Planet Labs PBC announced the launch of its Tanager Open Data Competition on April 14, 2026. The competition invites developers to build applications and insights using data from the company’s hyperspectral Tanager satellite constellation, which captures detailed spectral information across the Earth’s surface.
The Tanager constellation, launched in August 2024, is Planet’s first hyperspectral fleet. It can detect methane and carbon dioxide emissions, monitor water quality, assess post‑wildfire landscapes, and support biodiversity studies. The program is a public‑private partnership that includes Carbon Mapper, NASA JPL, the High Tide Foundation, and Bloomberg Philanthropies.
By opening Tanager data to external developers, Planet aims to accelerate AI‑driven geospatial analytics and expand its ecosystem of third‑party solutions. The competition is part of a broader strategy to monetize its extensive image archive and embed AI across its platform, positioning the company for new revenue streams in the growing AI‑enabled geospatial market.
Planet’s financial performance underscores the strategic timing of the initiative. Fiscal 2026 revenue reached $308 million, a 26% year‑over‑year increase, and the company posted its first full fiscal year of non‑GAAP profitability with an adjusted EBITDA profit of $15.5 million. Free cash flow hit $53 million, and the backlog grew to $900 million, up 79% from the prior year. The Defense & Intelligence segment, which grew 50% YoY, remains a key driver of the company’s growth.
Management highlighted the momentum behind the initiative. “We delivered record revenue, with Q4 growing 41% year‑on‑year, and ended the year with $900 million of backlog, representing 79% growth year‑on‑year. With this excellent backlog as well as our healthy pipeline, we project strong growth for this year and beyond. Consequently we’re leaning in and investing in the huge market opportunity in front of us,” said Planet Labs’ management during its Q4 2026 earnings call.
The competition is expected to spur new AI applications that leverage Tanager’s hyperspectral data, potentially unlocking additional monetization pathways and reinforcing Planet’s position as a leader in AI‑driven Earth observation.
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