Will Marshall, CEO, Planet, joins Cheddar Reveals to discuss Planet's influence and innovation from agriculture to sustainability using geospatial insights from their constellation of over 200 satellites.

Cheddar Reveals

The Company Driving the Space Renaissance Through Data

Welcome back to Cheddar reveals brought to you by curiosity stream the most influential space company on the planet might not come from where you think actually it comes from a network of satellites collecting data beyond the sky every day to tell us more about what's in the world we live in joining us now is will marshall ceo of planet and earth imaging company with the goal to imagine the entirety of the earth daily to monitor changes. Well, let's talk about the space kind of renaissance that we are experiencing right now. How is the planet kind of making an impact setting itself apart from the industry? Well, it certainly is a space renaissance. I think you've done right with those words that we have seen dramatic changes in rockets. Everyone's probably seen the billionaires and space tourists getting involved. But I think the most exciting up shop is something that isn't seen publicly as much which is sort of behind the scenes, we have seen a complete revolution in In satellites. We have seen a thousandfold increase in cost performance of satellites in the last 5 to 10 years which has enabled dramatic new capabilities and the real upshot of them is it mm hmm. I think 10 times more imagery of the Earth. A daily scan of the whole earth in planets case but other providers as well. And then more communications data around the earth. And so either way it's a data revolution and these data sets are super important to helping us to manage and take care of the Earth. You know, planet now has what over 200 satellites in operation. How did you identify your opportunity and ability to kind of see changes and then trends throughout daily satellite data? Well look I mean what we saw was a gap that no one was scanning the earth on a regular basis. And how are we going to manage things without that? Let me give you a few examples. I mean we work in agriculture for example with the biggest agricultural companies because 25% of the landmasses, agricultural land and our data can tell crop type crop yield how well I was just talking and finding out from bay, a partner of ours bio environmental sciences that integrate planets data into the digital platform to help ranchers assess that what pastures they have are infected by invasive species of grass that we can actually tell from space and then they can help use that data to improve that situation. Get rid of invasives, improve the crop yield or you might not think of this but everyday google is using our data to update the maps that you see online. So you use those maps for directions all the time. But how is that kept update well with a scan and if they see there might be a new road or a new building, they take a our satellite, they take a picture of that. They update the vector layer that you see online with better data about the roads and buildings in that area. Um We also worked with fema who used our data to improve disaster response. And just yesterday we announced a partnership with Cinemax and analytics company in Houston that used our data to inform hedge fund uh in in the energy space. There just seems to be so much application for your brand, you know, satellite data and imaging. Can you just tell us more about, you know, who you're working with exactly how you're able to influence innovation across, you know, different sectors? Well, I mean look everyone needs smarter data, more data. I mean I gave those few examples but for example, um I think the broader perspective here is that digital transformation of of of whole industries like agriculture need data to enable them to become more efficient. Oh and then there's the entire switch of the global economy to a sustainable economy and foreign, a sustainable economy. We need better data, better data to enable us to track natural resources track flyers and forests, uh logging to track illegal fishing. And so our data is critical to enabling civil governments to enable to to respond to disasters um enabling us to stop deforestation and protect our wildlife systems and so on and so forth. So planets data is really part of the two largest economic transitions of our day. And then to boot to add to that. Our data is very relevant to the current situations around the world and particularly to do with peace and security. So in Ukraine right now our data is shedding light on what's going on, helping countries to figure out um, and defend the Ukrainian territory, helping Ngos with refugee operations to help them get medicine suppliers, helping the media shed light on what's going on and hold all sides to account. Speaking of shedding light, we have to ask about some of the photos which are quickly kind of gaining notoriety. I think we were showing one of them a moment ago around the Ever given in the Suez Canal. How are you able to utilize your satellite not only to document some of these events, but to shed light on climate issues and even the conflict that we're seeing in Ukraine? Well, exactly. I mean, look, the the everything is now transparent. I mean, what this really comes down to in sustainability or security is accountability and planets. Daily scan of the earth. The neighbors asked to see everything that happens and in in in sustainability. That means tracking deforestation, That means tracking illegal fishing, That means tracking oil spills, tracking all of these events and in security, it means tracking as you're seeing right now, a bridge being broken in, in in in in Ukraine or other security events in that region. And and for everyone to see and no one can hide from that and that increases accountability and this image you're seeing right now is a bridge that was built between you Belarus and Ukraine the day before the day, Putin said that he was withdrawing troops and the the imagery completely conflicted with that. And so it's suggested that that that narrative was completely false and everyone could see that for what it is. And I think increasingly countries won't be able to get away with just making bold lights well, really appreciate your insight and the work that you're obviously doing. It's so beneficial and helpful will marshall ceo of Planet.