We are all too aware that gold (nearly) passed as the most significant economic asset. Then, in the second half of the previous century, floating currencies, regulated by supply and demand, became the new standard. These economic forces, linked to economic productivity, still significantly impact how we make financial decisions.
However, the tech industry created cryptocurrencies on the back of a data-driven economy and a desire for financial self-control. As a result, most of the latest unicorns of the last two decades build their empires on the acquisition and sharing of data, information and, ultimately, intelligence.
Just think how Google is indexing the internet and collecting data of every person using their services. Advanced algorithms turn this data into information and, eventually, deep user insight. The same for Facebook; their most significant asset is its data-gathering platform. It mines the messages and pictures that friends and family share to tailor marketing activities for its clients.
Uber and Airbnb are using the same principles. However, without owning any of the infrastructure used to deliver their shared services, they exploit their users’ data to grow their offerings, better known as a two-sided market.
The small satellite industry, and more specific Cubesat cameras, can index each corner of the planet to translate it into actionable information. However, the challenge is to close the loop between the Cubesat camera sees and what’s happening on earth.
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