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  • The brief
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  • This week · 6
  • This quarter · 9
  • Big bets · 3
  • Wildcards · 3
  • How we can help
Generated Oct 26, 2026
  1. Programmable
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growth playbook · Oct 26, 2026

blacksky.com (opens in a new tab)

BlackSky growth playbook

Diagnosis

BlackSky is growing fast (second-quarter revenue of $33.3 million, up 50%) as Gen-3 satellites come online and international contracts arrive. Its hiring shows the next phase: a marketing and corporate communications director to define brand architecture across defense, space and commercial and to raise executive visibility, new sales leaders for Europe and APAC, solutions engineers for international demos, and a Product Insights team for turnkey analytics.

The website lags: the events page stops in 2023 with errors, there is no commercial page, releases lack summaries and proof is anonymous. This playbook fixes those, then builds pilots, demos, a capacity view, a product catalogue and regional sovereign pages.

Growth Score

6/10

Biggest Opportunity

Show buyers where to meet BlackSky and what it has delivered, by region and segment, while capacity grows.

Biggest Risk

Planet, Vantor, Capella and Satellogic compete for the same defense and commercial budgets, and BlackSky's anonymous proof makes it harder to stand out.

01

Start here

The three moves to make first. Each one is written up in full below.

  1. 1

    Replace the 2023 events page with a live calendar of where BlackSky speaks, exhibits and takes meetings

    List every event BlackSky will attend through 2027 and who will be there.

    High impact First result in 1 month
  2. 2

    Give every press release a summary, a description and a "wins this year" roll-up

    Write descriptions for the last 20 releases.

    Medium impact First result in 1 month
  3. 3

    A commercial page, now that the brand must span defense, space and commercial

    Draft the page from the SkyFi release and commercial wins.

    High impact First result in 1 quarter

02

Your idea portfolio

21 ideas, grouped by when to run them. Open any idea for how to run it: the steps, who to approach, copy you can use, and how to measure it.

  • 6 ideas are marked Unexpected: plays you are unlikely to have tried.

Every idea placed by the effort it takes against the impact it could have. Quick wins sit top left; select a number to open that idea. The filters below narrow the list by status, timing, category and what Programmable can build.

Effort vs impactEach number is an idea. Select one to open it.
Impact →
Quick wins · 2Big bets · 10Fill-ins · 6Reconsider · 3
Effort →

Showing 21 of 21 ideas

This week 6

Quick wins with a clear first action.

  • 01

    BlackSky is hiring a Director of Marketing & Corporate Communications to run "executive visibility" (keynotes, panels, thought leadership) and new sales leaders for Europe and APAC. But blacksky.com/company/events still shows only two events, both from 2023, and both have errors: CANIC 2023 is described as the Space Symposium "held at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs" but placed in "Ottowa, Canada", and the New Delhi Indo-Pacific forum is filed under "EMEA". A defense buyer checking where to meet BlackSky finds nothing current, in a year of five Gen-3 satellites and a run of international contract wins.

    High impactLow effort First result in 1 month Director of Marketing & Corpo…

    First action

    List every event BlackSky will attend through 2027 and who will be there.

    How to measure it

    Meetings booked from events

    Now
    –
    Target
    40 a quarter
    By
    2 quarters

    Steps

    1. 1

      Gather the calendar

      Conferences, speakers and booths through 2027.

      Director of Marketing & Corporate Communications 3 days

    2. 2

      Fix the 2023 entries

      Correct or archive both.

      Web team 1 hour

    3. 3

      Add regional routing

      "Book a meeting" to the US, Europe or APAC lead.

      Sales Operations 2 days

    4. 4

      Add speaker pages

      Session, topic and bio per executive.

      Director of Marketing & Corporate Communications 1 week

    5. 5

      Recaps

      Slides or video after each event.

      Director of Marketing & Corporate Communications ongoing

    6. 6

      Promote

      LinkedIn posts and invite emails per event.

      Director of Marketing & Corporate Communications ongoing

    7. 7

      Measure

      Meetings and pipeline per event.

      Senior Business Intelligence Analyst monthly

    First result
    1 month
    Cost
    Staff time only
    Owner
    Director of Marketing & Corporate Communications

    Smallest test

    Publish the next three events with a meeting form this week.

    Why it works

    Rebuild the page around the next 12 months: each conference with the BlackSky speaker and session, the booth, the regional lead, and a "Book a meeting" form routed to Europe, APAC or US. Add past sessions as recaps with slides or video. Fix the two 2023 entries or move them to an archive, and set a monthly owner so the page never freezes again.

    Events are where defense and intelligence deals start. A current calendar gives the new Europe and APAC leaders a reason to invite prospects and gives the comms director a showcase for executive speaking.

    Ready to use

    ChecklistEvents page relaunch

    [ ] Next 12 months of conferences, with dates and city
    [ ] Speaker, session and booth per event
    [ ] Correct region tag (US, EMEA, APAC)
    [ ] "Book a meeting" routed to the regional lead
    [ ] 2023 entries corrected or archived
    [ ] Recap with slides or video after each event
    [ ] Monthly owner and review date

    Risks and how to handle them

    • Some attendance is sensitive

      List only public sessions and booths; take private meetings by request.

    Evidence

    • Your websiteEvents page, checked twice on October 23, 2026: it lists only two events, both from 2023. "Indo-Pacific GeoIntelligence Forum", June 6-7, 2023, "Location: New Delhi", tagged "Locals: EMEA"; and "CANIC 2023", May 16, 2023, described as "Space Symposium, held at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, Colorado" but with "Location: Ottowa, Canada". Each has a "Book a meeting" button. The events sitemap was last changed in January 2025.Source
    • HiringDirector of Marketing & Corporate Communications (Herndon or Seattle, posted October 21, 2026): will "Define the company's brand architecture, positioning and messaging across defense, space and commercial segments", "Lead executive visibility planning and execution, through speeches, keynotes, op-eds, panel preparation, and thought leadership", "Partner with Government Relations to support congressional, agency and allied-nation engagement", "Direct crisis communications planning and response" and manage "a PR-focused agency".Source
    • HiringDirector, Business Development, Europe (posted September 8, 2026, UK preferred, reports to the General Manager, EMEA): sales capture with "government agencies commercial customers, systems integrators, and prime contractors".Source
    • HiringVice President, APAC Sales (Singapore preferred, first posted March 11, 2026 and still listed): a "natural born hunter focused on net new business growth" who leads regional data-product sales and "BlackSky's sovereign 'Missions' sales efforts in the APAC region". A Staff Mission Solutions Engineer (posted October 7, 2026) will "deliver compelling demonstrations" for "international defense, and intelligence (D&I) customers" with about 50% travel.Source
    • Your websiteRecent releases: a seven-figure Gen-3 Assured contract with an international defense partner (October 22, 2026); a seven-figure non-Earth imaging contract for HEO space domain awareness (October 15); a six-figure Gen-3 on-demand pilot with a new international intelligence customer (October 8); the fifth Gen-3 "attains first light in hours" (September); exclusive provider of very high-resolution imagery for an international initiative on AI infrastructure in space (September 9). Customers are rarely named.Source
  • 02

    BlackSky publishes about one release a week, 220 in total, but release pages have no meta description and most wins name no customer. Buyers and journalists see a stream, not a pattern.

