Industrializing Orbit

31 Companies 5 Categories

Space is starting to become an industrial environment rather than only a place for research. Falling launch costs are making it possible to move production into orbit when the space environment creates a better process, and to move computing there when orbital infrastructure becomes economically attractive. This landscape tracks the companies trying to turn those physical advantages into repeatable commercial businesses.

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Category

Advanced Materials & Semiconductors

5 companies

Some materials can be made with fewer defects in microgravity or under the natural vacuum of space. If launch and return costs keep falling, orbital production could become economically attractive for high-value semiconductor materials and optical products. This category tracks companies trying to prove that manufacturing advantage at commercial scale.

Besxar

besxar.com

Besxar builds reusable space hardware to manufacture advanced semiconductor materials off world, using vacuum and other space conditions to improve substrate and thin film quality.

11-50 Employees Seed Stage 2023 Founded

Trajectory Maturity Level Early

Confidence: Medium

Space Forge

spaceforge.com

Space Forge builds returnable satellites and space manufacturing systems that make advanced materials in microgravity and bring them back to Earth.

70+ Employees Series A Stage 2018 Founded

Trajectory Maturity Level Emerging

Confidence: Medium

Astral Materials

astralmaterials.com

Astral Materials develops microgravity crystal growth hardware to manufacture higher quality semiconductor materials in space.

2-10 Employees Seed Stage 2024 Founded

Trajectory Maturity Level Early

Confidence: Medium

United Semiconductors LLC

unitedsemiconductorsllc.com

United Semiconductors LLC makes III V semiconductor substrates and crystal growth materials, including wafers for researchers and advanced electronics, and is also pursuing microgravity based crystal production in orbit.

5 Employees Unknown Stage 2005 Founded

Trajectory Maturity Level Emerging

Confidence: Medium

Flawless Photonics

flawlessphotonics.com

Flawless Photonics manufactures ZBLAN optical fiber and related photonics products in microgravity, using space conditions to reduce defects and improve optical performance.

16 Employees Seed Stage 2017 Founded

Trajectory Maturity Level Emerging

Confidence: Medium

Category

Biopharma & Biomaterials

6 companies

Microgravity changes how biological materials grow and crystallize. That can make space useful for producing drugs or tissue-based products that are difficult to manufacture consistently on Earth. This category tracks companies turning that scientific advantage into commercial biomanufacturing.

Varda Space Industries

varda.com

Varda builds orbital manufacturing and reentry systems that process materials in microgravity and bring them back to Earth, with a focus on pharmaceutical applications.

200 to 500 Employees Series D+ Stage 2021 Founded

Trajectory Maturity Level Proven

Confidence: High

BioOrbit

bioorbit.com

BioOrbit builds hardware and a microgravity crystallisation platform for making complex biologic drugs in space so they can be reformulated for easier use on Earth.

about 20 Employees Seed Stage 2023 Founded

Trajectory Maturity Level Early

Confidence: Medium

LambdaVision

lambdavision.com

LambdaVision develops a protein based artificial retina and uses microgravity manufacturing to improve how that biomaterial is produced.

2 to 10 employees Employees Seed Stage 2009 Founded

Trajectory Maturity Level Early

Confidence: Medium

Helogen

helogen.com

Helogen builds autonomous factories and spacecraft for manufacturing biomaterials and biologics in microgravity.

11-50 employees Employees Seed Stage 2022 Founded

Trajectory Maturity Level Emerging

Confidence: Medium

Auxilium Biotechnologies

auxiliumbio.com

Auxilium Biotechnologies develops bioprinted implantable medical devices for peripheral nerve repair and is also using microgravity to manufacture tissues and medical products in space.

unknown Employees Seed Stage 2019 Founded

Trajectory Maturity Level Emerging

Confidence: Medium

Zero Gravity Works

zerogravityworks.com

Zero Gravity Works is building a platform to crystallize small molecule drugs in orbit and deliver the material back to pharmaceutical partners.

0 Employees Pre Seed Stage 2025 Founded

Trajectory Maturity Level Nascent

Confidence: Medium

Category

Microgravity Manufacturing Platforms

6 companies

Most companies that want to manufacture in space will not build their own spacecraft. A new infrastructure layer is emerging to provide automated production systems and repeatable access to orbit with return capability. This category tracks the platforms that could make orbital manufacturing available as a service.

Reditus Space

reditus.space

Reditus Space builds reusable return from orbit systems that carry payloads to low Earth orbit and bring products back to Earth for microgravity manufacturing and research.

11 to 50 Employees Seed Stage 2024 Founded

Trajectory Maturity Level Early

Confidence: Medium

Space Tango

spacetango.com

Space Tango builds automated platforms for microgravity research and manufacturing in orbit, with systems designed for commercial and government customers.

27 Employees Unknown Stage 2014 Founded

Trajectory Maturity Level Proven

Confidence: High

SpacePharma

spacepharma.health

SpacePharma builds miniaturized microgravity labs and a space manufacturing platform for life sciences and pharmaceutical research.

11-50 Employees Seed Stage 2012 Founded

Trajectory Maturity Level Proven

Confidence: High

Yuri GmbH

yurigravity.com

Yuri is a commercial space biotech company that builds and operates microgravity research and production systems for biotech, pharma, and space agencies.

11-50 Employees Seed Stage 2019 Founded

Trajectory Maturity Level Proven

Confidence: Medium

Aloft Biotechnologies

aloftbio.space

Aloft Biotechnologies develops microgravity biomanufacturing systems that support cell processing, microbial culture, and fluid management in space.

2 to 10 Employees Pre Seed Stage 2024 Founded

Trajectory Maturity Level Early

Confidence: Medium

Ambrosia Space

ambrosiaspace.com

Ambrosia Space is building biomanufacturing hardware for use in orbit, starting with a space bioreactor aimed at making pharmaceuticals and other biological products.

1-4 Employees Seed Stage 2023 Founded

Trajectory Maturity Level Early

Confidence: Medium

Category

In-Space Construction & Manufacturing

6 companies

Launching finished structures from Earth limits their size and forces them to survive the constraints of a rocket fairing. Building directly in orbit could remove that constraint and make much larger space infrastructure possible. This category tracks companies developing manufacturing and assembly systems whose output stays in space.

Orbital Matter

orbitalmatter.com

Orbital Matter builds in orbit manufacturing and assembly systems that create large rigid structures in space instead of launching them folded from Earth.

2-10 Employees Seed Stage 2022 Founded

Trajectory Maturity Level Emerging

Confidence: Medium

ThinkOrbital

thinkorbital.com

ThinkOrbital builds space systems for in orbit inspection, servicing, and construction, with a focus on autonomous welding, X ray imaging, and large orbital infrastructure.

unknown Employees Seed Stage 2021 Founded

Trajectory Maturity Level Early

Confidence: Medium

Dcubed

dcubed.space

Dcubed develops deployable space structures, release mechanisms, and in space manufactured solar array systems for spacecraft and orbital power applications.

11-50 Employees Series A Stage 2018 Founded

Trajectory Maturity Level Established

Confidence: High

Orbital Composites

orbitalcomposites.com

Orbital Composites builds robotic manufacturing systems for advanced composite parts, including structures for aerospace and space applications and work on orbital infrastructure.

11-50 Employees Seed Stage 2015 Founded

Trajectory Maturity Level Proven

Confidence: Medium

Tensr

tensr.com

Tensr builds autonomous robotic factories that use data from each build to improve how production is planned and run, and it says those robots are moving to the ISS for in space manufacturing work.

2-10 Employees Pre Seed Stage 2025 Founded

Trajectory Maturity Level Early

Confidence: Medium

Redwire Corporation

rdw.com

Redwire builds space infrastructure, including on orbit servicing, assembly, and manufacturing systems for satellites and other space missions.

approximately 1,400 Employees Public Stage 2020 Founded

Public

Category

Orbital Compute & Data Centers

8 companies

AI infrastructure is becoming constrained by power on Earth, while orbital systems can access abundant solar energy. If launch and thermal economics improve enough, some compute could move off Earth rather than only serving satellites at the edge. This category tracks companies building dedicated orbital compute and data-center infrastructure.

