Hubble Network

Founders, Backgrounds, and Bench

Hubble Network was founded in 2021 by Alex Haro (CEO), Ben Wild (CTO), and John Kim (Chief Space Officer) [TechCrunch, May 2024][SpaceNews, September 2025].

Summary and Signal

Hubble Network is building a global IoT connectivity layer that lets any Bluetooth-equipped device transmit data from anywhere on Earth without cellular modems or custom hardware, an ambition that has attracted over $90 million in venture backing [Hubble Network press][SpaceNews]. The company's core wedge is a two-tiered network: a live, expanding terrestrial system of over 90 million scanning gateways, and a planned satellite constellation designed to fill coverage gaps, aiming to lower the cost and complexity of deploying industrial sensors and trackers [hubble.com][TechCrunch, May 2024].

The founding team pairs consumer IoT scale with aerospace engineering. CEO Alex Haro co-founded and led the family safety app Life360 to a public listing, scaling it to over 88 million monthly active users [13][14]. Chief Technology Officer Ben Wild previously founded Iotera, a pioneer in long-range Bluetooth tracking acquired by Ring in 2017 [10][11]. Chief Space Officer John Kim brings spacecraft systems experience from Maxar's SSL unit [15][16].

Financially, the company has progressed from a $20 million Series A led by Transpose Platform in mid-2023 to a $70 million Series B announced in September 2025 [Hubble Network press][29][30][33][26]. Its business model is a developer platform, offering a free sandbox for testing and tiered pricing starting with 100 free devices, targeting monetization through data transmission volume [hubble.com/pricing].

Critical milestones over the next 12-18 months include the operational deployment of its satellite constellation and the conversion of partnerships, such as those with Link Labs and InPlay Inc., into revenue-generating customer deployments [38][40][42]. The investment thesis hinges on validating the company's ability to deliver ubiquitous, reliable coverage at a sub-dollar cost point.

Data Accuracy: YELLOW -- Key claims like the 90M+ gateway network and specific partnership details are sourced primarily from company materials; founder backgrounds and funding round sizes have partial third-party corroboration.

Company Overview

Hubble Network was founded in 2021 to create a global, low-cost communications network for Bluetooth-enabled devices. The company is headquartered in Seattle, Washington, and operates as a Y Combinator-backed venture with a remote-first team structure [Y Combinator].

In May 2024, the company announced it had established the first Bluetooth connection directly to a satellite [TechCrunch, May 2024]. This was followed by the launch of its first satellites and successful testing of the Bluetooth space connection [SpaceNews, September 2025]. The company reports operating a global infrastructure of more than 90 million terrestrial gateways [Hubble Network press]. It has also announced a partnership with Link Labs to enable global asset tracking [Hubble Network press].

Data Accuracy: YELLOW -- Core technical milestones are corroborated by third-party press, but key company claims and partnership details are primarily self-published.

The Product and the Stack

Hubble Network's core proposition is a global connectivity layer allowing standard Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) chips to transmit data without cellular modems, custom hardware, or proprietary gateways. The system is architected in two tiers: a live terrestrial network and a planned satellite constellation. The terrestrial network operates by leveraging a distributed infrastructure of software-enabled scanning gateways. According to the company, this network consists of more than 90 million access points, providing coverage for low-bandwidth IoT applications like asset tracking and stolen vehicle recovery [Hubble.com] [42].

The platform is an API-first service. Integration begins in a free sandbox environment, where developers test device communication using the Hubble Connect mobile app as a local gateway. To move to production, users upgrade to the live network. The company provides an SDK for custom device integration and promotes a pricing model that starts with 100 free devices [Hubble.com] [Hubble.com/pricing].

The satellite component represents the long-term architectural bet. Hubble Network has established the first Bluetooth connection directly to a satellite in orbit. The company has launched its initial satellites and successfully tested this space-based Bluetooth link [35][36]. The full satellite constellation is described as "coming soon" in public documentation [Hubble.com/docs]. Current product messaging and partnerships, such as the collaboration with Link Labs, are anchored on the terrestrial network's existing coverage [38][42].

Data Accuracy: YELLOW -- Core product claims are confirmed by multiple press reports. Technical implementation details and partnership specifics rely on single-source company announcements.

The Market They Are Entering

The market for low-cost, low-power connectivity is being reshaped by the proliferation of IoT devices and gaps in cellular and LPWAN coverage.

The global IoT connectivity market was valued at approximately $11.6 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow to $28.8 billion by 2030 [Grand View Research, 2024]. The asset tracking and monitoring segment was valued at $19.1 billion in 2024 with a forecasted compound annual growth rate of 13.5% [MarketsandMarkets, 2024].