    Medium impactLow effort First result in 1 month Director of Marketing & Corpo…

    First action

    Write descriptions for the last 20 releases.

    How to measure it

    Release click-through

    Now
    –
    Target
    +20%
    By
    60 days

    Steps

    1. 1

      Template

      Two-line description.

      Director of Marketing & Corporate Communications 1 day

    2. 2

      Backfill

      Last 20 releases.

      Director of Marketing & Corporate Communications 1 week

    3. 3

      Tag

      Segment and region.

      Web team 1 week

    4. 4

      Build roll-up

      "Gen-3 in 2026".

      Director of Marketing & Corporate Communications 1 week

    5. 5

      Link

      From homepage and investor pages.

      Web team 1 day

    6. 6

      Measure

      Search Console.

      Senior Business Intelligence Analyst monthly

    First result
    1 month
    Cost
    $0
    Owner
    Director of Marketing & Corporate Communications

    Smallest test

    Publish the roll-up with this quarter's wins.

    Why it works

    Add a two-line description to each release, tag releases by segment and region, and build a "Gen-3 in 2026" page that totals the year's contracts, launches and first-light times.

    A roll-up turns scattered news into proof of momentum for buyers, investors and reporters.

    Risks and how to handle them

    • Disclosure rules

      Roll-up only repeats published facts.

    Evidence

    • Your websiteSitemaps (checked October 23, 2026): 26 pages, 220 press releases and 87 blog posts; no page for commercial, financial, energy or insurance buyers; the jobs sitemap still lists two job pages from January 2025; press release pages and the Mission Solutions page have no meta description; robots.txt asks crawlers for a 10-second delay.Source
    • Your websiteRecent releases: a seven-figure Gen-3 Assured contract with an international defense partner (October 22, 2026); a seven-figure non-Earth imaging contract for HEO space domain awareness (October 15); a six-figure Gen-3 on-demand pilot with a new international intelligence customer (October 8); the fifth Gen-3 "attains first light in hours" (September); exclusive provider of very high-resolution imagery for an international initiative on AI infrastructure in space (September 9). Customers are rarely named.Source
    • Your websiteSecond quarter 2026 results (August 6, 2026): revenue $33.3 million, up 50%; record space-based intelligence and AI services revenue of $25 million; cash of $244 million; "Won several six-figure contracts with commercial customers"; NGA Luno renewal; new orders "through the U.S. Space Force Global Data Marketplace"; an international pilot "Converted ... into a seven-figure subscription contract".Source
  • 03

    The new director will define brand architecture across "defense, space and commercial segments", and BlackSky now wins six-figure commercial contracts and powers SkyFi's retail investor app. Yet the homepage speaks only to defense ("at the speed of conflict") and no page serves commercial buyers.

    High impactMedium effort First result in 1 quarter Director of Marketing & Corpo…

    First action

    Draft the page from the SkyFi release and commercial wins.

    How to measure it

    Commercial contact requests

    Now
    –
    Target
    30 a quarter
    By
    2 quarters

    Steps

    1. 1

      Pick use cases

      Three commercial jobs.

      Vice President of Product Management 1 week

    2. 2

      Write page

      With real examples.

      Director of Marketing & Corporate Communications 1 week

    3. 3

      Add imagery

      Public sites only.

      Director of Marketing & Corporate Communications 1 week

    4. 4

      Route form

      Commercial sales.

      Sales Operations 2 days

    5. 5

      Launch

      LinkedIn and partners.

      Director of Marketing & Corporate Communications 1 week

    6. 6

      Measure

      Inquiries and pipeline.

      Senior Business Intelligence Analyst monthly

    First result
    1 quarter
    Cost
    Staff time only
    Owner
    Director of Marketing & Corporate Communications

    Smallest test

    Publish a one-section version.

    Why it works

    Publish a commercial page: economic activity monitoring (fulfillment hubs, data center construction, ports), supply chain and energy sites, with the SkyFi example, delivery times and a contact form routed to commercial sales.

    Commercial buyers need to see themselves, and the content already exists in releases.

    Risks and how to handle them

    • Dilutes the defense brand

      Keep defense on the homepage; commercial gets its own door.

    Evidence

    • HiringDirector of Marketing & Corporate Communications (Herndon or Seattle, posted October 21, 2026): will "Define the company's brand architecture, positioning and messaging across defense, space and commercial segments", "Lead executive visibility planning and execution, through speeches, keynotes, op-eds, panel preparation, and thought leadership", "Partner with Government Relations to support congressional, agency and allied-nation engagement", "Direct crisis communications planning and response" and manage "a PR-focused agency".Source
    • Your websiteHomepage: "Space-based intelligence at the speed of conflict. Real-time, AI-enhanced tactical ISR built for defense, intelligence and global security leaders"; "up to 15 time-diverse images of your location of interest, throughout the day"; the Spectra platform; On-Demand and Assured; proof is "top-tier customers" with no names, figures or logos.Source
    • Your websiteSkyFi release (September 30, 2026): BlackSky is "the first satellite imagery provider" for SkyFi's "Satellite Intelligence" Robinhood Agent App, making "defense-grade geospatial intelligence of facilities associated with major publicly traded companies accessible to retail investors"; SkyFi's CEO: investors want "how many trucks were at a fulfillment hub last week".Source
    • Your websiteSecond quarter 2026 results (August 6, 2026): revenue $33.3 million, up 50%; record space-based intelligence and AI services revenue of $25 million; cash of $244 million; "Won several six-figure contracts with commercial customers"; NGA Luno renewal; new orders "through the U.S. Space Force Global Data Marketplace"; an international pilot "Converted ... into a seven-figure subscription contract".Source
    • Your websiteSitemaps (checked October 23, 2026): 26 pages, 220 press releases and 87 blog posts; no page for commercial, financial, energy or insurance buyers; the jobs sitemap still lists two job pages from January 2025; press release pages and the Mission Solutions page have no meta description; robots.txt asks crawlers for a 10-second delay.Source
  • 04

    BlackSky is hiring sales leaders for Europe and APAC to sell sovereign missions, but the Mission Solutions page is one generic page with no regional proof, partners or contacts.

    High impactMedium effort First result in 1 quarter Director

    First action

    Draft the Europe page with the new director.

    How to measure it

    Inquiries from Europe and APAC

    Now
    –
    Target
    15 a quarter
    By
    2 quarters

    Steps

    1. 1

      Agree messages

      Per region.

      Director, Business Development, Europe 1 week

    2. 2

      Name partners

      Integrators and primes.

      Director, Business Development, Europe 2 weeks

    3. 3

      Write pages

      Europe and APAC.

      Director of Marketing & Corporate Communications 2 weeks

    4. 4

      Legal review

      Export and naming.

      Legal 1 week

    5. 5

      Route forms

      Regional leads.

      Sales Operations 1 day

    6. 6

      Measure

      Inquiries.

      Senior Business Intelligence Analyst monthly

    First result
    1 quarter
    Cost
    Staff time only
    Owner
    Director, Business Development, Europe

    Smallest test

    Publish the Europe page.

    Why it works

    Create Europe and APAC versions of Mission Solutions: regional threats and use cases, allied programs BlackSky can name, partners and integrators, and a meeting form routed to the regional director.

    Sovereign buyers want a partner who understands their region.

    Risks and how to handle them

    • Export control language

      Review every page.

