Meet Florian Sallaba from Green Urbansights, one of our exciting companies in ESA BIC Sweden incubation
How and when did your journey begin as a startup working with space related tech?
My passion for remote sensing started back in 2004 when I was a student at Humboldt University in Berlin. I worked on early urban applications of satellite data, mapping trees by hand to support research. This fascination stayed with me through my studies at Lund University, where I did my PhD in ecosystem modelling and satellite data.
What does Green Urbansights do?
Our mission is simple: turning satellite data into urban well-being. We build a digital platform that helps cities and property owners to become climate resilient. With our platform they can combat heat stress and plan greener, cooler neighborhoods. By combining satellite data, local sensors, and AI models, we can show how much cooling effect trees and green infrastructure can bring and where they make the biggest difference.
What have you been up to this past year?
It has been a busy and exciting year. We have spent a lot of time talking to cities, learning from customers, and starting to develop solutions that really solve their problems.We have also been out there attending conferences, sharing our mission, and delivering our first projects to help cities stay cooler and more livable.
You were one of the speakers and exhibitors at SWEO at Rymdstyrelsen in October. What did you talk about and what were your takeaways?
I talked about how urban heat is becoming one of the biggest challenges for cities and how trees can be part of the solution when planted strategically.
My key takeaways from the event:
1. Most projects still focus on multispectral data, so there is huge potential for SAR, LiDAR, and hyperspectral applications.
2. Drone data is underused but could be a great complement to satellites.
3. Foundational AI models for Earth Observation have not yet really landed in Sweden, which makes the coming years very exciting.
What is in the pipeline for you now?
We are developing our platform together with customers, improving usability, and expanding to new cities in Sweden and beyond. We are also exploring partnerships for climate adaptation and digital twins. The next year will be about scaling what works.
What advice would you give to other startups thinking about joining the space industry or applying to ESA BIC Sweden?
Go for it. The application process is intense, but it really helps you sharpen your ideas and understand your purpose. You will need that clarity later when applying for grants or pitching investors. Plus, you will learn a lot about your own business along the way.
What has been the most valuable part of being in ESA BIC Sweden?
Definitely the network, mentoring, and community. The support from coaches, the chance to speak at SWEO 2025, and the financial help have been incredible. But most of all, being surrounded by the other startups who really inspire and motivate me.
Read more about Green Urbansights here: greenurbansights.com
