Insider Brief
- Diffraqtion, an MIT and University of Maryland spinout, raised $4.2 million in pre-seed funding to commercialize a quantum camera enabling lower-cost satellite constellations for space domain awareness and Earth observation.
- The company’s quantum imaging system, developed from NASA and DARPA-backed research, claims up to 20× higher resolution and 1,000× faster processing than conventional optical systems, allowing high-precision imaging with smaller, cheaper platforms.
- Backed by investors including QDNL Participations and supported by a DARPA SBIR Direct-to-Phase 2 contract, Diffraqtion is advancing on-sky and space-based demonstrations and is participating in the U.S. Space Force Apollo Accelerator.
PRESS RELEASE — Diffraqtion, an MIT and University of Maryland spinout developing satellite constellations powered by a novel quantum camera, today announced the close of a $4.2 million pre-seed funding round, led by QDNL Participations, with participation from milemark•capital, Aether VC, ADIN, and a non-dilutive DARPA SBIR Direct-to-Phase 2 contract.
Founded by Johannes Galatsanos, Christine Wang, and Prof. Saikat Guha, Diffraqtion has developed a first-of-its-kind quantum camera that enables satellites and telescopes to see farther and process visual information dramatically faster than conventional systems. Built on Prof. Guha’s research with NASA and DARPA, the technology delivers up to 20× higher resolution and 1,000× faster processing, enabling ultra-high-resolution imaging systems at a fraction of the cost of today’s satellites and ground-based telescopes.
Diffraqtion’s novel approach unlocks large constellations of low-cost, high-precision imaging platforms for space domain awareness, defense, and commercial Earth observation, with applications ranging from orbital safety and intelligence to agriculture, disaster response, and environmental monitoring.
In recent weeks, the company has received multiple major recognitions, including:
- First place at SLUSH 100, selected from over 1,000 startups, resulting in an additional $1.1M equity prize from Cherry Ventures and General Catalyst
- TechConnect’s “2025 Best Space Innovation” $100k award
- A $1.5M DARPA SBIR Direct-to-Phase 2 contract supporting space situational awareness capabilities
Diffraqtion is also part of the U.S. Space Force’s Apollo Accelerator, where it is actively demonstrating and refining its quantum imaging technology with government partners. In early 2026, the company plans to conduct on-sky demonstrations with the University of California Observatories, followed by space-based demonstrations focused on space domain awareness.
“Space powers our communications, navigation, and defense, and through Earth Imaging, it supports everything from agriculture to disaster response,” said Johannes Galatsanos, CEO and Co-Founder of Diffraqtion. “Yet despite the boom in low-cost launches, we still lack clear, continuous visibility of what’s happening above and below the atmosphere. Our quantum camera changes that: it tracks smaller, faster objects to keep assets in orbit safe, while delivering ultra-high-resolution imaging for critical applications on Earth.”
“Quantum sensing can bring new capabilities to monitoring and protecting orbital infrastructure,” said Chad Rigetti, Venture Partner at QDNL Participations “Diffraqtion’s team combines deep photonics and quantum expertise with practical defense and space insight – exactly what’s needed to bring quantum imaging into operational reality.”
Diffraqtion’s technology marks a significant leap forward in intelligent vision for space, defense, and autonomous systems.
About the Leadership
Johannes Galatsanos, Co-Founder and CEO, has >15 years background in AI, Quantum Tech, and Operations. He’s an MIT and Oxford graduate, and has been an MIT researcher, Executive Director at Novartis, and Technical Consultant with a track record of building teams delivering Data and AI products across Manufacturing and R&D.
Christine Wang, Co-Founder and CTO, did her Ph.D. at Harvard and Post-Docs at EPFL and Max Planck Institute. She has >20 years experience in designing and prototyping photonics and optics devices for defense and commercial use, latest as Director of Optics and Photonics at Riverside Research and Principal Scientist at Draper Labs.
Prof. Saikat Guha, Co-Founder and CSA, is a world-renowned scholar in quantum sensing with over 100 papers and patents, >10,000 citations, and inventor of Diffraqtion’s patented quantum imaging IP. He’s an IEEE Fellow, Distinguished Chair Prof. at the University of Maryland, adjunct faculty at MIT, and Director at the NSF Center for Quantum Networks.
Mark Michael, VP Product, is the ex-CTO and Co-Founder of Kepler Communications, one of North America’s largest space companies. He is an Engineering graduate from University of Toronto and worked at IBM before Kepler.