    Evidence

    • Your websiteMission Solutions page: "a new model for sovereign Earth observation", "a phased pathway from access to autonomy": mission definition, early ISR access, sovereign ground segment, training, satellite deployment, commissioning and handover. The page is the same for every country.Source
    • HiringDirector, Business Development, Europe (posted September 8, 2026, UK preferred, reports to the General Manager, EMEA): sales capture with "government agencies commercial customers, systems integrators, and prime contractors".Source
    • HiringVice President, APAC Sales (Singapore preferred, first posted March 11, 2026 and still listed): a "natural born hunter focused on net new business growth" who leads regional data-product sales and "BlackSky's sovereign 'Missions' sales efforts in the APAC region". A Staff Mission Solutions Engineer (posted October 7, 2026) will "deliver compelling demonstrations" for "international defense, and intelligence (D&I) customers" with about 50% travel.Source
    • Your websiteRecent releases: a seven-figure Gen-3 Assured contract with an international defense partner (October 22, 2026); a seven-figure non-Earth imaging contract for HEO space domain awareness (October 15); a six-figure Gen-3 on-demand pilot with a new international intelligence customer (October 8); the fifth Gen-3 "attains first light in hours" (September); exclusive provider of very high-resolution imagery for an international initiative on AI infrastructure in space (September 9). Customers are rarely named.Source
  • 05

    The jobs sitemap still lists two job pages from January 2025, and the events sitemap has not changed since then. Old pages in search look like a site no one tends.

    Low impactLow effort First result in 2 weeks Web team

    First action

    Remove the two job pages.

    How to measure it

    Expired pages listed

    Now
    –
    Target
    0
    By
    30 days

    Steps

    1. 1

      List

      Jobs and events.

      Web team 1 hour

    2. 2

      Redirect jobs

      To careers.

      Web team 1 hour

    3. 3

      Archive events

      Past events.

      Web team 1 hour

    4. 4

      Resubmit

      Sitemaps.

      Web team 1 hour

    5. 5

      Check

      Search Console.

      Web team 2 weeks

    6. 6

      Monthly review

      Owner.

      Director of Marketing & Corporate Communications monthly

    First result
    2 weeks
    Cost
    $0
    Owner
    Web team

    Smallest test

    Redirect one job page today.

    Why it works

    Unpublish or redirect expired job pages to the careers page, archive old events, and check sitemaps monthly.

    A small clean-up supports the hiring push and the new events page.

    Risks and how to handle them

    • Lost links

      Redirect, do not delete.

    Evidence

    • Your websiteSitemaps (checked October 23, 2026): 26 pages, 220 press releases and 87 blog posts; no page for commercial, financial, energy or insurance buyers; the jobs sitemap still lists two job pages from January 2025; press release pages and the Mission Solutions page have no meta description; robots.txt asks crawlers for a 10-second delay.Source
    • Your websiteEvents page, checked twice on October 23, 2026: it lists only two events, both from 2023. "Indo-Pacific GeoIntelligence Forum", June 6-7, 2023, "Location: New Delhi", tagged "Locals: EMEA"; and "CANIC 2023", May 16, 2023, described as "Space Symposium, held at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, Colorado" but with "Location: Ottowa, Canada". Each has a "Book a meeting" button. The events sitemap was last changed in January 2025.Source
  • 06

    Real visitors pass Core Web Vitals (LCP 1.3 s), but the mobile lab test scores 41 with a 38.5 s LCP on a time-series image. Procurement and analyst tools often use lab numbers.

    Medium impactLow effort First result in 2 weeks Web team

    First action

    Compress the hero image.

    How to measure it

    Lab score

    Now
    –
    Target
    70+
    By
    30 days

    Steps

    1. 1

      Profile

      Hero assets.

      Web team 1 hour

    2. 2

      Compress

      Poster image.

      Web team 1 day

    3. 3

      Lazy-load

      Animation.

      Web team 1 day

    4. 4

      Retest

      PageSpeed.

      Web team 1 hour

    5. 5

      Watch field data

      Monthly.

      Web team monthly

    6. 6

      Repeat

      Offerings and Gen-3 pages.

      Web team 1 week

    First result
    2 weeks
    Cost
    $0
    Owner
    Web team

    Smallest test

    Swap the mobile hero image.

    Why it works

    Serve a compressed, sized poster image for mobile, lazy-load the time-series animation, and retest.

    It removes an easy objection without changing the design.

    Risks and how to handle them

    • Visual quality

      Keep full image on desktop.

    Evidence

    • Google PageSpeedMobile lab test: performance 41 and LCP 38.5 s, with the LCP element a time-series image ("Madrid Intl. Airport Detect time series"). Real visitors are fine: Chrome UX Report LCP 1.3 s, INP 79 ms, CLS 0, and LCP 21% faster over recent months. The lab number reflects a heavy hero image, not what visitors feel.Source

This quarter 9

The core plays for the next three months.

  • 07

    BlackSky announces each Gen-3 launch and first light separately. Buyers want one view of capacity, and the new BI analyst already models capacity by geography.

    High impactMedium effort First result in 1 quarter Director of Marketing & Corpo…

    First action

    Draft the page with current figures.

    How to measure it

    Page visits from prospects

    Now
    –
    Target
    1,000 a quarter
    By
    2 quarters

    Steps

    1. 1

      Pick metrics

      Public ones only.

      Senior Business Intelligence Analyst 1 week

    2. 2

      Security review

      What can be public.

      Security 1 week

    3. 3

      Design page

      Simple and current.

      Director of Marketing & Corporate Communications 2 weeks

    4. 4

      Build

      Update after each event.

      Web team 2 weeks

    5. 5

      Sales use

      In proposals.

      Staff Mission Solutions Engineer ongoing

    6. 6

      Review

      Each launch.

      Senior Business Intelligence Analyst ongoing

    First result
    1 quarter
    Cost
    Staff time only
    Owner
    Director of Marketing & Corporate Communications

    Smallest test

    Publish satellites in service and next launch.

    Why it works

    Publish a page with Gen-3 satellites in service, typical revisit by latitude band, delivery time and upcoming launches, updated after each event.

    Visible capacity reassures buyers choosing between providers and gives the press a reference.

    Risks and how to handle them

    • Revealing too much

      Publish ranges, not tasking details.

    Evidence

    • Your websiteRecent releases: a seven-figure Gen-3 Assured contract with an international defense partner (October 22, 2026); a seven-figure non-Earth imaging contract for HEO space domain awareness (October 15); a six-figure Gen-3 on-demand pilot with a new international intelligence customer (October 8); the fifth Gen-3 "attains first light in hours" (September); exclusive provider of very high-resolution imagery for an international initiative on AI infrastructure in space (September 9). Customers are rarely named.Source
    • HiringProduct Insights, Software Engineering Manager (posted August 18, 2026): a "newly established Product Insights team" so customers get value "without relying on multiple external vendors", because "the broader market demands turnkey insight products, seamless workflows, and integrated partner solutions". A Senior Business Intelligence Analyst (posted September 11, 2026) will "Conduct constellation capacity analyses across geographies and products" for "Product, Sales, and other Go-to-Market stakeholders".Source
    • Your websiteOfferings page: On-Demand gives "image delivery in under 90 minutes", "hourly revisit over some areas" and archive access; Assured gives "Uncontested tasking access over your area of interest"; use cases are border monitoring, strategic facility monitoring, disaster response, tactical ISR, military asset monitoring and force protection, each with a short case study link.Source
    • Your websiteSecond quarter 2026 results (August 6, 2026): revenue $33.3 million, up 50%; record space-based intelligence and AI services revenue of $25 million; cash of $244 million; "Won several six-figure contracts with commercial customers"; NGA Luno renewal; new orders "through the U.S. Space Force Global Data Marketplace"; an international pilot "Converted ... into a seven-figure subscription contract".Source
  • 08

    BlackSky published five posts on assured collection in one day, and the new director owns op-eds and thought leadership. The argument is strong but scattered.

