Near Space Labs, a leading innovator in stratospheric robotics and Earth observation technology, announced that Tom Chi, founding member of Google X and former head of Project Loon, has joined the company as a strategic investor and board observer. Chi’s involvement marks a significant milestone for Near Space Labs, representing a powerful endorsement from one of the most respected visionaries in high-altitude technology and innovation.
Chi’s decision to back Near Space Labs comes as the company solidifies its leadership in stratospheric commercialization—a field long known for its technical complexity and high entry barriers. His expertise and experience in developing one of the world’s most advanced stratospheric balloon systems at Google X make him uniquely positioned to recognize and validate Near Space Labs’ achievements.
During his tenure leading Project Loon, Chi oversaw groundbreaking advances in stratospheric technology. The project sought to deliver internet access to remote and underserved regions using high-altitude balloons capable of creating a mesh network in the sky. Under his leadership, the Loon team achieved several world-first milestones: successfully transmitting data via lasers between balloons, designing autonomous navigation systems for high-altitude flight, and launching the first commercial balloon-based internet service in Kenya. These innovations demonstrated that the stratosphere could be harnessed not only for connectivity but also for broader commercial and scientific applications.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Tom to Near Space Labs as both a strategic investor and board observer,” said Rema Matevosyan, CEO and Co-founder of Near Space Labs. “His deep expertise in stratospheric technology makes him uniquely qualified to assess our approach, and his support confirms that we’ve achieved a commercial breakthrough the industry has long been seeking. Having navigated similar challenges at Project Loon, Tom understands exactly what it takes to transform pioneering technology into a sustainable, market-defining enterprise.”
At Google X, Chi was instrumental in shaping the early culture of breakthrough innovation. Beyond Project Loon, he contributed to self-driving cars, Google Glass, and other transformative initiatives that pushed the boundaries of applied science and engineering. Under his leadership, Google X grew from a small eight-person team into a multidisciplinary innovation hub of more than 250 experts in robotics, AI, optics, and systems design.
Chi’s technical foundation spans physics, electrical engineering, and applied research across multiple domains—including autonomous robotics, massively parallel compute architectures, medical imaging, and astrophysical instrumentation. He is an inventor on 75 patents and has been recognized globally for his ability to bridge cutting-edge engineering with sustainable, human-centered innovation.
Reflecting on his decision to invest, Chi said, “Near Space Labs has accomplished what many in the stratospheric technology field have long attempted—making high-altitude robotics economically viable at scale. Having worked on these challenges firsthand, I recognize breakthrough innovation when I see it. The team at Near Space has cracked both the technical and business model problems that have constrained the field for decades. Their combination of engineering excellence and operational discipline has the potential to redefine entire industries.”
Near Space Labs operates a fleet of autonomous Swift high-altitude robots, which capture high-resolution Earth imagery from the stratosphere. Unlike satellites or traditional aerial platforms, Near Space Labs’ approach allows for frequent, affordable, and ultra-precise imaging across wide geographic areas. The technology is already being deployed by Fortune 500 insurers, climate analytics firms, and urban planning agencies to monitor environmental changes, assess risk, and improve disaster response.
As climate risks intensify across the United States and beyond, organizations are seeking faster, more granular data to make critical decisions. Near Space Labs’ stratospheric imaging platform offers an unparalleled vantage point—enabling real-time insights that can inform disaster recovery, sustainability planning, and infrastructure resilience. Chi’s investment underscores growing market confidence in the company’s ability to deliver commercial-grade data with unmatched efficiency and reliability.
“Tom’s perspective as both an engineer and a systems thinker adds tremendous value as we scale our operations,” said Matevosyan. “He understands that the future of climate resilience, infrastructure monitoring, and environmental intelligence depends on rapid, accessible Earth observation. His partnership strengthens our mission to democratize access to this information for all industries.”
The collaboration between Chi and Near Space Labs also represents a convergence of visionary innovation and practical execution. While Project Loon demonstrated the technical potential of stratospheric platforms, Near Space Labs has extended that vision into a commercially sustainable model. By leveraging lightweight robotics, reusable launch systems, and streamlined operations, the company has drastically reduced the cost and complexity traditionally associated with high-altitude observation.
Chi’s involvement signals a broader shift in how the innovation community views the stratosphere—not merely as an experimental frontier but as a viable commercial domain. His advisory role is expected to accelerate Near Space Labs’ strategic growth, including new partnerships in climate monitoring, insurance, and public sector applications.
“Near Space Labs is pioneering a new era of scalable stratospheric operations,” Chi added. “They’ve demonstrated that it’s possible to merge aerospace-grade reliability with startup agility—a rare combination. As industries grapple with environmental and economic uncertainty, their technology will play a pivotal role in how we observe, understand, and respond to changes on our planet.”
With Chi joining as a strategic investor and board observer, Near Space Labs strengthens its position at the intersection of climate technology, robotics, and aerospace innovation. The partnership reinforces the company’s mission to make high-quality Earth observation data more accessible and actionable—ultimately driving smarter decisions for a rapidly changing world.
