Hyades Raises A$990k Pre-seed

Hyades, an Auckland-based startup developing a platform to transform complex geospatial data into AI-ready risk models, has secured NZ$1.1 million (AU$990,000) in a pre-seed funding round. The company leverages satellite, drone, and radar imagery to assist industries such as insurance, agriculture, and climate science in improving their decision-making processes.

Investors

The round was led by Icehouse Ventures, with participation from K1W1 and angel investors Tony Falkenstein and Tim Brown.

Hyades Use of Funds

The funding will be directed toward securing enterprise co-design partners, recruiting AI engineering talent, and scaling the company's platform for a wider commercial release.

About Hyades

Founded in 2026 by University of Auckland graduates Ashin Alex, Sam Kurian, and Jimin Seo, Hyades is on a mission to enable AI agents to interpret high-dimensional, fragmented spatial data. Their product automates the collation of complex imagery and records to create actionable risk models.

Funding Details

Company Website: https://hyades.space

Company: Hyades
Raised: A$990k
Round: Pre-seed
Funding Date: July 13, 2026
Lead Investor: Icehouse Ventures
Additional Investors: K1W1, Tony Falkenstein, Tim Brown
Software Category: AI/Machine Learning
Source: https://www.startupdaily.net/topic/funding/kiwi-ai-mapping-data-startup-hyades-plants-910000-pre-seed/