Starcloud

starcloud.com

Starcloud builds orbital data centers and GPU compute infrastructure for AI workloads and space-based data processing.

11-50 Employees Series A Stage 2024 Founded

Trajectory Maturity Level Emerging

Confidence: Medium

Cowboy Space Corporation

cowboyspace.com

Cowboy Space is building orbital compute and data center infrastructure for AI, using satellites and rockets to run GPU data centers in low Earth orbit.

103 Employees Series B Stage 2024 Founded

Trajectory Maturity Level Early

Confidence: Medium

Orbital

orbital.inc

Orbital is building data centers in space, using satellites in low Earth orbit to run AI compute on solar power.

2-10 Employees Pre Seed Stage 2026 Founded

Trajectory Maturity Level Nascent

Confidence: Medium

Sophia Space

sophia.space

Sophia Space builds orbital compute and data center systems that process AI and other workloads in low Earth orbit.

11 to 50 Employees Seed Stage 2023 Founded

Trajectory Maturity Level Early

Confidence: Medium

Axiom Space

axiomspace.com

Axiom Space builds commercial space infrastructure, including a planned commercial space station, spacesuits, and an orbital data center initiative.

about 809 employees Employees Series C Stage 2016 Founded

Trajectory Maturity Level Established

Confidence: High

SpaceBilt

spacebilt.com

SpaceBilt builds in space assembly and orbital edge compute infrastructure, including server and data center nodes for AI, storage, and communications in orbit.

11-50 Employees Seed Stage 2023 Founded

Trajectory Maturity Level Emerging

Confidence: Medium

Lonestar

lonestar.space

Lonestar builds sovereign orbital data storage and compute infrastructure, including space-based data centers and lunar storage services for governments and regulated enterprises.

unknown Employees Seed Stage 2021 Founded

Trajectory Maturity Level Emerging

Confidence: Medium

Kepler Communications

kepler.space

Kepler builds space communications infrastructure with on orbit compute and optical data relay for satellites and other space missions. ([kepler.space](https://kepler.space/?utm_source=openai))

unknown Employees Series C Stage 2015 Founded

Trajectory Maturity Level Established

Confidence: High

Industrializing Orbit competitive landscape summary

Industrializing Orbit contains 31 companies across 5 categories. Space is starting to become an industrial environment rather than only a place for research. Falling launch costs are making it possible to move production into orbit when the space environment creates a better process, and to move computing there when orbital infrastructure becomes economically attractive. This landscape tracks the companies trying to turn those physical advantages into repeatable commercial businesses.

Advanced Materials & Semiconductors

Besxar

Website: besxar.com

Besxar builds reusable space hardware to manufacture advanced semiconductor materials off world, using vacuum and other space conditions to improve substrate and thin film quality.

Category: Advanced Materials & Semiconductors. Funding stage: Seed. Founded: 2023. Country: United States. Employees: 11-50.

Landscape fit: It fits this category because it is trying to make semiconductor substrates and epitaxial layers in orbit, where microgravity and ultra high vacuum can improve material quality for high value electronics.

Funding rounds

seed announced 2026-09-09 : 10300000 USD ; investors: Dauntless Ventures, Overture VC, Keymaker VC, 645 Ventures, Singh Capital Partners, Koru Capital, Plum Alley Ventures, Mana Ventures, Earthrise VC ; source: Besxar ; https://www.besxar.com/announcements/besxar-completes-inaugural-flight-with-spacex-advancing-path-to-semiconductor-manufacturing-in-space

Company timeline

2026-09-21: HR snapshot (hr) . Besxar appears to be a small team building an orbital semiconductor foundry and is actively hiring for technical and commercial roles. Source: Careers at Besxar. https://www.besxar.com/careers
2026-09-21: Product snapshot (product) . Besxar manufactures advanced semiconductor substrates, epitaxial layers, and thin films off world using reusable Fabships that launch, process materials in space vacuum, return to Earth, and are refurbished for reflights. Source: Besxar | Space-Based Semiconductor Manufacturing Platform. https://www.besxar.com
2026-09-09: Seed (funding) . Amount: USD 10.3M. Investors: Dauntless Ventures, Overture VC, Keymaker VC, 645 Ventures, Singh Capital Partners, Koru Capital, Plum Alley Ventures, Mana Ventures, Earthrise VC Source: Besxar. https://www.besxar.com/announcements/besxar-completes-inaugural-flight-with-spacex-advancing-path-to-semiconductor-manufacturing-in-space
2026-07-05: Besxar completes inaugural Fabship flight (product) . Two Besxar Clipper-class canisters flew aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 first-stage booster and were recovered intact, validating the company's flight hardware and autonomous software. Source: Besxar. https://www.besxar.com/announcements/besxar-completes-inaugural-flight-with-spacex-advancing-path-to-semiconductor-manufacturing-in-space
2026-04-01: Besxar qualifies first payload for flight (product) . Besxar said its first payload completed qualification testing and was cleared for launch. Source: Besxar | Space-Based Semiconductor Manufacturing Platform. https://www.besxar.com
2026-02-26: Besxar hires chief revenue officer (hr) . Besxar announced Diem Salmon as chief revenue officer. Source: Besxar hires Diem Salmon. https://www.besxar.com/media/besxar-hires-diem-salmon-as-chief-revenue-officer

Space Forge

Website: spaceforge.com

Space Forge builds returnable satellites and space manufacturing systems that make advanced materials in microgravity and bring them back to Earth.

Category: Advanced Materials & Semiconductors. Funding stage: Series A. Founded: 2018. Country: United Kingdom. Employees: 70+.

Landscape fit: Develops returnable orbital manufacturing systems for higher-performance semiconductor materials.

Funding rounds

Series A announced 2025-05-14 : 22600000 GBP ; investors: NATO Innovation Fund, World Fund, NSSIF, British Business Bank ; source: Space Forge ; https://www.spaceforge.com/press-releases/space-forge-secures-record-breaking-series-a-funding-to-revolutionise-industrial-materials-using-space
Grant announced 2023-11-23 : 7900000 GBP ; investors: UK Space Agency, Space Clusters Infrastructure Fund ; source: Space Forge ; https://www.spaceforge.com/press-releases/space-forge-secures-ps7-9-million-uk-space-agency-funding-to-build-pioneering-national-microgravity-research-centre
Seed announced 2021-12-05 : 10200000 USD ; investors: SpaceFund, Type One, World Fund, SpaceVC, Starbridge Venture Capital, Quiet Capital, Kencoa Aerospace, Trousdale Ventures, Dylan Taylor, FJ Labs, Newable Ventures, George T. Whitesides ; source: Space Forge ; https://www.spaceforge.com/press-releases/space-forge-europes-fastest-growing-space-tech-startup-raises-record-breaking-seed-round

Company timeline

2026-09-01: HR snapshot (hr) . Space Forge has a team of more than 70 staff across Europe and the USA. The company is actively hiring for several technical roles, with visible demand in software and data. Source: Space Forge. https://www.spaceforge.com/about-us
2026-09-01: Product snapshot (product) . Space Forge builds returnable satellites and in space manufacturing systems for advanced materials and semiconductor production. Its ForgeStar platform is a reusable orbital manufacturing vehicle that supports microgravity materials growth and return to Earth. Source: Space Forge. https://www.spaceforge.com/forgestar
2026-08-17: Space Forge selects Texas A&M as manufacturing base (gtm) . Space Forge signed a master research agreement with The Texas A&M University System that sets the framework for its first U.S. semiconductor materials facility. Source: Space Forge. https://www.spaceforge.com/press-releases/building-us-capacity-in-advanced-semiconductor-materials-space-forge-selects-texas-am-university-system-as-manufacturing-base
2025-12-31: ForgeStar-1 produces plasma in orbit (product) . Space Forge reported a world first for commercial in space manufacturing after generating plasma aboard ForgeStar-1. Source: Space Forge. https://www.spaceforge.com/press-releases/space-forge-ignites-a-new-industrial-era-delivering-world-first-capability-for-orbital-semiconductor-manufacturing
2025-10-23: Pridwen is tested in zero gravity (product) . Space Forge tested deployment of its Pridwen heat shield on a ZeroG flight to validate return technology for future missions. Source: Space Forge. https://www.spaceforge.com/press-releases/pridwen-heat-shield-deploys-in-zero-gravity-space-forge-and-zerog-mark-step-towards-scalable-space-manufacturing
2025-09-23: Space Forge partners with United Semiconductors (gtm) . Space Forge signed an MoU with United Semiconductors to develop routes to market for space grown semiconductor materials. Source: Space Forge. https://www.spaceforge.com/press-releases/space-forge-inc-and-united-semiconductors-llc-partner-to-develop-the-supply-chain

Astral Materials

Website: astralmaterials.com

Astral Materials develops microgravity crystal growth hardware to manufacture higher quality semiconductor materials in space.

