Alex Fielding of Privateer
An exclusive Tech Tribune Q&A with Alex Fielding (co-founder and CEO) of Privateer, which was honored in our:
Tell us the origin story of Privateer – what problem were you trying to solve and why?
Privateer started with a simple but ambitious goal: to build the most dynamic, real-time geospatial intelligence platform in the world. capable of answering questions that, until recently, were considered unanswerable. From the start, we recognized that to understand activity on Earth across land, sea, air, space and cyberspace, you first need to know precisely what’s happening in orbit. Satellites are the foundation for global sensing, and without clear insight into their movements and capabilities, reliable geospatial intelligence isn’t possible.
That realization shaped how we built Privateer and, ultimately, our analytics platform. It’s designed to bring together space awareness, Earth observation, and AI to deliver a unified operational picture for both government and commercial users, with applications across land, sea, air, space and cyber, often focused on how to make supply chain intelligence and mobility real-time and dynamic.
What was the biggest hurdle you encountered in your journey?
Building a global geospatial intelligence platform isn’t easy. Especially when you’re operating at the intersection of space technology, AI, and national security. The technical challenges are significant, but aligning the right partnerships, navigating international regulations, and earning trust across both commercial and government sectors have been equally critical.
Our acquisition of Orbital Insight marked a major milestone in the journey. Their expertise in Earth observation and AI has accelerated our ability to deliver not just more data, but answers. Combined with our space and sensor integration capabilities, we can now provide organizations with actionable intelligence across the entire domain, from orbit, to ocean, to on-the-ground operations.
What does the future hold for Privateer?
Privateer’s future is all about scale and application. Within our analytics platform we’re creating the tools that help industries and governments answer their most complex operational questions in real time. Whether it’s monitoring supply chains, securing critical infrastructure, supporting disaster response, or tracking geopolitical risk, we provide the intelligence to act decisively. Our recent investment from Far Eastern Group in Taiwan and our expansion into Saudi Arabia reflect our commitment to global growth and partnership. We expect this growth to continue because in today’s world, geospatial intelligence isn’t optional, it’s essential.
What are your thoughts on the local tech startup scene in Hawaii?
Hawaii may not be the first place people think of for cutting-edge technology, but that’s changing. There’s a growing community here that understands how connected Hawaii is to the world geographically, culturally, and strategically. It’s a natural home for companies like Privateer that think globally from day one. Being based here keeps us grounded, gives us access to unique perspectives, and reminds us daily why what we’re building matters.
What’s your best advice for aspiring entrepreneurs?
Focus on building something that solves real, operational problems, and stay flexible in how you get there. At Privateer, the vision never changed: build the most advanced geospatial intelligence platform in the world. But how we executed that vision evolved, and continues to evolve, as the market and technology shift. Stay committed to the problem, not just your first idea of the solution. And, surround yourself with people who challenge your thinking and push the mission forward.