World View lands $15 million Series B to bring new stratosphere-flying platform to life
World View Enterprises has raised $15 million in a Series B funding round to further develop its stratospheric balloon platform for commercial applications. The balloon system will carry payloads and passengers to the edge of space, providing a more cost-effective and sustainable alternative to traditional rocket launches. World View has already completed several successful test flights, including a record-breaking dive from the stratosphere in 2014. The funding round was led by Canaan Partners, with participation from Norwest Venture Partners, and others. World View plans to use the funds to develop its Voyager platform, which will offer a higher-altitude experience than the company's existing system. Voyager will be capable of carrying passengers and payloads to an altitude of 50 km, offering a unique perspective on Earth and the cosmos. The company aims to launch its first commercial flights in 2018, with a focus on tourism and research applications. World View's balloon system is a key enabler for high-altitude research and imaging, as well as a potential platform for telecommunications and other commercial applications. The company has also developed a high-altitude imaging system, which provides high-resolution imagery of Earth's surface for various applications.
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