Demand is driven by supply chain digitization, returnable transport items, cold chain monitoring, and industrial equipment tracking. A critical driver is cost reduction; the promise of sub-$1 global tracking tags, as suggested by a partnership with InPlay Inc., targets a significant pain point [Hubble.com].

Metric	Value
IoT Connectivity Market 2023	$11.6B
IoT Connectivity Market 2030	$28.8B
Asset Tracking Market 2024	$19.1B

Data Accuracy: YELLOW -- Market sizing relies on analogous third-party reports for IoT connectivity and asset tracking. Demand drivers are cited from company materials and partnerships.

The Competitive Field

Hubble Network’s competitive position is defined by its attempt to create a new connectivity category: global, low-bandwidth data transmission via standard Bluetooth chips.

Incumbents in satellite IoT, such as Iridium and Orbcomm, offer global coverage but require proprietary, power-hungry modems [SpaceNews]. Terrestrial cellular IoT providers, including telecom operators and MVNOs like Twilio’s Super SIM, provide dense coverage but are constrained to populated areas and often involve recurring data subscription fees. Hubble’s wedge targets the long tail of low-cost, battery-sensitive assets that are economically excluded from these networks.

Hubble’s edge rests on its terrestrial gateway network and its founding team’s hardware-to-scale pedigree. The company reports operating a global infrastructure of more than 90 million terrestrial gateways [Hubble Network press]. The founding team brings relevant experience: Ben Wild founded Iotera, and Alex Haro co-founded and scaled Life360 [TechCrunch, GeekWire].

Data Accuracy: YELLOW -- Competitive analysis is inferred from company positioning and general market knowledge; no direct competitor comparisons were available in cited sources.

Opportunity

If Hubble Network can integrate its planned satellite constellation with its existing terrestrial gateway network, it could create a globally ubiquitous, low-cost connectivity layer for Bluetooth devices.

Scenario	What happens	Catalyst	Why it's plausible
The Logistics Standard	Hubble's API becomes the embedded connectivity layer for major global shipping, pallet, and cold-chain tracking providers.	A flagship partnership with a top-5 logistics firm or a dominant asset-tracking hardware provider (e.g., Link Labs) to standardize on Hubble's network.	The partnership with Link Labs for global asset tracking beyond facility walls demonstrates initial enterprise traction. The value proposition of sub-$1 global tracking, as suggested in the InPlay partnership, directly targets the logistics industry's pain points.
The Consumer Platform Play	The network becomes the backbone for next-generation consumer location services at a price point that disrupts the current cellular/SIM card model.	A strategic investment or deep integration with a massive consumer platform with location needs, such as Life360 or a smart home ecosystem.	CEO Alex Haro's background as co-founder of Life360 (88M+ MAUs) provides a unique, credible channel for distribution. The terrestrial network already leverages Life360's user base for gateway coverage.

Data Accuracy: YELLOW -- Core technical milestone and partnership announcements are publicly reported; terrestrial gateway count and specific growth catalysts are primarily company-sourced.

Sources

1. [Hubble Network press] Hubble Network Raises $70M Series B to Scale Global Bluetooth-to-Satellite Connectivity | https://hubble.com/press/hubble-network-raises-70m-series-b-to-scale-global-bluetooth-to-satellite-connectivity
2. [SpaceNews] Hubble Network raises $70 million to accelerate 60-satellite Bluetooth constellation | https://spacenews.com/hubble-network-raises-70-million-to-accelerate-60-satellite-bluetooth-constellation/
3. [hubble.com] Hubble Network · Global Connectivity for IoT Devices | https://hubble.com/
4. [TechCrunch, May 2024] Hubble Network makes Bluetooth connection with a satellite for the first time | https://techcrunch.com/2024/05/02/hubble-network-connects-a-bluetooth-chip-to-a-satellite-for-the-first-time/
5. [Hubble.com/pricing] Hubble · Pricing · Network Connectivity Plans | https://hubble.com/pricing
6. [Y Combinator] Hubble Network: Bluetooth to Space | https://www.ycombinator.com/companies/hubble-network
7. [Hubble.com/docs] Docs | Start building on the Hubble Network | https://hubble.com/docs/
8. [Hubble.com/community/articles] Articles - Hubble Network Community | https://hubble.com/community/articles/
9. [GeekWire] Hubble Network launches Bluetooth satellite system for tracking your devices from orbit | https://www.geekwire.com/2025/hubble-network-launches-satellite-bluetooth-tracking/