May 17, 2013
Kymeta is featured on the "50 Disruptors changing the Business World" list.
Kymeta
Headquarters: Redmond, Wash.
CEO: Vern Fotheringham
Year Founded: 2012
Number of Employees: 45
Funding: $12 million
Key Investors: Bill Gates, John Malone and Lux Capital
What: A scalable satellite solution for continuous, high-quality broadband access anywhere in the world, including in transit situations, air, land and sea.
Disrupting: Satellite industry
Vital Stats
- Uses breakthrough in metamaterials, a new class of synthetic materials that are engineered to have properties not found in nature
- First deal signed with mobile satellite technology company Inmarsat
- Product launch slated for 2015
- Targeted industries: aeronautical, maritime and land-transport markets.
- One of the first products will be a portable satellite terminal for individual users—news reporters in the field, emergency responders, and oil and gas exploration as well as disaster recovery and aid organizations.
- In talks with major satellite system operators, government agencies and communications service providers.
- mTenna modules will enable satellite services for virtually any moving platform such as trucks, trains, buses, automobiles or vessels.
- Spun off from Nathan Myhrvold's Intellectual Ventures
On Disruption
"Disruptive advances deliver enhanced value or new services to customers at a fraction of the cost compared to legacy alternatives." Vern Fotheringham, Chairman, CEO and Founder.
CNBC's Julia Boorstin takes a look at how small companies like Kymeta, Twilio, WhatsApp, and LiveU, are putting pressure on established telecom giants.