Latest news with #Frandsen
Los Angeles Times
26-06-2025
- Business
- Los Angeles Times
SoftBank backs giant floating climate stations startup
A startup building massive, bullet-shaped helium balloons that float in the stratosphere has raised $15 million from Japan's SoftBank Corp. — part of an effort to monitor climate data and bring connectivity to hard-to-reach areas. The company, called Sceye Inc., has built more than 20 of its zeppelin-like airships, stationed at a sprawling 41,600-square-foot warehouse in New Mexico. The vehicles — technically called high-altitude platform stations — are 214 feet long, almost the size of a Boeing 747's wingspan, and are equipped with specialized cameras and radars. Designed to hover above the earth for months at a time, Sceye's monitoring stations can capture real-time data on wildfires, flooding and greenhouse gases. They can also provide wireless service to people on the ground during large-scale disasters. The company's Chief Executive Officer Mikkel Vestergaard Frandsen said that he expected SoftBank — the telecom unit of the tech conglomerate SoftBank Group Corp. — to be an important strategic partner to the startup. 'As a telephone company, it knows the limitations of towers and fiber optic cables and satellite constellations,' Frandsen said. 'This is a critical area for them to come into.' Founded in 2014, the company has notched a valuation of $580 million with the latest investment. Other backers of the company include Saudi investor Mawarid Holding Company. Sceye (pronounced 'sky') began testing its high-tech balloons nine years ago with a much smaller prototype. Last year, the company led its first 'full diurnal flight,' meaning one of its stations stayed afloat in an area for more than 24 hours — a feat Frandsen said helped prove the efficacy of its strategy to stay operational using solar power in the day and batteries at night. With its new funding and SoftBank partnership, next year Sceye plans to fly one of its stratospheric platforms to Japan, where it will offer broadband services for a multi-week period before returning to New Mexico. The demonstration will be one of the last steps the company will take before it's ready to sell its product commercially, Frandsen said. SoftBank has been developing similar satellite-adjacent services since 2017, company president Junichi Miyakawa said in a statement. High-altitude platform station technology will 'play a key role in expanding network area coverage' to places that are difficult to reach with existing networks, Miyakawa said, adding that the services 'will also provide a means of restoring communications when large-scale disasters strike.' Previously, Sceye has partnered with NASA and the US Geological Survey to provide climate and environmental imaging.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
S&G Stores shuffles leadership team
This story was originally published on C-Store Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily C-Store Dive newsletter. Neal Frandsen, vice president of marketing for midwest convenience retailer S&G Stores, is expected to retire next summer, Fransden said in a statement to C-Store Dive. His successor is industry veteran Keith Broviak, who will spend the next several months onboarding. Broviak will officially join S&G — which operates 68 convenience stores across Ohio and Michigan — on June 30, Fransden said. Frandsen — who has also held leadership roles with c-store retailers including Certified Oil, GPM Investments and Turkey Hill Minit Markets over a four-decade career — said he will shift to 'handle special projects' once Broviak is comfortable enough to fully take over the position. This shift will likely occur in January, Frandsen said. Once established as the new VP, Broviak will assume direct leadership of S&G's marketing department. He will oversee all categories except for foodservice, frozen foods, ice cream, and cigarettes and other tobacco products, Frandsen said. Beyond his marketing duties, Broviak will oversee procurement for S&G's store supplies and will coordinate its network of nonprofit sponsorships and programs. Broviak has worked in the convenience retailing industry for nearly three decades. This includes serving as director of marketing for Ricker Oil for 20 years before the retailer sold its assets to Giant Eagle in 2018, as well as chief marketing officer for Coen Oil between 2019 and 2024, according to his LinkedIn bio. Broviak had been working with c-store consultancy CSD Solutions since last October. S&G also named Aaron Hirt as director of foodservice, effective April 22, Frandsen said. Hirt is responsible for revamping S&G's proprietary On The Go Bistro program as well as new fried chicken, pizza and sandwich offerings in some of the retailer's incoming remodeled stores. Hirt is also responsible for S&G's foodservice profitability and sales, as well as closely working with the operations team on proper foodservice execution and safety, product selection and promotions. He joined S&G after nearly three years with food and beverage company AVI Foodsystems, according to his LinkedIn bio. Recommended Reading New CEOs at Seven & i, Weigel's lead notable exec changes from May Sign in to access your portfolio
