Adam Maher
Founder & CEO, Ursa Space Systems Inc.
Mr. Adam Maher serves as Founder & CEO of Ursa Space Systems Inc (Ursa), whose services enable users to research, monitor, search, and discover changes in physical objects around the globe, from the perspective of space. Ursa Space’s platform orchestrates the collection, analytics, and fusion of data from a virtual constellation of radar, optical, and RF satellites to automate and abstract the complicated process of gaining access to, processing, and fusing satellite data with terrestrial data sources.
Adam’s vision is to improve the satellite Earth observation user experience by bringing the community of traditional and new space members together to illuminate how our physical world impacts daily actions by creating a virtual mosaic of the world that anyone can access. He founded Ursa in 2014 to develop this vision of connecting people to information rich data derived from synthetic aperture radar, seeing an obvious frustration and disconnect between the technology and those who could take full advantage of the capabilities. Today Ursa’s mission is to enable a community of developers to build applications that can illuminate how our physical world impacts daily actions, to understand how changes in the economy, supply chains, and the geopolitical landscape impact daily decisions, and reveal those changes in our ever-evolving world to leaders, professionals, and, one day, all people.
Prior to founding Ursa Space, Adam worked at MAXAR (Space Systems Loral). There, he served as a system engineer from paper to launch for complete satellite builds and multiple successful commercial satellite proposals. In addition to broadband satellite communications work, he also worked on efforts in space robotics, electric propulsion, Earth observation, and government programs.
Adam holds a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering and Master of Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, from Cornell University. At Ursa Space Systems Inc., he uses his knowledge of the satellite industry to fuel his vision of a living world map, where the connection between satellites and users is no longer complicated or difficult, and users are empowered to make better decisions with better data.
All Sessions by Adam Maher
Track B - Spatial Finance: The Future of Geospatial-Informed Investment & Risk Management (Panel)
Main StageAs financial markets become increasingly complex, the integration of geospatial technology and financial analytics—Spatial Finance— is transforming how institutions assess risk, allocate capital, and drive investment strategies. This panel at the St. Louis Fintech Summit will explore the cutting-edge convergence of geospatial intelligence (GIS) and fintech, highlighting its impact on financial decision-making, climate risk assessment, supply chain resilience, and economic forecasting. Industry experts, fintech innovators, and geospatial analysts will discuss how satellite imagery, AI-powered mapping, and real-time location data are being leveraged to enhance credit risk analysis, optimize investment portfolios, and improve financial inclusion strategies. The session will also address key challenges, including data privacy, regulatory considerations, and the ethical implications of geospatial financial modeling. Join us for a forward-thinking discussion on how Spatial Finance is reshaping the future of financial services, providing deeper insights into market behaviors, environmental risks, and global economic trends. Whether you’re a fintech leader, investor, or policymaker, this panel will equip you with the knowledge to stay ahead in the rapidly evolving data economy.
Track C - Using GeoAI and Space Observation to Predict Financial Markets
Paperboat GalleryIn the world of alternative data, satellite imagery has long been recognized by the financial community as a valuable resource, though widespread adoption has been hindered by technical barriers. Historically, use cases were limited— most notably, by counting cars in retail parking lots to generate trading signals for equities. Today, the landscape has shifted. Satellite data is more abundant, offering higher revisit rates and diverse imaging types, including electro-optical, radar, and thermal. Instead of getting lost in a sea of possibilities, end users can rely on the 'orchestration' expertise of companies that manage the behind-the-scenes steps needed to deliver data in a usable format. In an era of heightened uncertainty—driven by trade policies and geopolitical shifts—this wealth of data is becoming an essential tool for monitoring economic activity from space. Traders and portfolio managers can use satellite data to test their investment hypotheses on key topics, such as the state of commodity demand, the strength of industrial output, and the pace of construction.