Category: Advanced Materials & Semiconductors. Funding stage: Seed. Founded: 2024. Country: United States. Employees: 2-10.

Landscape fit: It fits this category because it is trying to use microgravity manufacturing to improve semiconductor and advanced material quality at commercial scale.

Funding rounds

equity investment announced 2025-03-25 ; investors: AE Blue Capital ; source: AE Blue Capital ; https://www.bluecap.vc/news/announcing-our-investment-in-astral-materials-a-new-super-materials-company/
grant announced 2024-09-27 : 899803 USD ; investors: NASA ; source: SBIR.gov ; https://www.sbir.gov/awards/220690
grant announced 2023-12-20 : 150000 USD ; investors: NASA ; source: NASA SBIR Ignite awards announcement ; https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/stmd/sbir-sttr/nasas-new-investments-in-commercialization-focused-small-businesses

Company timeline

2026-09-21: HR snapshot (hr) . Astral Materials appears to be a small founder led technical team building space hardware for crystal growth. The evidence does not support a reliable public headcount or a clear active hiring cluster. Source: Team — Astral Materials. https://www.astralmaterials.com/team
2026-09-21: Product snapshot (product) . Astral Materials develops microgravity crystal growth hardware to make higher quality semiconductor materials in space. The company describes furnace systems, flight payload integration, microgravity experimentation, and sample return processing as part of its platform. Source: Astral Materials home page. https://www.astralmaterials.com
2026-09-01: Astral books up to 100 Dawn flights (gtm) . Astral Materials said it booked up to 100 suborbital flights with Dawn Aerospace for a microgravity campaign. Source: Astral Materials News — Astral Books up to 100 Suborbital Flights with Dawn Aerospace. https://www.astralmaterials.com/news
2026-06-01: Astral gains defense marketplace visibility (gtm) . Astral Materials said its crystal growth technique was deemed awardable in DARPA ERIS and is now visible to defense customers. Source: Astral Materials LinkedIn company page. https://www.linkedin.com/company/astral-materials
2026-05-01: Coso payload handed to Reditus (product) . Astral Materials said it completed the Coso payload handoff to Reditus Space in May 2026. Source: Astral Materials News — Coso Payload Handed Over to Reditus. https://www.astralmaterials.com/news
2026-01-12: COSMIC advances in NASA challenge (product) . SpaceWorks said the Astral Materials partnership completed Payload Build Round 1 for the COSMIC mission and advanced to Round 2. Source: SpaceWorks and Astral Materials advance in NASA payload challenge. https://www.spaceworks.aero/spaceworks-and-astral-materials-advance-in-nasa-space-technology-payload-challenge

United Semiconductors LLC

Website: unitedsemiconductorsllc.com

Category: Advanced Materials & Semiconductors. Funding stage: . Founded: 2005. Country: United States. Employees: 5.

Landscape fit: It fits this category because it is developing advanced semiconductor materials manufacturing, including space based crystal growth to improve substrate quality and performance.

Funding rounds

contract announced 2026-08-06 ; investors: NASA ; source: United Semiconductors LLC ; https://www.unitedsemiconductorsllc.com/post/a-new-manufacturing-frontier-for-america-s-most-consequential-technologies
grant announced 2024-01-01 : 275000 USD ; investors: NSF ; source: NSF SBIR award record ; https://www.sbir.gov/awards/208299

Company timeline

2026-09-21: HR snapshot (hr) . The company appears to be a small specialist materials business that is selectively adding senior technical and commercialization leadership. Public evidence shows focused hiring rather than broad team expansion. Source: United Semiconductors Welcomes Dr. Robinson Pino. https://www.unitedsemiconductorsllc.com/post/united-semiconductors-welcomes-semiconductor-and-computing-expert-dr-robinson-pino-as-seni
2026-09-21: Product snapshot (product) . United Semiconductors produces ternary and binary III V semiconductor substrates, polished wafers, and custom crystal growth materials. It also offers wafer processing services and supports microgravity based crystal production for space manufacturing. Source: Home | United Semiconductors LLC. https://www.unitedsemiconductorsllc.com
2026-09-01: Dr. Rose Hernandez joined leadership team (hr) . United Semiconductors appointed Dr. Rose Hernandez as Executive Director, Technology Strategy and Innovation. Source: United Semiconductors Names Dr. Rose Hernandez to Lead Space Semiconductor Strategy and Commercialization. https://www.unitedsemiconductorsllc.com/post/united-semiconductors-names-dr-rose-hernandez-to-lead-space-semiconductor-strategy-and-commercializ
2026-08-06: NASA InSPA Phase 2 contract (funding) . NASA awarded United Semiconductors a multi-year In-Space Production Applications Phase 2 contract to scale semiconductor crystal production aboard the ISS. The amount was not disclosed. Source: United Semiconductors LLC. https://www.unitedsemiconductorsllc.com/post/a-new-manufacturing-frontier-for-america-s-most-consequential-technologies
2026-03-03: Starlab payload reservation (gtm) . United Semiconductors signed a payload reservation agreement with Starlab Space to support commercial scale semiconductor manufacturing in low Earth orbit. Source: United Semiconductors Reserves Payload Space With Starlab to Advance Commercial Scale In Space Semiconductor Manufacturing. https://s206.q4cdn.com/740209347/files/doc_news/United-Semiconductors-Reserves-Payload-Space-With-Starlab-to-Advance-Commercial-Scale-In-Space-Semiconductor-Manufacturing-2026.pdf
2026-01-07: Aegis partnership (gtm) . United Semiconductors partnered with Aegis Aerospace to advance semiconductor manufacturing in space through Aegis's AMMP platform. Source: Aegis Aerospace partners with United Semiconductors. https://www.semiconductor-today.com/news_items/2026/jan/aegis-unitedsemiconductors-070126.shtml

Flawless Photonics

Website: flawlessphotonics.com

Flawless Photonics manufactures ZBLAN optical fiber and related photonics products in microgravity, using space conditions to reduce defects and improve optical performance.

Category: Advanced Materials & Semiconductors. Funding stage: Seed. Founded: 2017. Country: United States. Employees: 16.

