About us

Solaris builds live intelligence from the edge of space.

Operating in the stratosphere, our solar-powered platforms deliver continuous video over vast areas — turning fleeting snapshots into real-time understanding. In a world shaped by fast-moving crises, Solaris provides the clarity, speed, and foresight needed to act before disaster strikes.

Our Team

Andy Elson

CTO R&D & co-founder

Designed two of the world’s three operational suborbital gliders—the original Airbus Zephyr and the UK’s Astigan project.

50+ years in pioneering aeronautics: Suborbital balloons, High-Altitude Pseudo Satellites (HAPS), and Space capsules.

  • Led development of SpaceX’s Crew Dragon prototype that first docked with the ISS in 2012

  • Set 65+ world records, including a 12,000-mile balloon flight and the first balloon crossing of Mount Everest

  • Two aircraft in the Smithsonian and Royal Aero Club Medal honoree alongside the Wright Brothers and Neil Armstrong

CEO & co-founder

Daniel Doulton

Closed $58M in suborbital sales at a prior company, and has achieved six acquisitions including $480M to Microsoft/Nuance.

Mission-driven leader with 7+ years in Suborbital C-level roles.

  • Built and scaled AI ventures, co-founding SpinVox (tech behind Siri) and investing in enterprise AI platforms

  • Grown companies from zero to $100M  

  • Advisor to boards and founders across tech and aerospace

  • Honors: GSMA Innovation Award, SpeechTech Luminary, CNBC recognition, and E&Y Entrepreneur Award

Our Advisors

World class experience and influence —
A top European regulator, a veteran hardware CTO, an internationally renowned IP lawyer, a top U.S. AI researcher, and a former Minister of Defense now leading NATO and allied business development.

Mark Gretton

Career CTO including TomTom, Psion/Symbian and founder of IEL. Unique expertise in spanning R&D and production and successful transition into sustainable scale operations.

CTO Entrepreneur
LinkedIn

Victor M. Aguado

Former Director General of EUROCONTROL and Spain’s former ICAO Council representative. CEO of ISDEFE, Director of HISPASAT and INSA. American Legion Award winner.

Regulatory & Strategy expert
LinkedIn 
Suborbital Program expert

John Wallington

Head of CASA Part 131 Advisory Board.  Operations manager/Pilot multiple long distance, long endurance, high altitude record flights. Montgolfier Diploma and Royal Federation of Aeroclubs special achievement award.

FAI Bio
Australian Geographic

Dr. James Hodson

AI Researcher, Entrepreneur, Economist, Policy Strategist.
CEO, AI for Good Foundation
Ph.D. Artificial Intelligence
ex Head of AI Research at Bloomberg; PwC

AI Entrepreneur
LinkedIn

Sanu Desai

Career in investment banking leading Internet & Media transactions with Morgan Stanley, Hambrecht & Quist, JP Morgan and recently Torch Partners.

Strategic Advisor
LinkedIn 
IP expert

Peter Langley

International IP lawyer, CEO of Origin Ltd. Successfully represented Psion, Symbian, ARM, TomTom, Blackberry /RIM and other global brands in major international claims.

LinkedIn