honored to back Rafal and Pekka as they lead the way.