Landscape fit: It fits this category because its core product is a high value material, ZBLAN optical fiber, that it manufactures in microgravity to improve material quality. ([flawlessphotonics.com](https://www.flawlessphotonics.com/?utm_source=openai))

Funding rounds

grant announced 2024-05-01 : 274999 USD ; investors: National Science Foundation ; source: NSF SBIR award database ; https://www.sbir.gov/awards/208349
project funding announced 2024-03-11 : 400000 USD ; investors: U.S. Department of Energy ; source: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory ; https://www.llnl.gov/article/50986/hpc-energy-innovation-announces-funding-new-energy-efficiency-projects
contract announced 2022-08-01 : 3731747 USD ; investors: NASA Johnson Space Center ; source: HigherGov contract tracker ; https://www.highergov.com/contract/80JSC022CA012

Company timeline

2026-09-21: HR snapshot (hr) . Flawless Photonics appears to have a small specialist team with executive and technical leadership in place. Public evidence does not show a clear active hiring surge right now. Source: LinkedIn company profile. https://www.flawlessphotonics.com/team
2026-09-21: Product snapshot (product) . Flawless Photonics develops SpaceFiber and related optical fiber components made in microgravity from ZBLAN glass. It also offers Melt and Form in Microgravity as a space based manufacturing service. Source: Home | Flawless Photonics, Inc. https://www.flawlessphotonics.com
2026-01-28: ESA selected Flawless Photonics (gtm) . ESA chose Flawless Photonics for its Advanced Materials and In Orbit Manufacturing accelerator cohort. Source: ESA BSGN. https://bsgn.esa.int/2026/01/28/catapult-2nd-cohort-announcment
2025-03-31: Luxembourg production scale up (product) . Flawless Photonics said it had nearly 12 kilometers of high quality ZBLAN optical fiber produced aboard the ISS and was moving toward scalable in orbit production. Source: Flawless Photonics Luxembourg post. https://www.flawlessphotonics.com/post/flawless-photonics-pioneering-space-fiber-production-in-luxembourg
2025-03-31: Adelaide tested space made fiber (product) . The University of Adelaide acquired five spools of ZBLAN optical fiber from Flawless Photonics for analysis after ISS manufacturing. Source: Flawless Photonics partner post. https://www.flawlessphotonics.com/post/adelaide-university-to-test-next-gen-space-fibres-produced-in-microgravity
2024-05-01: USD 274.999K grant (funding) . Amount: USD 274.999K. Investors: National Science Foundation Source: NSF SBIR award database. https://www.sbir.gov/awards/208349

Biopharma & Biomaterials

Varda Space Industries

Website: varda.com

Varda builds orbital manufacturing and reentry systems that process materials in microgravity and bring them back to Earth, with a focus on pharmaceutical applications.

Category: Biopharma & Biomaterials. Funding stage: Series D+. Founded: 2021. Country: United States. Employees: 200 to 500.

Landscape fit: It fits this category because it uses microgravity to create or improve drug related materials and crystallization processes that are difficult to reproduce on Earth.

Funding rounds

series d announced 2026-02-03 : 251000000 USD ; source: Forge ; https://forgeglobal.com/varda-space-industries_stock/
series c announced 2025-07-10 : 187000000 USD ; investors: Natural Capital, Shrug Capital, Founders Fund, Peter Thiel, Khosla Ventures, Caffeinated Capital, Lux Capital, Also Capital ; source: Varda Space Industries ; https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/varda-announces-187-million-in-series-c-funding-to-make-medicines-in-space-302502096.html
series b announced 2024-04-05 : 90000000 USD ; investors: Caffeinated Capital, Lux Capital, General Catalyst, Founders Fund, Khosla Ventures ; source: Varda Space Industries ; https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/varda-announces-90-million-series-b-funding-to-build-factories-in-space-302108949.html
grant announced 2023-07-24 : 1900000 USD ; investors: NASA ; source: NASA 2023 Tipping Point selections ; https://www.nasa.gov/general/2023-nasa-tipping-point-selections
series_a announced 2021-07-01 : 42000000 USD ; investors: Khosla Ventures, Caffeinated Capital, Lux Capital, General Catalyst, Founders Fund ; source: Varda Raises $42MM Series A ; https://blog.varda.com/p/varda-raises-42mm-series-a-to-build

Company timeline

2026-09-21: HR snapshot (hr) . Varda appears to have a substantial technical team and is actively hiring in El Segundo. Source: Varda Space Industries jobs on LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/company/varda-space-industries/jobs
2026-09-21: Product snapshot (product) . Varda builds orbital material production systems and reentry capsules for microgravity processing. The company also offers a microgravity research platform, pharmaceutical formulation capabilities, and a hypersonic reentry testbed. Source: Varda Space Industries • Platform. https://www.varda.com/platform
2026-08-03: Former Pfizer R&D chief Mikael Dolsten joins Varda board (hr) . Varda appointed former Pfizer Chief Scientific Officer and President of R&D Mikael Dolsten to its board as it accelerates its space-based pharmaceutical manufacturing strategy. Source: Varda Space Industries. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/varda-announces-biopharma-leader-mikael-dolsten-will-join-board-as-space-based-pharmaceutical-manufacturing-accelerates-302840646.html
2026-05-18: W-6 reentry (product) . Varda said W-6 reentered successfully and advanced autonomous hypersonic flight testing. Source: Varda media center. https://www.varda.com/media
2026-05-13: United Therapeutics collaboration (gtm) . Varda announced a collaboration with United Therapeutics for microgravity based pharmaceutical processing. Source: Varda and United Therapeutics collaborate. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/varda-space-industries-and-united-therapeutics-collaborate-to-advance-microgravity-enabled-treatments-for-rare-pulmonary-disease-302770786.html
2026-02-03: Series D (funding) . Amount: USD 251M. Forge records the round at a USD 1.58B post-money valuation. Other market sources report the round as approximately USD 250M at a USD 1.6B valuation. Source: Forge. https://forgeglobal.com/varda-space-industries_stock/

BioOrbit

Website: bioorbit.com

BioOrbit builds hardware and a microgravity crystallisation platform for making complex biologic drugs in space so they can be reformulated for easier use on Earth.

Category: Biopharma & Biomaterials. Funding stage: Seed. Founded: 2023. Country: United Kingdom. Employees: about 20.

Landscape fit: It fits this category because it uses microgravity to improve how biologic drugs are crystallized and manufactured for pharmaceutical use.

Funding rounds

seed announced 2026-05-01 : 9800000 GBP ; investors: LocalGlobe, BREEGA, Auxxo, Seedcamp, Type One Ventures, 7percent Ventures, Phil Chambers, angel investors ; source: Payload on BioOrbit seed financing ; https://payloadspace.com/bioorbit-raises-9-8m-seed-to-manufacture-cancer-drugs-in-orbit
grant announced 2026-02-09 : 250000 GBP ; investors: UK Space Agency ; source: UK government announcement on in orbit manufacturing studies ; https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-studies-for-manufacturing-advanced-materials-in-orbit

Company timeline

2026-09-21: HR snapshot (hr) . BioOrbit appears to have a small team centered on founders, technical leaders, and specialist engineers. Public evidence suggests focused hiring rather than broad scale recruitment. Source: BioOrbit LinkedIn company profile. https://www.linkedin.com/company/bioorbit/?originalSubdomain=uk
2026-09-21: Product snapshot (product) . BioOrbit develops a proprietary crystallisation platform for biologic drugs that operates on Earth and in microgravity. The platform includes hardware stages for research, preclinical development, and mass manufacture, with the goal of improving concentration, stability, controlled release, and delivery of complex therapies. Source: BioOrbit | Scaling Protein Crystallisation in Microgravity. https://www.bioorbit.com
2026-06-24: BioOrbit signs agreement with Vast (gtm) . BioOrbit signed an agreement with Vast to collaborate on future microgravity research and manufacturing aboard Vast's Haven commercial space stations. Source: Vast. https://www.linkedin.com/posts/vastspace_vast-has-signed-agreements-with-uc-san-diego-activity-7475534807498674176-fRez
2026-05-01: Seed (funding) . Amount: GBP 9.8M. Investors: LocalGlobe, BREEGA, Auxxo, Seedcamp, Type One Ventures, 7percent Ventures, Phil Chambers, angel investors Source: Payload on BioOrbit seed financing. https://payloadspace.com/bioorbit-raises-9-8m-seed-to-manufacture-cancer-drugs-in-orbit
2026-05-01: US leadership hires (hr) . BioOrbit added Molly Mulligan as president and Ken Savin as chief scientific officer to support its US operations. Source: Payload on BioOrbit seed financing. https://payloadspace.com/bioorbit-raises-9-8m-seed-to-manufacture-cancer-drugs-in-orbit
2026-05-01: ISS manufacturing launch (product) . BioOrbit launched its Baby BOX-E payload to the ISS to crystallise pharmaceutical compounds in orbit. Source: BioOrbit LinkedIn post on launch to the ISS. https://www.linkedin.com/posts/bioorbit_bioorbit-has-launched-to-the-iss-not-a-activity-7462148929816625152-N9J_

LambdaVision

Website: lambdavision.com

LambdaVision develops a protein based artificial retina and uses microgravity manufacturing to improve how that biomaterial is produced.