    High impactMedium effort First result in 1 quarter Director of Marketing & Corpo…

    First action

    Outline the white paper.

    How to measure it

    Downloads

    Now
    –
    Target
    500
    By
    2 quarters

    Steps

    1. 1

      Outline

      From the five posts.

      Director of Marketing & Corporate Communications 1 week

    2. 2

      Add data

      Delivery and collection rates.

      Senior Business Intelligence Analyst 2 weeks

    3. 3

      Write

      White paper.

      Director of Marketing & Corporate Communications 3 weeks

    4. 4

      Op-eds

      Two placements.

      Director of Marketing & Corporate Communications 1 month

    5. 5

      Panel

      Pitch to events.

      Director of Marketing & Corporate Communications 1 month

    6. 6

      Measure

      Downloads and mentions.

      Senior Business Intelligence Analyst monthly

    First result
    1 quarter
    Cost
    PR agency time
    Owner
    Director of Marketing & Corporate Communications

    Smallest test

    Pitch one op-ed.

    Why it works

    Combine them into one white paper with data on delivery certainty, place two op-eds in defense media under executive bylines, and pitch a conference panel on the topic.

    One clear argument repeated in several places shapes how buyers write requirements.

    Risks and how to handle them

    • Seen as self-serving

      Use neutral data and outside voices.

    Evidence

    • Your websiteBlog: five posts published on July 30, 2026 on one theme, assured collection ("When access isn't enough: why best-effort tasking fails modern ISR", "From probability to commitment: the structural shift in commercial ISR delivery", "The access paradox in commercial ISR"), plus "Sovereignty no longer means going it alone" (October 13, 2026).Source
    • HiringDirector of Marketing & Corporate Communications (Herndon or Seattle, posted October 21, 2026): will "Define the company's brand architecture, positioning and messaging across defense, space and commercial segments", "Lead executive visibility planning and execution, through speeches, keynotes, op-eds, panel preparation, and thought leadership", "Partner with Government Relations to support congressional, agency and allied-nation engagement", "Direct crisis communications planning and response" and manage "a PR-focused agency".Source
    • Your websiteOfferings page: On-Demand gives "image delivery in under 90 minutes", "hourly revisit over some areas" and archive access; Assured gives "Uncontested tasking access over your area of interest"; use cases are border monitoring, strategic facility monitoring, disaster response, tactical ISR, military asset monitoring and force protection, each with a short case study link.Source
  • 09

    BlackSky reports pilots converting to seven-figure subscriptions and just won a new international pilot. A repeatable pilot design makes conversion predictable.

    High impactMedium effort First result in 1 quarter Staff Mission Solutions Engin…

    First action

    Write the pilot template.

    How to measure it

    Pilot conversion

    Now
    –
    Target
    60%
    By
    3 quarters

    Steps

    1. 1

      Review past pilots

      What converted.

      Staff Mission Solutions Engineer 2 weeks

    2. 2

      Write template

      Scope and criteria.

      Staff Mission Solutions Engineer 1 week

    3. 3

      Reporting

      Weekly in Spectra.

      Product Insights, Software Engineering Manager 2 weeks

    4. 4

      Offer

      Conversion pricing.

      Sales Operations 1 week

    5. 5

      Train

      Regional teams.

      Staff Mission Solutions Engineer 2 weeks

    6. 6

      Measure

      Conversion.

      Senior Business Intelligence Analyst monthly

    First result
    1 quarter
    Cost
    Staff time only
    Owner
    Staff Mission Solutions Engineer

    Smallest test

    Use the template on the next pilot.

    Why it works

    Define a 60-90 day pilot: agreed areas, success criteria, weekly reports in Spectra, and a conversion offer. Publish a pilot page and train the solutions team to run it.

    Clear success criteria turn trials into contracts.

    Risks and how to handle them

    • Pilots run too long

      Fixed end dates.

    Evidence

    • Your websiteSecond quarter 2026 results (August 6, 2026): revenue $33.3 million, up 50%; record space-based intelligence and AI services revenue of $25 million; cash of $244 million; "Won several six-figure contracts with commercial customers"; NGA Luno renewal; new orders "through the U.S. Space Force Global Data Marketplace"; an international pilot "Converted ... into a seven-figure subscription contract".Source
    • Your websiteRecent releases: a seven-figure Gen-3 Assured contract with an international defense partner (October 22, 2026); a seven-figure non-Earth imaging contract for HEO space domain awareness (October 15); a six-figure Gen-3 on-demand pilot with a new international intelligence customer (October 8); the fifth Gen-3 "attains first light in hours" (September); exclusive provider of very high-resolution imagery for an international initiative on AI infrastructure in space (September 9). Customers are rarely named.Source
    • HiringVice President, APAC Sales (Singapore preferred, first posted March 11, 2026 and still listed): a "natural born hunter focused on net new business growth" who leads regional data-product sales and "BlackSky's sovereign 'Missions' sales efforts in the APAC region". A Staff Mission Solutions Engineer (posted October 7, 2026) will "deliver compelling demonstrations" for "international defense, and intelligence (D&I) customers" with about 50% travel.Source
  • 10

    The homepage invites visitors to "Experience the power of BlackSky Spectra", but the only path is a conversation. Solutions engineers travel 50% of the time to give demos.

    High impactHigh effort First result in 2 quarters Vice President of Product Man…

    First action

    Pick two public sample sites.

    How to measure it

    Demo-to-meeting rate

    Now
    –
    Target
    20%
    By
    2 quarters

    Steps

    1. 1

      Pick samples

      Public sites.

      Vice President of Product Management 1 week

    2. 2

      Build demo

      Guided tour.

      Product Insights, Software Engineering Manager 1 quarter

    3. 3

      Gate

      Short form.

      Web team 1 week

    4. 4

      Train engineers

      Send before meetings.

      Staff Mission Solutions Engineer 1 week

    5. 5

      Promote

      Website and events.

      Director of Marketing & Corporate Communications ongoing

    6. 6

      Measure

      Meetings.

      Senior Business Intelligence Analyst monthly

    First result
    2 quarters
    Cost
    Engineering time
    Owner
    Vice President of Product Management

    Smallest test

    Record a five-minute video tour first.

    Why it works

    Build a guided Spectra demo with sample public imagery and analytics (a port, an airport), gated by a short form, and give engineers a link to send before meetings.

    A hands-on look qualifies buyers and saves engineer time.

    Risks and how to handle them

    • Sensitive imagery

      Use only public commercial sites.

