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Sydney-based defence and space-tech firm Arlula has secured $3.4 million in fresh funding in an oversubscribed capital raise led by Paspalis Capital, as governments and industry ramp up spending on sovereign space capability and AI-enabled intelligence.
The round attracted backing from Main Sequence Ventures, Startmate and Moonshot, building on earlier investment from Lockheed Martin Ventures.
The capital injection comes amid a broader shift in global defence and intelligence priorities. Australia and its European partners are lifting investment in sovereign capabilities, while the rapid uptake of artificial intelligence is exposing constraints in how satellite data is accessed and put to use.
Despite a surge in the number of satellites now in orbit, the systems used to task them, process their data and integrate outputs into real-world operations remain fragmented and heavily manual.
Arlula is aiming to address that gap through its Earth Observation Data Infrastructure (EODI) software designed to automate how satellites are tasked and how their data is processed, delivered and applied.
Its GeoStack platform enables governments and businesses to develop virtual intelligence capabilities without owning satellites, coordinating access across multiple providers while giving operators tools to manage end-to-end mission workflows.
At present, much of this process relies on manual intervention, slowing access to critical information particularly in defence and emergency response scenarios. Arlula said its platform can cut processing times from days to minutes.
Rather than competing directly with satellite operators or analytics firms, the company positions itself as a coordination layer between the two – a role that is becoming increasingly important as satellite constellations expand and reliance on space-based data intensifies.
“Access to satellite imagery is no longer the constraint – speed and reliability are,” said Arlula co-founder and chief executive Sebastian Chaoui.
“The infrastructure needed to task satellites, process data and deliver it into operational systems is still largely manual. We’re building the software layer to automate that entire workflow.”
Paspalis Capital investor Alex Farrugia said the company’s approach reflects a broader shift across the space sector.
“Much of the industry has focused on building satellites, but the real challenge is how that data is managed and used,” he said. “Arlula is developing the software that makes that process faster and more accessible for customers.”
The company is already working with government and commercial clients across the Indo-Pacific, Europe and North America, and has supported defence programs involving the US Space Force through its partnership with Saber Astronautics.
The new funding will be used to grow Arlula’s engineering and product teams and support a rising pipeline of defence, government and commercial work.
“We’re now scaling both the platform and the team,” said co-founder and chief operating officer Arran Salerno.
“We’re actively recruiting across engineering, product and delivery – particularly in roles focused on building and scaling core infrastructure. It’s a rare opportunity to work on foundational systems at the intersection of space, defence and AI at a time when the sector is being defined.”
As satellite constellations continue to expand and governments prioritise faster access to intelligence, Arlula is positioning itself as a key platform in the emerging space data infrastructure market.
Stephen Kuper
Steve has an extensive career across government, defence industry and advocacy, having previously worked for cabinet ministers at both Federal and State levels.