Category: Biopharma & Biomaterials. Funding stage: Seed. Founded: 2009. Country: United States. Employees: 2 to 10 employees.

Landscape fit: It fits this category because it is using microgravity to manufacture a biological material for a medical product, and it is explicitly positioning that space environment as part of its biomanufacturing process.

Funding rounds

seed announced 2025-11-05 : 7000000 USD ; investors: Seven Seven Six, Aurelia Foundry Fund, Seraphim Space ; source: LambdaVision ; https://www.lambdavision.com/lambdavision-raises-7m-seed-round-to-revolutionize-blindness-treatment-using-space-based-manufacturing
grant announced 2025-09-04 ; investors: NASA ; source: LambdaVision ; https://www.lambdavision.com/lambdavision-secures-nasa-phase-2-inspa-award-to-advance-manufacturing-efforts-in-low-earth-orbit
grant announced 2020-06-01 : 750000 USD ; investors: NASA ; source: LambdaVision ; https://www.lambdavision.com/lambdavision-secures-further-nasa-funding-to-utilize-companys-advanced-production-processes-for-additional-applications-4
commercialization award announced 2020-04-09 : 5000000 USD ; investors: NASA ; source: LambdaVision ; https://www.lambdavision.com/lambdavision-secures-further-nasa-funding-to-utilize-companys-advanced-production-processes-for-additional-applications-4/
equity financing announced 2017-10-18 : 500000 USD ; investors: Connecticut Innovations ; source: LambdaVision news archive ; https://www.lambdavision.com/news.html

Company timeline

2026-09-21: HR snapshot (hr) . LambdaVision appears to operate with a very small team and no clear public hiring cluster. The public leadership signal centers on Nicole Wagner and the founding scientific team. Source: LambdaVision LinkedIn company page. https://www.linkedin.com/company/lambdavision-inc-
2026-09-21: Product snapshot (product) . LambdaVision develops a protein based artificial retina for retinal degenerative diseases and uses microgravity to improve layer by layer biomaterial manufacturing. Its public materials describe ISS validated production methods, quality control work, and preparation for future clinical use. Source: LambdaVision. https://www.lambdavision.com
2026-09-01: First mission beyond the ISS (product) . LambdaVision announced an upcoming mission with Helogen that it said will be its first flight beyond the International Space Station. Source: LambdaVision. https://www.lambdavision.com/lambdavision-advances-space-based-manufacturing-with-its-first-mission-beyond-the-iss
2026-06-24: Agreement with Vast (gtm) . LambdaVision signed an agreement with Vast to support future research and manufacturing on commercial space stations. Source: LambdaVision. https://www.lambdavision.com/lambdavision-and-vast-sign-agreement-to-advance-space-based-manufacturing-of-protein-based-artificial-retina-and-microgravity-bioprocesses
2026-05-18: Partnership with Helogen (product) . LambdaVision announced a partnership with Helogen to run orbital manufacturing work for its artificial retina protein. Source: LambdaVision. https://www.lambdavision.com/lambdavision-and-helogen-partner-to-advance-space-based-biomaterial-manufacturing
2026-02-24: Commercial space booking (gtm) . LambdaVision reserved low Earth orbit space with Starlab to keep access to microgravity as the ISS retires. Source: Starlab Space. https://starlab-space.com/press-releases/starlab-space-partners-with-lambdavision

Helogen

Website: helogen.com

Helogen builds autonomous factories and spacecraft for manufacturing biomaterials and biologics in microgravity.

Category: Biopharma & Biomaterials. Funding stage: Seed. Founded: 2022. Country: United States. Employees: 11-50 employees.

Landscape fit: It fits this category because it uses microgravity to produce and study biomaterials, including proteins, tissue models, and other biological products that are hard to make consistently on Earth.

Funding rounds

seed announced 2026-09-06 : 7100000 USD ; investors: RRE Ventures, Oceans, One Way Ventures, Blisce ; source: Techflier ; https://techflier.com/2026/09/06/helogen-banks-7-1m-to-manufacture-biomaterials-in-microgravity
seed announced 2024-10-01 : 2780000 USD ; investors: AUM Ventures, Aurelia Foundry, One Way Ventures ; source: Dealroom company profile for Helogen ; https://app.dealroom.co/companies/helogen

Company timeline

2026-09-21: HR snapshot (hr) . Helogen is a small team with active hiring in engineering and marketing. Public openings suggest the company is building around spacecraft design, manufacturing, and commercial operations. Source: Careers at Helogen | Build the Future of Space Manufacturing. https://www.helogen.com/careers
2026-09-21: Product snapshot (product) . Helogen provides autonomous orbital manufacturing systems for biomaterials and biologics, plus spacecraft and infrastructure designed to run those missions in microgravity. Source: Helogen® | Space Manufacturing for Biomaterials on Earth. https://www.helogen.com
2026-09-17: UCL biomaterials mission (product) . Helogen said UCL will use its CELS system for BIO-BONE and that the program expands what the platform can manufacture in orbit. Source: Helogen LinkedIn company page. https://www.linkedin.com/company/helogen
2026-09-06: Seed (funding) . Amount: USD 7.1M. Investors: RRE Ventures, Oceans, One Way Ventures, Blisce Source: Techflier. https://techflier.com/2026/09/06/helogen-banks-7-1m-to-manufacture-biomaterials-in-microgravity
2026-09-01: Helogen opens Los Angeles manufacturing headquarters (gtm) . Helogen said it opened a new manufacturing headquarters in Los Angeles to support spacecraft and orbital manufacturing operations. Source: Helogen LinkedIn company page. https://www.linkedin.com/company/helogen
2026-05-18: LambdaVision mission (gtm) . LambdaVision announced a joint orbital manufacturing mission with Helogen for its artificial retina protein. Source: LambdaVision and Helogen partnership. https://www.morningstar.com/news/business-wire/20260518457154/lambdavision-and-helogen-partner-to-advance-space-based-biomaterial-manufacturing

Auxilium Biotechnologies

Website: auxiliumbio.com

Auxilium Biotechnologies develops bioprinted implantable medical devices for peripheral nerve repair and is also using microgravity to manufacture tissues and medical products in space.

Category: Biopharma & Biomaterials. Funding stage: Seed. Founded: 2019. Country: United States. Employees: unknown.

Landscape fit: It fits this category because it uses microgravity and space based bioprinting to make tissues and implantable medical products, which is exactly the kind of commercial biomanufacturing this landscape tracks.

