# Skycatch

> Skycatch is a San Francisco drone-data company that turns aerial imagery into centimeter-accurate 3D and 4D models of mines, construction sites, and energy facilities. Founded in 2013 by Christian Sanz and Christopher Bumgardner, it pairs custom DJI-built drones and on-site edge computers with a cloud photogrammetry engine and AI to give industrial operators near-real-time maps of the physical world. Backed by Google Ventures, Komatsu, Autodesk, and others, Skycatch was acquired by Caterpillar in July 2026 to strengthen its data-driven mining technology portfolio.

- **Founded:** 2013
- **Headquarters:** San Francisco, California, United States
- **Founders:** Christian Sanz (Founder & CEO), Christopher Bumgardner (Co-Founder)
- **Team size:** ~40 employees
- **Products:** Cloud Photogrammetry Engine, Edge1, Explore1, High Precision Package, Discover1
- **Notable:** Acquired by Caterpillar in July 2026 to expand its data-driven mining technology portfolio., Secured DJI's first-ever custom-built drone (the Explore1) for an outside partner., Landed a 1,000-drone agreement with Komatsu Smart Construction.

## Products & services

- **Cloud Photogrammetry Engine** — A cloud-based processing engine that converts drone imagery into high-accuracy 3D data, reducing processing time versus off-the-shelf tools and delivering results in roughly 10-15 minutes.
- **Edge1** — An on-premise edge computer and GNSS base station built in partnership with DJI, powered by an NVIDIA Jetson TX2, with WiFi/LTE and sub-5cm accuracy, capable of running deep-learning models on-site with no cloud connection.
- **Explore1** — A high-precision RTK drone custom-built by DJI for Skycatch on the Matrice platform, letting field teams fly, process, and receive centimeter-level 3D outputs on-site in about 30 minutes without internet or cellular.
- **High Precision Package** — A turnkey bundle combining the Explore1 drone and Edge1 base station for automated RTK/PPK drone management and fast edge processing with 4D terrain visibility.
- **Discover1** — A device that connects to industrial machines, letting customers plug in additional sensors to expand ground-level data collection beyond aerial capture.
- **M300 3D/4D Mining Software** — Proprietary 3D and 4D software for the DJI Matrice 300, delivering end-to-end edge power and up to 24x faster data processing for mining sites.

## Achievements

- Acquired by Caterpillar in July 2026 to expand its data-driven mining technology portfolio.
- Secured DJI's first-ever custom-built drone (the Explore1) for an outside partner.
- Landed a 1,000-drone agreement with Komatsu Smart Construction.
- Raised more than $73M from investors including Google Ventures, Komatsu, and Autodesk.
- Pioneered on-site edge processing of drone data with sub-5cm accuracy and no connectivity required.
- Cut high-accuracy 3D data turnaround to roughly 10-15 minutes, ~60% faster than standard tools.

## Latest updates

- **2026-07** — Caterpillar announced the acquisition of Skycatch on July 7, 2026, following its RPMGlobal acquisition, to strengthen mining technology capabilities.
- **2021-03** — Raised a $25M Series C led by ADB Ventures and Wavemaker to expand its drone-data platform.
- **2020-09** — Launched proprietary 3D/4D software for the DJI Matrice 300, delivering up to 24x faster edge processing for mining.

## Links

- Website: https://skycatch.com
- LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/skycatch
- Twitter/X: http://twitter.com/skycatch
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SkycatchInc

---

Profile page: https://yespress.io/skycatch
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-07-10