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Ryan Boyer Koontz

Managing Director and Research Analyst at Needham Emerging Growth Partners LP

Ryan Boyer Koontz is a Managing Director and Research Analyst at Needham & Company, specializing in broadband networking, cloud communications, and satellite sectors. He covers a range of companies including RADCOM and other notable firms in these industries, and he is recognized for providing detailed sector analysis and shaping investment strategies; however, specific performance metrics such as success rates or rankings are not publicly listed. Koontz began his career in technology roles before transitioning to finance, holding leadership positions at Inflection Point Research, Woodside Capital Partners, and Rosenblatt Securities prior to joining Needham in 2021. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, an MBA, and an MS in Engineering Management from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, reflecting robust technical and financial credentials.

Ryan Boyer Koontz's questions to Planet Labs PBC (PL) leadership

Question · Q2 2026

Ryan Boyer Koontz asked for clarification on the percentage of satellite capacity, specifically for Pelican satellites, that is allocated to the dedicated deals with Japan and Germany, questioning if it represents 100% of capacity. He also sought updates on Planet's Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) solutions approach, including partnerships and product developments.

Answer

Will Marshall (Chairman, Co-Founder, and CEO, Planet) clarified that the Japan deal utilizes a tiny fraction of Planet's overall capacity, with the majority still serving other customers, primarily focused on the Fiji region. He noted that the Germany deal leverages existing Pelican plans and represents a small fraction of overall capacity, mainly for the European context. Regarding MDA, he highlighted significant progress, including a sole-sourced contract with the U.S. Navy due to Planet's unique large-area scanning capabilities, and its inclusion in the Germany deal as an eight-figure annual contract for data and solutions. He emphasized MDA as Planet's most mature AI-enabled solution for detecting 'unknown unknowns.'

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