Funding rounds

equity financing announced 2025-12-11 : 3936015 USD ; source: U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ; https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1800618/000180061825000004/xslFormDX01/primary_doc.xml
equity financing announced 2020-01-21 : 3249988 USD ; source: U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ; https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1800618/000180061820000001/xslFormDX01/primary_doc.xml

Company timeline

2026-09-21: HR snapshot (hr) . Auxilium appears to be a small medical device and biotech team with one visible opening for manufacturing support. Source: Auxilium Biotechnologies homepage. https://auxiliumbio.com
2026-09-21: Product snapshot (product) . Auxilium Biotechnologies develops bioprinting solutions and implantable medical devices for traumatic nerve injury. Its current scope includes NeuroSpan Bridge for peripheral nerve repair and an in-space biomanufacturing program that the website still marks as coming soon. Source: Auxilium Biotechnologies homepage. https://auxiliumbio.com
2026-07-09: Orbit bioprinting expansion (product) . Auxilium said it created multiple types of organ tissues aboard the ISS and framed the work as a milestone for bioprinting in orbit. Source: Auxilium Biotechnologies News. https://auxiliumbio.com/news
2026-06-24: Auxilium signs agreement with Vast (gtm) . Auxilium signed an agreement with Vast to collaborate on future microgravity research and manufacturing aboard Vast's Haven commercial space stations. Source: Vast. https://www.linkedin.com/posts/vastspace_vast-has-signed-agreements-with-uc-san-diego-activity-7475534807498674176-fRez
2026-02-10: Auxilium partners with Starlab (gtm) . Auxilium and Starlab announced a partnership to provide orbital 3D bioprinting and biofabrication capabilities aboard the future Starlab commercial space station. Source: Starlab Space. https://starlab-space.com/press-releases/starlab-space-and-auxilium-biotechnologies-to-advance-life-sciences-research-in-microgravity/
2026-01-17: FDA clearance for NeuroSpan Bridge (product) . The FDA cleared NeuroSpan Bridge as a Class II nerve cuff device under 510(k) K253363. Source: FDA 510(k) clearance letter for NeuroSpan Bridge. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/cdrh_docs/pdf25/K253363.pdf

Zero Gravity Works

Website: zerogravityworks.com

Zero Gravity Works is building a platform to crystallize small molecule drugs in orbit and deliver the material back to pharmaceutical partners.

Category: Biopharma & Biomaterials. Funding stage: Pre Seed. Founded: 2025. Country: Italy. Employees: 0.

Landscape fit: It fits this category because it uses microgravity to manufacture drug crystals and targets pharmaceutical production problems that are hard to solve on Earth.

Funding rounds

pre-seed announced 2026-09-01 ; source: Gian Luca Petrelli LinkedIn post announcing role at Zero Gravity Works ; https://it.linkedin.com/posts/gianlucapetrelli_da-oggi-ricopro-il-ruolo-di-founder-ceo-activity-7504183848943988736-tCQ8

Company timeline

2026-09-21: HR snapshot (hr) . Zero Gravity Works is recruiting for foundational science and engineering roles while remaining a very small team. The clearest public hiring signals are a CSO search and a funded doctoral researcher role tied to Politecnico di Milano. Source: Zero Gravity Works careers page. https://zerogravityworks.com/careers
2026-09-21: Product snapshot (product) . Zero Gravity Works is a Milan based platform for manufacturing small molecule pharmaceutical crystals in orbit. The company says it runs the orbital operation end to end and delivers crystallized material back to pharmaceutical partners as an API supply service. Source: Zero Gravity Works — Better medicines, made in orbit. https://zerogravityworks.com
2026-09-01: Undisclosed pre-seed (funding) . Amount undisclosed Source: Gian Luca Petrelli LinkedIn post announcing role at Zero Gravity Works. https://it.linkedin.com/posts/gianlucapetrelli_da-oggi-ricopro-il-ruolo-di-founder-ceo-activity-7504183848943988736-tCQ8
2026-06-19: Hiring CSO and doctoral researcher (hr) . Zero Gravity Works is recruiting a Chief Scientific Officer and a fully funded doctoral researcher with Politecnico di Milano for orbital pharmaceutical manufacturing work. Source: Zero Gravity Works careers page. https://zerogravityworks.com/careers

Microgravity Manufacturing Platforms

Reditus Space

Website: reditus.space

Reditus Space builds reusable return from orbit systems that carry payloads to low Earth orbit and bring products back to Earth for microgravity manufacturing and research.

Category: Microgravity Manufacturing Platforms. Funding stage: Seed. Founded: 2024. Country: United States. Employees: 11 to 50.

Landscape fit: It fits this category because it is building reusable orbital platforms with return capability, which is the infrastructure layer needed to make microgravity manufacturing available as a service.

Funding rounds

seed announced 2025-12-03 : 7100000 USD ; investors: Y Combinator, Antler, Aera VC ; source: Axios ; https://www.axios.com/2025/12/03/reditus-space-seed-venture-hypersonics
grant announced 2025-08-26 : 141991 USD ; investors: NASA ; source: SBIR.gov ; https://www.sbir.gov/awards/220381

Company timeline

2026-09-21: HR snapshot (hr) . Reditus Space is a small Atlanta based hardware company with a lean engineering team and active technical hiring. Public signals point most strongly to aerospace, mechanical, avionics, systems, and thermal protection roles tied to ENOS. Source: company profile. https://www.linkedin.com/company/reditus-space
2026-09-21: Product snapshot (product) . Reditus Space builds reusable orbital return systems centered on ENOS. The current product surface includes payload transport to low Earth orbit, in orbit operations, controlled reentry, and payload recovery for microgravity manufacturing, research, and hypersonic testing. Source: official website. https://www.reditus.space
2026-07-13: ENOS build team noted (hr) . Reditus said ENOS was built by a team of 12 full time engineers in Atlanta. Source: product. https://www.reditus.space/news/enos-finished
2026-07-13: ENOS spacecraft finished (product) . Reditus Space said it completed the ENOS Mk1 spacecraft ahead of launch. Source: product. https://www.reditus.space/news/enos-finished
2025-12-19: Reditus joins SHIELD vehicle (gtm) . Reditus Space said it was ramping onto the Missile Defense Agency SHIELD IDIQ vehicle for hypersonic environment missions. Source: government. https://www.reditus.space/news/shield-idiq-announcement
2025-12-03: Seed (funding) . Amount: USD 7.1M. Investors include Y Combinator, Antler, and Aera VC. Source: Axios. https://www.axios.com/2025/12/03/reditus-space-seed-venture-hypersonics

Space Tango

Website: spacetango.com

Space Tango builds automated platforms for microgravity research and manufacturing in orbit, with systems designed for commercial and government customers.

Category: Microgravity Manufacturing Platforms. Funding stage: . Founded: 2014. Country: United States. Employees: 27.

Landscape fit: It fits this category because it provides the hardware and automation layer that enables manufacturing and research in orbit as a service.

Funding rounds

government award announced 2024-02-21 : 5000000 USD ; investors: NASA ; source: Space Tango ; https://spacetango.com/latest/pressreleases/space-tango-selected-by-nasa-for-key-role-in-artemis-ii-mission/
grant announced 2024-01-15 : 148639 USD ; investors: NASA ; source: SBIR.gov ; https://www.sbir.gov/awards/212001

Company timeline

2026-09-21: HR snapshot (hr) . Space Tango appears to be a small team led by founders and a compact operations and business development group. The current careers page shows no open opportunities. Source: Space Tango about page. https://spacetango.com/about
2026-09-21: Product snapshot (product) . Space Tango builds automated systems for research and manufacturing in microgravity. Its current offerings include modular platforms for autonomous laboratory work, in space manufacturing, and controlled sample handling for missions in low Earth orbit and beyond. Source: Space Tango home page. https://spacetango.com
2026-06-25: Space Tango announces $7.4M Lexington expansion and 25 new jobs (hr) . Space Tango announced a $7.4 million expansion of its Lexington headquarters, including new mission operations, laboratory, and engineering space, with plans to create 25 high-wage jobs. Source: Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development. https://newkentuckyhome.ky.gov/Newsroom/NewsPage/20260625_SpaceTango
2025-09-18: Space Tango supports Artemis II biology mission (product) . Space Tango built a custom AVATAR payload for Artemis II to study human health in lunar orbit. Source: Space Tango press release. https://spacetango.com/latest/space-tango-artemis-ii-avatar-human-health-lunar-orbit
2025-09-10: Space Tango and LambdaVision expand production (gtm) . Space Tango said it was working with LambdaVision on a NASA Phase II InSPA award to scale artificial retina manufacturing in microgravity. Source: Space Tango press release. https://spacetango.com/latest/pressreleases/space-tango-partners-with-lambdavision-on-nasa-phase-2-inspa-award-to-advance-artificial-retina-manufacturing-in-space
2025-08-19: Space Tango returns bacterial samples (product) . Space Tango announced the return of a microbiology investigation for post flight analysis. Source: Space Tango press release. https://spacetango.com/latest/pressreleases/bacterial-research-returns-to-earth-for-post-flight-analysis

SpacePharma

Website: spacepharma.health

SpacePharma builds miniaturized microgravity labs and a space manufacturing platform for life sciences and pharmaceutical research.