    Evidence

    • Your websiteHomepage: "Space-based intelligence at the speed of conflict. Real-time, AI-enhanced tactical ISR built for defense, intelligence and global security leaders"; "up to 15 time-diverse images of your location of interest, throughout the day"; the Spectra platform; On-Demand and Assured; proof is "top-tier customers" with no names, figures or logos.Source
    • HiringVice President, APAC Sales (Singapore preferred, first posted March 11, 2026 and still listed): a "natural born hunter focused on net new business growth" who leads regional data-product sales and "BlackSky's sovereign 'Missions' sales efforts in the APAC region". A Staff Mission Solutions Engineer (posted October 7, 2026) will "deliver compelling demonstrations" for "international defense, and intelligence (D&I) customers" with about 50% travel.Source
    • Your websiteOfferings page: On-Demand gives "image delivery in under 90 minutes", "hourly revisit over some areas" and archive access; Assured gives "Uncontested tasking access over your area of interest"; use cases are border monitoring, strategic facility monitoring, disaster response, tactical ISR, military asset monitoring and force protection, each with a short case study link.Source
  • 11

    The new Product Insights team is building turnkey insight products and partner analytics so customers need fewer vendors. Buyers cannot see what is available.

    High impactHigh effort First result in 2 quarters Product Insights

    First action

    List products available today.

    How to measure it

    Products per account

    Now
    –
    Target
    +1
    By
    3 quarters

    Steps

    1. 1

      List products

      Current and partner.

      Product Insights, Software Engineering Manager 1 week

    2. 2

      Samples

      Public examples.

      Product Insights, Software Engineering Manager 2 weeks

    3. 3

      Write pages

      Catalogue.

      Director of Marketing & Corporate Communications 2 weeks

    4. 4

      Launch process

      Add each product.

      Vice President of Product Management ongoing

    5. 5

      Tell customers

      Account reviews.

      Account Management quarterly

    6. 6

      Measure

      Attach rate.

      Senior Business Intelligence Analyst monthly

    First result
    2 quarters
    Cost
    Staff time only
    Owner
    Product Insights, Software Engineering Manager

    Smallest test

    Publish five products.

    Why it works

    Publish a catalogue page of insight products (object detection, change, partner analytics), with sample outputs, inputs and delivery times, and add each new product as it launches.

    A visible catalogue sells new products to existing customers.

    Risks and how to handle them

    • Partner claims

      Partner approval for each page.

    Evidence

    • HiringProduct Insights, Software Engineering Manager (posted August 18, 2026): a "newly established Product Insights team" so customers get value "without relying on multiple external vendors", because "the broader market demands turnkey insight products, seamless workflows, and integrated partner solutions". A Senior Business Intelligence Analyst (posted September 11, 2026) will "Conduct constellation capacity analyses across geographies and products" for "Product, Sales, and other Go-to-Market stakeholders".Source
    • Your websiteOfferings page: On-Demand gives "image delivery in under 90 minutes", "hourly revisit over some areas" and archive access; Assured gives "Uncontested tasking access over your area of interest"; use cases are border monitoring, strategic facility monitoring, disaster response, tactical ISR, military asset monitoring and force protection, each with a short case study link.Source
  • 12

    The BI analyst will analyze constellation capacity by geography for sales. Selling Assured where capacity is tight creates delivery risk; selling where it is open fills the constellation.

    Medium impactMedium effort First result in 1 quarter Senior Business Intelligence…

    First action

    Build the first capacity map.

    How to measure it

    Utilization in target regions

    Now
    –
    Target
    +10%
    By
    2 quarters

    Steps

    1. 1

      Model capacity

      By region.

      Senior Business Intelligence Analyst 1 month

    2. 2

      Map demand

      Pipeline by region.

      Senior Business Intelligence Analyst 2 weeks

    3. 3

      Set targets

      Per region.

      Chief Revenue Officer 1 week

    4. 4

      Share monthly

      Sales review.

      Senior Business Intelligence Analyst monthly

    5. 5

      Adjust pricing

      Where open.

      Vice President of Product Management quarterly

    6. 6

      Review

      Utilization.

      Senior Business Intelligence Analyst monthly

    First result
    1 quarter
    Cost
    Analyst time
    Owner
    Senior Business Intelligence Analyst

    Smallest test

    Share one region's map.

    Why it works

    Publish an internal monthly map of open Assured capacity by region and set regional targets from it, so Europe and APAC leads pitch where BlackSky can deliver.

    Matching demand to supply raises utilization and protects delivery promises.

    Risks and how to handle them

    • Model errors

      Check against delivered tasks.

    Evidence

    • HiringProduct Insights, Software Engineering Manager (posted August 18, 2026): a "newly established Product Insights team" so customers get value "without relying on multiple external vendors", because "the broader market demands turnkey insight products, seamless workflows, and integrated partner solutions". A Senior Business Intelligence Analyst (posted September 11, 2026) will "Conduct constellation capacity analyses across geographies and products" for "Product, Sales, and other Go-to-Market stakeholders".Source
    • HiringDirector, Business Development, Europe (posted September 8, 2026, UK preferred, reports to the General Manager, EMEA): sales capture with "government agencies commercial customers, systems integrators, and prime contractors".Source
    • HiringVice President, APAC Sales (Singapore preferred, first posted March 11, 2026 and still listed): a "natural born hunter focused on net new business growth" who leads regional data-product sales and "BlackSky's sovereign 'Missions' sales efforts in the APAC region". A Staff Mission Solutions Engineer (posted October 7, 2026) will "deliver compelling demonstrations" for "international defense, and intelligence (D&I) customers" with about 50% travel.Source
  • 13

    BlackSky wins orders through the Space Force Global Data Marketplace and NGA programs, but the site does not explain contract vehicles. Government buyers need a path they can use.

    High impactLow effort First result in 1 quarter Government Relations

    First action

    List current vehicles.

    How to measure it

    Marketplace orders

    Now
    –
    Target
    +25%
    By
    2 quarters

    Steps

    1. 1

      List vehicles

      US and allied.

      Contracts 1 week

    2. 2

      Write page

      Steps per buyer.

      Director of Marketing & Corporate Communications 1 week

    3. 3

      Review

      Legal.

      Legal 1 week

    4. 4

      Publish

      Linked from offerings.

      Web team 1 day

    5. 5

      Tell GR

      Agency briefings.

      Government Relations ongoing

    6. 6

      Measure

      Orders.

      Senior Business Intelligence Analyst monthly

    First result
    1 quarter
    Cost
    $0
    Owner
    Government Relations

    Smallest test

    Publish the US section.

    Why it works

    List the vehicles and marketplaces BlackSky can be bought through, with steps for US, allied and commercial buyers, and a contracting contact.

    Removing procurement friction shortens deals.

    Risks and how to handle them

    • Vehicle changes

      Date the page.

    Evidence

    • Your websiteSecond quarter 2026 results (August 6, 2026): revenue $33.3 million, up 50%; record space-based intelligence and AI services revenue of $25 million; cash of $244 million; "Won several six-figure contracts with commercial customers"; NGA Luno renewal; new orders "through the U.S. Space Force Global Data Marketplace"; an international pilot "Converted ... into a seven-figure subscription contract".Source
    • HiringDirector of Marketing & Corporate Communications (Herndon or Seattle, posted October 21, 2026): will "Define the company's brand architecture, positioning and messaging across defense, space and commercial segments", "Lead executive visibility planning and execution, through speeches, keynotes, op-eds, panel preparation, and thought leadership", "Partner with Government Relations to support congressional, agency and allied-nation engagement", "Direct crisis communications planning and response" and manage "a PR-focused agency".Source
  • 14

    Most BlackSky releases describe "an international defense partner" or "a new international intelligence customer", and the homepage proof is "top-tier customers". Rivals publish named stories.

