Founders Everywhere: Jacek Strzelczyk
Jacek Strzelczyk is the co-founder and CEO of SATIM, a company providing AI-based solutions specializing in Automatic Target Recognition (ATR) using Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery.
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Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) remote sensing technology is revolutionizing the way we observe and analyze the world. Unlike traditional optical satellites that rely on sunlight and clear skies, SAR is an advanced remote sensing technology that uses radar pulses from a moving platform to generate high-resolution images of the Earth's surface. This allows the capture of detailed data regardless of weather conditions or time of day, making it an essential tool for monitoring remote areas, detecting changes on the ground, and enhancing security and disaster response efforts. SATIM is a company that is dedicated to precision in object detection and classification using SAR Imagery. They offer three highly accurate AI models for detecting vessels, aircraft, and vehicles on SAR imagery. These cutting-edge models are data-agnostic, operate in near-real-time, and cover an extensive catalog of objects. Thanks to SATIM's proprietary synthetic SAR signatures simulator, the models can be rapidly expanded to detect and classify new objects, ensuring adaptability and flexibility that match the challenges and evolving needs in the military, government, and commercial sectors. Their ability to detect subtle changes on the ground offers critical insights for decision-makers, helping improve safety, security, and situational awareness.
Co-founder and CEO, Jacek Strzelczyk founded SATIM in 2012 with co-founder and CTO Stanisława Porzycka-Strzelczyk, while they were working on their PhDs in SAR data processing at the University of Science and Technology in Krakow. The Poland-based team has dedicated their careers to advancing SAR technology for many applications. SATIM operates in a niche but growing market driven by increasing investments in space infrastructure. With the growing volume of satellite-generated data, tools like SATIM will be crucial for efficient analysis.
What inspired the creation of SATIM?
My wife and I co-founded SATIM in 2012 and that same year, Poland joined the European Space Agency (ESA), creating opportunities for grants and projects. We decided to spin off from the university to establish our company, allowing us to work directly with ESA. Initially, SAR imagery was limited and expensive, but we managed to launch Poland’s first commercial service using SAR data for post-mining ground deformation monitoring. Later, we pivoted to focus on object detection and classification on SAR images, and that shift set the foundation for where we are today.
What is SATIM’s North Star?
Our North Star is to leverage AI and advancements in SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) technology to automate information extraction, enhancing situational awareness and enabling better decision-making for a safer, more secure world.
What sets SATIM apart?
We’ve been working with SAR technology for over 15 years, giving us deep expertise in its complexities and advantages. This has enabled us to develop the highest-quality object detection and classification software for SAR imagery. Our tools simplify the interpretation of complex SAR data into actionable insights, making it easier and faster for our customers to use.
What makes SATIM a must-have vs. a nice-to-have?
SATIM is a must-have for customers who need to monitor specific areas frequently, sometimes daily or even more often. Our software automates what would otherwise require large teams of highly skilled analysts, delivering faster and often more accurate results. While SAR data has many applications, from natural disaster monitoring to agriculture, we specialize in automatic object detection and classification. We focus on identifying vehicles, buildings, infrastructure, vessels, and aircraft, as these are critical for our end users.
What has been the biggest challenge founding SATIM?
The biggest challenge is navigating the unique dynamics of working in governmental markets, which requires a specific approach to business, long sales cycles, and adherence to particular processes and procedures. These factors differ from the typical startup environment, and many strategies for tech startups don’t apply to deep tech startups. As a result, our team is working to find our own path in this complex area.
Fun fact:
I used to play bass guitar in a band and even busked on the streets for fun.
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