India’s private space-tech ecosystem continues to expand its footprint, with startups now targeting critical global challenges through cutting-edge satellite and AI integration. Among them, Bengaluru-based startup PierSight has emerged as a key player by deploying artificial intelligence-powered satellite systems to monitor maritime zones, illegal activities, and environmental risks such as oil spills.
Founded by former ISRO engineers and systems experts, PierSight is developing a dedicated maritime Earth observation constellation, combining Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) with AI to deliver near real-time intelligence. The company’s SAR systems can operate under all weather and lighting conditions—an essential capability for continuous ocean surveillance. Its debut mission, known as Varuna, served as a technology demonstrator and successfully validated the hardware and data acquisition pipeline.
AI Meets Ocean Surveillance
Unlike traditional ocean-monitoring methods reliant on aircraft or marine patrols, PierSight’s satellite systems cover hundreds of square kilometres per second. Its AI-powered platform, MATSYA, interprets complex radar data into actionable insights—identifying vessel movements, detecting oil spills, and flagging suspicious maritime activity. The company has also integrated vessel classification and event detection tools that enable automatic alerts without human input.
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Looking ahead, PierSight is incorporating onboard edge computing into future satellites, allowing real-time decision-making directly from space. These next-generation systems will support automated alerts for illegal fishing, unregistered vessel activity, and ESG compliance tracking, further reducing reliance on ground processing.
Strategic Collaborations and Global Outlook
PierSight is working with international governments and maritime agencies, including port authorities in Southeast Asia, as well as the Indian and US Coast Guards. It has also entered into a strategic partnership with a New Zealand-based company to strengthen real-time vessel geolocation services.
The startup, selected for the Sustainable Ocean Alliance’s Ecopreneur Network, is now expanding its focus from maritime to land-based monitoring, targeting sectors such as land subsidence detection.
With deep links to India’s space talent ecosystem, and an agile approach to hardware and AI integration, PierSight exemplifies the rise of innovation-led private players shaping the future of Earth observation.