    Medium impactMedium effort First result in 2 quarters Director of Marketing & Corpo…

    First action

    Ask five customers.

    How to measure it

    Stories

    Now
    –
    Target
    6
    By
    2 quarters

    Steps

    1. 1

      Shortlist

      Willing customers.

      Account Management 2 weeks

    2. 2

      Interview

      Results.

      Director of Marketing & Corporate Communications 1 month

    3. 3

      Write

      Stories.

      Director of Marketing & Corporate Communications 1 month

    4. 4

      Approve

      Customer and security.

      Legal 2 weeks

    5. 5

      Publish

      Offerings pages.

      Web team 1 week

    6. 6

      Use

      Proposals.

      Staff Mission Solutions Engineer ongoing

    First result
    2 quarters
    Cost
    Staff time only
    Owner
    Director of Marketing & Corporate Communications

    Smallest test

    Publish one commercial story.

    Why it works

    Ask commercial and allied customers for permission to be named; where not possible, publish quantified stories by mission type (delivery time, revisit, outcome).

    Specific proof persuades buyers more than claims.

    Risks and how to handle them

    • Defense customers cannot be named

      Use mission-type stories.

    Evidence

    • Your websiteHomepage: "Space-based intelligence at the speed of conflict. Real-time, AI-enhanced tactical ISR built for defense, intelligence and global security leaders"; "up to 15 time-diverse images of your location of interest, throughout the day"; the Spectra platform; On-Demand and Assured; proof is "top-tier customers" with no names, figures or logos.Source
    • Your websiteRecent releases: a seven-figure Gen-3 Assured contract with an international defense partner (October 22, 2026); a seven-figure non-Earth imaging contract for HEO space domain awareness (October 15); a six-figure Gen-3 on-demand pilot with a new international intelligence customer (October 8); the fifth Gen-3 "attains first light in hours" (September); exclusive provider of very high-resolution imagery for an international initiative on AI infrastructure in space (September 9). Customers are rarely named.Source
    • Competitor researchRivals' own homepages: Planet, "daily satellite imagery and insights"; Vantor, spatial intelligence "across the defense, intelligence, and commercial sectors"; Capella, "Trusted All-Weather Earth Intelligence from Space"; Satellogic, another Earth imaging constellation operator.Source
  • 15

    BlackSky's Gen-3 satellites reach first light within hours, and more launches are planned. Each launch is a news moment the comms team can plan for.

    Medium impactLow effort First result in 1 quarter Director of Marketing & Corpo…

    First action

    Plan the next launch campaign.

    How to measure it

    Social engagement per launch

    Now
    –
    Target
    2x
    By
    2 quarters

    Steps

    1. 1

      Template

      Launch campaign.

      Director of Marketing & Corporate Communications 1 week

    2. 2

      Imagery

      First light.

      Operations per launch

    3. 3

      Posts

      Teaser and live.

      Director of Marketing & Corporate Communications per launch

    4. 4

      Customer note

      Capacity added.

      Account Management per launch

    5. 5

      Press

      Briefing.

      Director of Marketing & Corporate Communications per launch

    6. 6

      Measure

      Engagement.

      Senior Business Intelligence Analyst per launch

    First result
    1 quarter
    Cost
    PR agency time
    Owner
    Director of Marketing & Corporate Communications

    Smallest test

    Run it on the next launch.

    Why it works

    For each launch, prepare a teaser, a live post, first-light imagery within a day, a customer-facing note, and a briefing for analysts and press.

    Launches draw attention that sells capacity.

    Risks and how to handle them

    • Launch slips

      Flexible dates.

    Evidence

    • Your websiteRecent releases: a seven-figure Gen-3 Assured contract with an international defense partner (October 22, 2026); a seven-figure non-Earth imaging contract for HEO space domain awareness (October 15); a six-figure Gen-3 on-demand pilot with a new international intelligence customer (October 8); the fifth Gen-3 "attains first light in hours" (September); exclusive provider of very high-resolution imagery for an international initiative on AI infrastructure in space (September 9). Customers are rarely named.Source
    • HiringDirector of Marketing & Corporate Communications (Herndon or Seattle, posted October 21, 2026): will "Define the company's brand architecture, positioning and messaging across defense, space and commercial segments", "Lead executive visibility planning and execution, through speeches, keynotes, op-eds, panel preparation, and thought leadership", "Partner with Government Relations to support congressional, agency and allied-nation engagement", "Direct crisis communications planning and response" and manage "a PR-focused agency".Source
    • Your websiteSecond quarter 2026 results (August 6, 2026): revenue $33.3 million, up 50%; record space-based intelligence and AI services revenue of $25 million; cash of $244 million; "Won several six-figure contracts with commercial customers"; NGA Luno renewal; new orders "through the U.S. Space Force Global Data Marketplace"; an international pilot "Converted ... into a seven-figure subscription contract".Source

Big bets 3

Larger plays that can change the trajectory.

  • 16

    SkyFi puts BlackSky imagery in front of retail investors asking how busy fulfillment hubs and data center sites are. Institutional investors pay for the same signals.

    High impactHigh effort First result in 4 quarters Vice President of Product Man…

    First action

    Pick 50 sites with investor interest.

    How to measure it

    Commercial data subscriptions

    Now
    –
    Target
    10
    By
    4 quarters

    Steps

    1. 1

      Pick sites

      50 public-company sites.

      Vice President of Product Management 1 month

    2. 2

      Build measures

      Counts and change.

      Product Insights, Software Engineering Manager 1 quarter

    3. 3

      Backfill

      Archive history.

      Product Insights, Software Engineering Manager 1 quarter

    4. 4

      Partner

      Data platforms.

      Business Development 1 quarter

    5. 5

      Sell

      Funds.

      Business Development ongoing

    6. 6

      Measure

      Revenue.

      Senior Business Intelligence Analyst quarterly

    First result
    4 quarters
    Cost
    Product and data costs
    Owner
    Vice President of Product Management

    Smallest test

    Offer one site set to three funds.

    Why it works

    Package recurring measures (vehicle counts, construction progress, port activity) for public-company sites as a data feed for funds and data platforms, with history and methods.

    Recurring data subscriptions diversify revenue beyond government.

    Risks and how to handle them

    • Capacity conflicts with defense

      Use archive and spare capacity first.

    Evidence

    • Your websiteSkyFi release (September 30, 2026): BlackSky is "the first satellite imagery provider" for SkyFi's "Satellite Intelligence" Robinhood Agent App, making "defense-grade geospatial intelligence of facilities associated with major publicly traded companies accessible to retail investors"; SkyFi's CEO: investors want "how many trucks were at a fulfillment hub last week".Source
    • Your websiteSecond quarter 2026 results (August 6, 2026): revenue $33.3 million, up 50%; record space-based intelligence and AI services revenue of $25 million; cash of $244 million; "Won several six-figure contracts with commercial customers"; NGA Luno renewal; new orders "through the U.S. Space Force Global Data Marketplace"; an international pilot "Converted ... into a seven-figure subscription contract".Source
    • HiringProduct Insights, Software Engineering Manager (posted August 18, 2026): a "newly established Product Insights team" so customers get value "without relying on multiple external vendors", because "the broader market demands turnkey insight products, seamless workflows, and integrated partner solutions". A Senior Business Intelligence Analyst (posted September 11, 2026) will "Conduct constellation capacity analyses across geographies and products" for "Product, Sales, and other Go-to-Market stakeholders".Source
  • 17

    BlackSky sells sovereign missions across Europe and APAC and says "Sovereignty no longer means going it alone". Allied buyers learn from each other.