Category: Microgravity Manufacturing Platforms. Funding stage: Seed. Founded: 2012. Country: Switzerland. Employees: 11-50.

Landscape fit: It fits because the company provides a platform for performing research and manufacturing in microgravity rather than building spacecraft for customers. Its current work on SPACTORY and its automated lab systems is aimed at making orbital manufacturing available as a service.

Company timeline

2026-09-21: HR snapshot (hr) . SpacePharma is a founder led company with offices in Israel, Switzerland, the United States, and France. Public evidence does not confirm a current hiring cluster or a reliable employee count. Source: About SpacePharma. https://www.spacepharma.health/about
2026-09-21: Product snapshot (product) . SpacePharma provides remotely controlled, fully automated microgravity labs and research services for academic and commercial users. Its current scope includes lab on chip systems for the ISS, low orbit nanosatellites, parabolic flights, and the Spactory manufacturing platform in development. Source: SpacePharma. https://www.spacepharma.health
2026-06-22: Horus experiment returned (product) . SpacePharma said its BSGN HORUS experiment returned from the International Space Station on June 22, 2026, and the samples were sent for analysis. Source: SpacePharma news. https://www.spacepharma.health/news
2026-05-15: SPANCER mission launches (product) . SpacePharma launched its eleventh microgravity lab to the ISS for the SPANCER program with Roche Diagnostics and ESA. Source: SpacePharma. https://www.spacepharma.health/news
2026-04-01: Horus and Longevity mission launched (product) . SpacePharma said it launched its tenth microgravity lab to the ISS in April 2026 with experiments on brain tumor gene expression and human longevity. Source: SpacePharma missions page. https://www.spacepharma.health/missions
2026-03-01: Zeprion2 mission returns for analysis (product) . SpacePharma said its ninth microgravity lab, launched to the ISS in August 2025, returned in March 2026 for post-flight analysis. Source: SpacePharma. https://www.spacepharma.health/missions

Yuri GmbH

Website: yurigravity.com

Yuri is a commercial space biotech company that builds and operates microgravity research and production systems for biotech, pharma, and space agencies.

Category: Microgravity Manufacturing Platforms. Funding stage: Seed. Founded: 2019. Country: Germany. Employees: 11-50.

Landscape fit: It fits this category because it provides automated microgravity lab and production infrastructure that lets customers run orbital experiments and biomanufacturing without building their own spacecraft.

Funding rounds

seed announced 2022-07-01 : 4300000 USD ; investors: Verve Ventures, Sigma Capital, Fifty Years, APEX Ventures ; source: Yuri ; https://www.linkedin.com/posts/yuri-gmbh_seed-round-sigma-activity-6952536781724516352-nFE-

Company timeline

2026-09-21: HR snapshot (hr) . Yuri shows recruiting intent on its careers page, and the page also signals that the company has reached meaningful operating scale. The supplied evidence does not expose a reliable current headcount or a confirmed hiring cluster. Source: Career page. https://www.yurigravity.com/company/career
2026-09-21: Product snapshot (product) . Yuri offers microgravity research and production systems for biotech, pharma, and space agencies. Source: Yuri home page. https://www.yurigravity.com
2026-07-23: Yuri wins €454.7K DLR contract for B.A.R.B.I.E mission preparation (gtm) . The German Space Agency at DLR awarded Yuri a €454,698.10 services contract to prepare and qualify a potential B.A.R.B.I.E mission using Yuri's ScienceTaxi BioForge and BioSpin systems. Source: EU Publications Office. https://op.europa.eu/pt/web/public-procurement/procurement-details/-/procurement/0c9a39a2-8f18-4532-ab4b-524361f1e4ff
2026-07-06: Yuri opens senior roles during new growth phase (hr) . Yuri opened searches for a Head of Product Development, Head of Finance, Contracts & Legal, and a Project Manager as the company entered a new phase of growth. Source: Yuri. https://yurigravity.com/news/were-hiring-at-yuri
2026-07-01: ScienceTaxi BioForge passes ESA Critical Design Review (product) . Yuri's ScienceTaxi BioForge, a microgravity bioprinting platform, passed its Critical Design Review with ESA, clearing the design to move into manufacturing, integration, verification, and qualification. Source: Yuri. https://www.linkedin.com/posts/yuri-gmbh_sciencetaxi-microgravityresearch-spacebiotech-activity-7477634011863949312-ch7j
2026-04-16: Wins first ESA contract (gtm) . Yuri says it signed its first contract with the European Space Agency in 2026. Source: Europe takes the next step into commercial space. https://www.yurigravity.com/news/2bd69934-28e2-4386-bd97-3c742549dd6b

Aloft Biotechnologies

Website: aloftbio.space

Aloft Biotechnologies develops microgravity biomanufacturing systems that support cell processing, microbial culture, and fluid management in space.

Category: Microgravity Manufacturing Platforms. Funding stage: Pre Seed. Founded: 2024. Country: United States. Employees: 2 to 10.

Landscape fit: It fits this category because it is building enabling production hardware and process systems for manufacturing in orbit rather than operating its own spacecraft.

Funding rounds

investment announced 2026-06-03 : 50000 USD ; investors: Space Florida ; source: Space Florida ; https://www.spaceflorida.gov/news/florida-venture-forum-and-space-florida-announce-winners-of-150-000-in-2026-early-stage-venture-conference-investment
unattributed financing announced 2025-05-21 : 130000 USD ; source: U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ; https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/2069497/000206949725000002/xslFormDX08/primary_doc.xml

Company timeline

2026-09-21: HR snapshot (hr) . Aloft Biotechnologies appears to have a very small team and no clear public hiring surge. Public evidence points to a founder led company rather than a broad recruiting push. Source: Aloft Biotechnologies LinkedIn company page. https://www.linkedin.com/company/aloftbio
2026-09-21: Product snapshot (product) . Aloft Biotechnologies builds air film based microgravity biomanufacturing systems for cell manufacturing, microbial culture, and fluid handling in space. Source: Aloft Biotechnologies: Microgravity Biomanufacturing | Aloft Biotechnologies. https://aloftbio.space
2026-06-03: USD 50K Space Florida investment (funding) . Aloft Biotechnologies won the Accelerating Innovation Award at the Florida Venture Forum Early Stage Venture Conference and received a USD 50,000 investment from Space Florida. Source: Space Florida. https://www.spaceflorida.gov/news/florida-venture-forum-and-space-florida-announce-winners-of-150-000-in-2026-early-stage-venture-conference-investment
2026-05-27: Proof of concept work with Sartorius (gtm) . Aloft said it was doing ongoing proof of concept work with Sartorius on iPSC and T cell bioreactor performance as part of its terrestrial revenue path. Source: Florida Venture Forum selected companies announcement. https://flventure.org/2026earlystage-selected-companies-annouced
2025-05-21: USD 130K financing (funding) . Aloft Biotechnologies reported USD 130K sold in a USD 300K exempt offering covering debt and rights to acquire securities in a Form D filed with the SEC. Source: U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/2069497/000206949725000002/xslFormDX08/primary_doc.xml

Ambrosia Space

Website: ambrosiaspace.com

Ambrosia Space is building biomanufacturing hardware for use in orbit, starting with a space bioreactor aimed at making pharmaceuticals and other biological products.

Category: Microgravity Manufacturing Platforms. Funding stage: Seed. Founded: 2023. Country: United States. Employees: 1-4.

Landscape fit: It fits this category because it is developing the production systems that would let companies manufacture biological products in microgravity as a service, rather than building a one off spacecraft for a single mission.

