Why Bill Perkins Is Slinging Satellite Imagery

Today’s guest is Bill Perkins, a hedge fund manager, film producer, high-stakes poker player, and author of Die with Zero. If he wasn’t in those lines of work, Bill tells Ryan he’d be a farmer.More importantly for our purposes, Bill is the founder of SkyFi. The startup doesn’t fly its own satellites, and is instead tackling what it sees as a software problem.SkyFi is developing a clean, consumerized experience for buying satellite imagery through a web browser or smartphone app. Behind the scenes, SkyFi’s platform pulls from 70+ satellites and leverages partnerships with more than a dozen EO partners. The app is in beta, with a global launch slated for next year. The marketplace supports (or will support) high-res satellite imagery, night, hyperspectral, satellite video, SAR, and stereo. Prices start at $20 for an existing image and $175 for a new one.This convo was a fun one that you won’t want to miss. Just don’t listen to this episode at 2X speed.*CHAPTERS*(02:39) Bill voted early(05:17) Die with Zero(08:12) Life as an energy trader, what types of data funds are buying to gain an investing edge, and how it all ties into the origin story of SkyFi(15:02) Bill’s frustrations buying millions in satellite imagery—and the industry status quo in sales cycles, target customers, and user experience(30:36) Is SkyFi a consumer-focused venture? Who will use the product? Why would anyone use it?(33:20) Bringing on Luke Fischer and handing him the reins as CEO, raising venture money, and recruiting from non-traditional space backgrounds(45:30) The pitch to partners and how SkyFi signs on satellite operators(36:25) Putting satellite imagery, data, and analytics into the hands of the geniuses of the world will help us solve “intractable problems,” like pollution, deforestation, and illegal fishing(50:04) Sci-fi, wakeboarding, aliens, and the answer to: “Why are you building an Android app?” (Editor’s note/trigger warning: Both Bill and Ryan use Androids.)*SHOW NOTES*SkyFi website: https://www.skyfi.com/Bill's Twitter: https://twitter.com/bp22SkyFi's socials: https://twitter.com/SkyfiApp | https://www.linkedin.com/company/skyfi-imaging/ | https://www.instagram.com/skyfi.app/Die With Zero: https://www.diewithzerobook.com/welcomeRyan's Twitter: https://twitter.com/RyandoofyPayload SkyFi coverage: https://payloadspace.com/exclusive-skyfi-raises-7-15m/ | https://payloadspace.com/skyfi-beta-app/Apply to be a SkyFi beta tester: https://r66ka677lo0.typeform.com/to/n1mWYCjZ*ABOUT PATHFINDER*Pathfinder is powered Payload, a modern space media brand. While we have designs on becoming the biggest space content company in the galaxy, for now, we publish:1) 🚀 Payload, our flagship daily newsletter, every Monday to Friday morning2) 🧑🏼‍🚀 Pathfinder, this podcast, on Tuesday mornings3) 🌌 ...and 💫Parallax!💫 on Thursday afternoons.Parallax is our new-ish weekly science newsletter for the space industry. Subscribe now so you can say you were early by signing up at parallax.beehiiv.comSubscribe to our daily newsletter and find out more about Payload at www.payloadspace.com