    High impactHigh effort First result in 4 quarters Vice President

    First action

    Invite three customers.

    How to measure it

    Members

    Now
    –
    Target
    8
    By
    4 quarters

    Steps

    1. 1

      Invite

      Three founding members.

      Vice President, APAC Sales 1 quarter

    2. 2

      Charter

      Rules and topics.

      Director, Business Development, Europe 1 month

    3. 3

      Meet

      Twice a year.

      CEO semiannual

    4. 4

      Roadmap input

      Product.

      Vice President of Product Management ongoing

    5. 5

      Publish

      Summaries.

      Director of Marketing & Corporate Communications semiannual

    6. 6

      Grow

      New members.

      Director, Business Development, Europe ongoing

    First result
    4 quarters
    Cost
    Event costs
    Owner
    Vice President, APAC Sales

    Smallest test

    Host one regional session.

    Why it works

    Form a council of allied customers and integrators that meets twice a year, shares lessons and shapes the roadmap, with public summaries where allowed.

    Peer validation speeds sovereign decisions and deepens accounts.

    Risks and how to handle them

    • Sensitivities between nations

      Separate regional sessions.

    Evidence

    • Your websiteBlog: five posts published on July 30, 2026 on one theme, assured collection ("When access isn't enough: why best-effort tasking fails modern ISR", "From probability to commitment: the structural shift in commercial ISR delivery", "The access paradox in commercial ISR"), plus "Sovereignty no longer means going it alone" (October 13, 2026).Source
    • HiringVice President, APAC Sales (Singapore preferred, first posted March 11, 2026 and still listed): a "natural born hunter focused on net new business growth" who leads regional data-product sales and "BlackSky's sovereign 'Missions' sales efforts in the APAC region". A Staff Mission Solutions Engineer (posted October 7, 2026) will "deliver compelling demonstrations" for "international defense, and intelligence (D&I) customers" with about 50% travel.Source
    • HiringDirector, Business Development, Europe (posted September 8, 2026, UK preferred, reports to the General Manager, EMEA): sales capture with "government agencies commercial customers, systems integrators, and prime contractors".Source
    • Your websiteMission Solutions page: "a new model for sovereign Earth observation", "a phased pathway from access to autonomy": mission definition, early ISR access, sovereign ground segment, training, satellite deployment, commissioning and handover. The page is the same for every country.Source
  • 18

    BlackSky argues for delivery certainty over best-effort tasking. Buyers lack neutral data on delivery times and revisit.

    High impactMedium effort First result in 3 quarters Director of Marketing & Corpo…

    First action

    Choose five metrics.

    How to measure it

    Citations in requirements and media

    Now
    –
    Target
    20
    By
    1 year

    Steps

    1. 1

      Pick metrics

      Five.

      Senior Business Intelligence Analyst 2 weeks

    2. 2

      Method

      Documented.

      Senior Business Intelligence Analyst 1 month

    3. 3

      Security review

      Aggregates only.

      Security 1 month

    4. 4

      Write

      Report.

      Director of Marketing & Corporate Communications 1 month

    5. 5

      Launch

      Event keynote.

      Director of Marketing & Corporate Communications 1 month

    6. 6

      Update

      Yearly.

      Senior Business Intelligence Analyst yearly

    First result
    3 quarters
    Cost
    Analyst time
    Owner
    Director of Marketing & Corporate Communications

    Smallest test

    Publish one metric.

    Why it works

    Publish a yearly benchmark of delivery metrics (time to image, time to answer, revisit) from aggregated BlackSky data, with a clear method.

    Owning the measurement shapes how the market defines good.

    Risks and how to handle them

    • Credibility

      Outside review of the method.

    Evidence

    • Your websiteBlog: five posts published on July 30, 2026 on one theme, assured collection ("When access isn't enough: why best-effort tasking fails modern ISR", "From probability to commitment: the structural shift in commercial ISR delivery", "The access paradox in commercial ISR"), plus "Sovereignty no longer means going it alone" (October 13, 2026).Source
    • Your websiteOfferings page: On-Demand gives "image delivery in under 90 minutes", "hourly revisit over some areas" and archive access; Assured gives "Uncontested tasking access over your area of interest"; use cases are border monitoring, strategic facility monitoring, disaster response, tactical ISR, military asset monitoring and force protection, each with a short case study link.Source
    • Competitor researchRivals' own homepages: Planet, "daily satellite imagery and insights"; Vantor, spatial intelligence "across the defense, intelligence, and commercial sectors"; Capella, "Trusted All-Weather Earth Intelligence from Space"; Satellogic, another Earth imaging constellation operator.Source

Wildcards 3

Unexpected experiments, each with a cheap way to test it.

  • 19

    BlackSky offers disaster response and rapid revisit. Newsrooms need timely imagery of public disasters, and the comms director owns earned media.

    Medium impactMedium effort First result in 1 quarter Director of Marketing & Corpo…

    First action

    Write the media license terms.

    How to measure it

    Credited images in news

    Now
    –
    Target
    50 a year
    By
    1 year

    Steps

    1. 1

      Terms

      License and credit.

      Legal 2 weeks

    2. 2

      Criteria

      Which events.

      Director of Marketing & Corporate Communications 1 week

    3. 3

      Workflow

      Fast release.

      Operations 2 weeks

    4. 4

      Media list

      Newsrooms.

      Director of Marketing & Corporate Communications 2 weeks

    5. 5

      Launch

      Next event.

      Director of Marketing & Corporate Communications ongoing

    6. 6

      Measure

      Credits.

      Senior Business Intelligence Analyst monthly

    First result
    1 quarter
    Cost
    Capacity cost
    Owner
    Director of Marketing & Corporate Communications

    Smallest test

    Offer images for one event.

    Why it works

    Set up a media imagery program for natural disasters: licensed images with credit, released quickly, plus analysts for comment.

    Credited images in the news reach buyers and show speed.

    Risks and how to handle them

    • Sensitivity

      Disasters only, no military sites.

    Evidence

    • Your websiteOfferings page: On-Demand gives "image delivery in under 90 minutes", "hourly revisit over some areas" and archive access; Assured gives "Uncontested tasking access over your area of interest"; use cases are border monitoring, strategic facility monitoring, disaster response, tactical ISR, military asset monitoring and force protection, each with a short case study link.Source
    • HiringDirector of Marketing & Corporate Communications (Herndon or Seattle, posted October 21, 2026): will "Define the company's brand architecture, positioning and messaging across defense, space and commercial segments", "Lead executive visibility planning and execution, through speeches, keynotes, op-eds, panel preparation, and thought leadership", "Partner with Government Relations to support congressional, agency and allied-nation engagement", "Direct crisis communications planning and response" and manage "a PR-focused agency".Source
  • 20

    BlackSky has archive imagery and AI analytics. Researchers in disaster science and economics publish work that cites the source.

    Medium impactLow effort First result in 2 quarters Vice President of Product Man…

    First action

    Pick three universities.

    How to measure it

    Papers

    Now
    –
    Target
    10
    By
    1 year

    Steps

    1. 1

      Design

      Access limits.

      Vice President of Product Management 2 weeks

    2. 2

      Terms

      Research license.

      Legal 2 weeks

    3. 3

      Recruit

      Three universities.

      Vice President of Product Management 1 month

    4. 4

      Support

      Office hours.

      Product Insights, Software Engineering Manager monthly

    5. 5

      Showcase

      Annual.

      Director of Marketing & Corporate Communications yearly

    6. 6

      Measure

      Papers.

      Senior Business Intelligence Analyst yearly

    First result
    2 quarters
    Cost
    Archive access
    Owner
    Vice President of Product Management

    Smallest test

    Run one research project.

    Why it works

    Offer limited Spectra and archive access to selected university researchers, with a citation requirement and an annual showcase.

    Citations and students who know the platform build long-term demand.

    Risks and how to handle them

    • Misuse

      Approved projects only.

    Evidence

    • Your websiteOfferings page: On-Demand gives "image delivery in under 90 minutes", "hourly revisit over some areas" and archive access; Assured gives "Uncontested tasking access over your area of interest"; use cases are border monitoring, strategic facility monitoring, disaster response, tactical ISR, military asset monitoring and force protection, each with a short case study link.Source
    • HiringProduct Insights, Software Engineering Manager (posted August 18, 2026): a "newly established Product Insights team" so customers get value "without relying on multiple external vendors", because "the broader market demands turnkey insight products, seamless workflows, and integrated partner solutions". A Senior Business Intelligence Analyst (posted September 11, 2026) will "Conduct constellation capacity analyses across geographies and products" for "Product, Sales, and other Go-to-Market stakeholders".Source
  • 21

    BlackSky's story is speed (first light in hours, delivery in under 90 minutes), and the new comms director builds executive visibility. Speed is easiest to believe when shown.

    Medium impactLow effort First result in 1 quarter CEO

    First action

    Film one tasking run.

    How to measure it

    Views

    Now
    –
    Target
    10,000 a quarter
    By
    2 quarters

    Steps

    1. 1

      Pick stories

      Non-sensitive tasks.

      Director of Marketing & Corporate Communications 1 week

    2. 2

      Security review

      Content.

      Security 1 week

    3. 3

      Film

      Monthly.

      Director of Marketing & Corporate Communications monthly

    4. 4

      Edit

      Short cuts.

      Director of Marketing & Corporate Communications monthly

    5. 5

      Publish

      LinkedIn and YouTube.

      Director of Marketing & Corporate Communications monthly

    6. 6

      Measure

      Views.

      Senior Business Intelligence Analyst monthly

    First result
    1 quarter
    Cost
    Production time
    Owner
    CEO

    Smallest test

    Film one video.

    Why it works

    Film short videos of real (non-sensitive) tasking: from request to delivered image, with an engineer explaining, posted on LinkedIn and YouTube.

    Showing the process makes the claims real.

    Risks and how to handle them

    • Security

      Review every video.

    Evidence

    • Your websiteOfferings page: On-Demand gives "image delivery in under 90 minutes", "hourly revisit over some areas" and archive access; Assured gives "Uncontested tasking access over your area of interest"; use cases are border monitoring, strategic facility monitoring, disaster response, tactical ISR, military asset monitoring and force protection, each with a short case study link.Source
    • HiringDirector of Marketing & Corporate Communications (Herndon or Seattle, posted October 21, 2026): will "Define the company's brand architecture, positioning and messaging across defense, space and commercial segments", "Lead executive visibility planning and execution, through speeches, keynotes, op-eds, panel preparation, and thought leadership", "Partner with Government Relations to support congressional, agency and allied-nation engagement", "Direct crisis communications planning and response" and manage "a PR-focused agency".Source
    • Your websiteRecent releases: a seven-figure Gen-3 Assured contract with an international defense partner (October 22, 2026); a seven-figure non-Earth imaging contract for HEO space domain awareness (October 15); a six-figure Gen-3 on-demand pilot with a new international intelligence customer (October 8); the fifth Gen-3 "attains first light in hours" (September); exclusive provider of very high-resolution imagery for an international initiative on AI infrastructure in space (September 9). Customers are rarely named.Source

03

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  • Flagler Health growth strategyAn AI operating system for musculoskeletal (MSK) practices that runs inside their existing EMR: patient engagement and remote monitoring…21 growth ideas

See every playbook and website review

Independent research. Programmable wrote this playbook from public sources, as they stood on October 26, 2026, and cites them throughout. BlackSky did not commission, review or endorse it, and Programmable is not affiliated with BlackSky. Company and product names are trademarks of their owners, used only to identify them. The ideas are suggestions and opinion, not professional, legal or financial advice, and not statements about how BlackSky runs its business.

Something wrong, or do you represent BlackSky? Email [email protected] and we will correct it or take it down.

30/60/90 roadmap

What to focus on in each month, and the ideas that carry it.

  1. Days 1 to 306 ideas

    Events page, release summaries, commercial page, regional sovereign pages, sitemap clean-up and mobile hero image.

  2. Days 31 to 6010 ideas

    Constellation page, white paper, pilot program, Spectra demo, insight catalogue, capacity map, how-to-buy page, case stories and launch campaigns; the newsroom imagery desk.

  3. Days 61 to 905 ideas

    Economic activity data, the allied council and the delivery benchmark; university access and the operations video series.

The research behind the plan

3 research areas, each summarised in a few lines. Open any of them for the full detail.

Customers

What customers say

Customers value speed: tasking in minutes, delivery in under 90 minutes. The most cited problem: missed or delayed collections from best-effort tasking.

  • Many images a day over one location
  • Juggling several vendors for analytics
  • In their words: “real-time”

Market

Competitive landscape

4 competitors compared: Planet, Vantor, Capella Space and Satellogic.

  • Gap to exploit: Guaranteed collection for allied buyers
  • Planet: Less focus on high-revisit tactical tasking
  • Vantor: Fewer revisits per day

Hiring signals

BlackSky is building the commercial engine around Gen-3.

  • Director of Marketing & Corporate Communications: Brand across defense, space and commercial; keynotes and op-eds. Ideas 1, 2, 3, 8, 14.
  • Director, Business Development, Europe: European government and integrator sales. Ideas 1, 4.
  • Vice President, APAC Sales: APAC data products and sovereign missions. Ideas 4, 17.

From the team that wrote this playbook

All products
  • ProgrammableAgencyWorking AI systems in days, not quarters (opens programmable.agency in a new tab)
  • ProgrammableInfoAn agent that finds, researches and asks first (opens programmable.info in a new tab)
  • ProgrammableDigitalScreenshots in, an animated product demo out (opens programmable.digital in a new tab)
  • ProgrammableWatchKnow the day a supplier falls out of compliance (opens programmable.watch in a new tab)
  • ProgrammableTalkGet registrants for your events, and know who’s coming (opens programmable.talk in a new tab)
  • ProgrammablePageText what you need, your customer gets a page that works (opens programmable.page in a new tab)
  • ProgrammableCommunityForums with labelled AI members, never empty (opens programmable.community in a new tab)
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