Funding rounds

government contract announced 2025-04-29 : 179389 USD ; investors: AFRL, AFOSR ; source: AFRL ; https://www.afrl.af.mil/Portals/90/Documents/SB/AFRL_Active_OTSB-SB_Contracts.pdf
seed announced 2025-01-01 : 1000000 USD ; source: Dealroom company profile ; https://app.dealroom.co/companies/ambrosia_space

Company timeline

2026-09-21: HR snapshot (hr) . Ambrosia Space appears to be a small founder led team based in Houston. The public evidence does not show active broad hiring. Source: Ink nowvation company page. https://www.inknowvation.com/sbir/companies/ambrosia-space-manufacturing-corporation
2026-09-21: Product snapshot (product) . Ambrosia Space builds biomanufacturing hardware for use in orbit, starting with a space bioreactor aimed at making pharmaceuticals and other biological products. Source: Ambrosia Space Manufacturing Company. https://www.ambrosiaspace.com
2026-09-15: Starlab partnership for orbital validation (gtm) . Starlab said Ambrosia Space reserved volume aboard its commercial station to validate and integrate biomanufacturing hardware in orbit. Source: Starlab reservation announcement. https://starlab-space.com/press-releases/ambrosia-space-manufacturing-corporation-reserves-volume-aboard-starlab-to-validate-biomanufacturing-system-in-year-1-of-commercial-operations
2025-06-26: NASA selects Ambrosia Space payload (product) . NASA selected Ambrosia Space for the TechLeap Space Technology Payload Challenge with its Cel Sep centrifuge concept. Source: NASA TechLeap Space Technology Payload Challenge winners. https://www.nasa.gov/stmd-flight-opportunities/access-flight-tests/nasa-techleap-prize-information/space-technology-payload-challenge
2025-04-29: USD 179.389K DoD STTR Phase I contract (funding) . AFRL/AFOSR awarded Ambrosia Space a USD 179,389 STTR Phase I contract to develop co-cultures for benchtop-scale beta-carotene production in microgravity. Source: AFRL. https://www.afrl.af.mil/Portals/90/Documents/SB/AFRL_Active_OTSB-SB_Contracts.pdf
2025-01-01: Seed (funding) . Amount: USD 1M Source: Dealroom company profile. https://app.dealroom.co/companies/ambrosia_space

In-Space Construction & Manufacturing

Orbital Matter

Website: orbitalmatter.com

Orbital Matter builds in orbit manufacturing and assembly systems that create large rigid structures in space instead of launching them folded from Earth.

Category: In-Space Construction & Manufacturing. Funding stage: Seed. Founded: 2022. Country: Poland. Employees: 2-10.

Landscape fit: It fits this category because its core product is a space native construction system for building large structures directly in orbit, including booms, antennas, radiators, solar arrays, and other infrastructure that stays in space.

Funding rounds

grant announced 2026-07-10 : 500000 EUR ; investors: European Innovation Council ; source: Orbital Matter receives €500k from the European Innovation Council to build solar arrays in space for megawatt-class satellites ; https://www.orbitalmatter.com/newsroom-eic-funding
seed announced 2025-08-11 : 1000000 EUR ; investors: Early Game Ventures ; source: Vestbee ; https://www.vestbee.com/insights/articles/orbital-matter-raises-1-m
pre-seed announced 2023-11-06 : 1000000 EUR ; investors: Sunfish Partners, Dhyan VC, Amar Shah, Aleksander Ciszek ; source: Orbital Matter pre seed round and hiring post ; https://www.linkedin.com/posts/jakubstojek_big-news-we-closed-a-pre-seed-round-activity-7141068352503951360-5dlx

Company timeline

2026-09-21: HR snapshot (hr) . Orbital Matter is a founder led hardware company with narrow public hiring signals. The clearest evidence is a Warsaw based mechanical engineer opening and relocation requirement. Source: Orbital Matter mechanical engineer job posting. https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/mechanical-engineer-at-orbital-matter-4270160835
2026-09-21: Product snapshot (product) . Orbital Matter builds in orbit construction systems for large rigid space structures. Its P.A.D.S. system uses photopolymer resin and UV curing to make continuous rigid booms for solar arrays, antennas, and radiators. Source: Orbital Matter official website. https://www.orbitalmatter.com
2026-08-12: First print in open space (product) . Orbital Matter said Replicator 2 completed its first 3D print in the open vacuum of space. Source: A first in orbit: 3D printing in the open vacuum of space. https://www.orbitalmatter.com/newsroom-first-print
2026-07-20: Thales Alenia Space antenna demonstration partnership (gtm) . Orbital Matter and Thales Alenia Space are demonstrating a VHF antenna concept using a rigid boom printed directly in orbit on Replicator 2. Source: Orbital Matter demonstrates in-orbit-built antennas in space. https://www.orbitalmatter.com/newsroom-tas-collaboration
2026-07-10: EUR 500K grant (funding) . Amount: EUR 500K. Investors: European Innovation Council Source: Orbital Matter receives €500k from the European Innovation Council to build solar arrays in space for megawatt-class satellites. https://www.orbitalmatter.com/newsroom-eic-funding
2026-07-07: Replicator 2 launches (product) . Orbital Matter launched Replicator 2 to demonstrate printed solar array structures for space power systems. Source: Orbital Matter launches Replicator 2 to build megawatt-class solar arrays that will power data centers in space. https://www.orbitalmatter.com/newsroom-replicator2-launch

ThinkOrbital

Website: thinkorbital.com

ThinkOrbital builds space systems for in orbit inspection, servicing, and construction, with a focus on autonomous welding, X ray imaging, and large orbital infrastructure.

Category: In-Space Construction & Manufacturing. Funding stage: Seed. Founded: 2021. Country: United States. Employees: unknown.

Landscape fit: It fits this category because it is developing in space construction and assembly capabilities that are meant to create large structures directly in orbit rather than launching finished structures from Earth.

Funding rounds

seed announced 2026-01-05 ; investors: TFX Capital ; source: ThinkOrbital ; https://thinkorbital.com/news/seed-round/
government contract announced 2025-08-12 : 2000000 USD ; investors: U.S. Air Force ; source: SBIR.gov ; https://www.sbir.gov/awards/216378

Company timeline

2026-09-21: HR snapshot (hr) . ThinkOrbital appears to be hiring selectively for hardware integration and test. The careers page shows one active role, and the public site does not show a large recruiting push. Source: ThinkOrbital home page. https://thinkorbital.com
2026-09-21: Product snapshot (product) . ThinkOrbital builds space systems for autonomous sensing, orbital inspection, in space construction, and large orbital infrastructure. Its current products are ThinkX, ThinkToolkit, and ThinkPlatforms. Source: ThinkOrbital home page. https://thinkorbital.com
2026-05-27: First on orbit X ray scans planned (product) . ThinkOrbital said it plans to test its X ray inspection technology on orbit for the first time early in 2027. Source: ThinkOrbital preps for first on-orbit X-ray scans. https://thinkorbital.com/news/thinkorbital-preps-for-first-on-orbit-x-ray-scans
2026-01-14: ThinkX enters orbital demo phase (product) . ThinkOrbital said its Space to Space X ray system will fly on demonstration missions in March and October 2026. Source: Seed round led by TFX Capital. https://thinkorbital.com/news/thinkorbital-raises-seed-funding-to-advance-orbital-defense-and-construction-systems
2026-01-05: Undisclosed seed led by TFX Capital (funding) . ThinkOrbital announced the close of an undisclosed seed round led by TFX Capital to accelerate ThinkX, on-orbit servicing, and in-space construction capabilities. Source: ThinkOrbital. https://thinkorbital.com/news/seed-round/
2025-08-12: USD 2M USAF TACFI / SBIR Phase II (funding) . The U.S. Air Force awarded ThinkOrbital a USD 2M TACFI / SBIR Phase II contract to advance ThinkX, its space-based penetrating X-ray imaging system for spacecraft inspection. Source: SBIR.gov. https://www.sbir.gov/awards/216378

Dcubed

Website: dcubed.space

Dcubed develops deployable space structures, release mechanisms, and in space manufactured solar array systems for spacecraft and orbital power applications.

Category: In-Space Construction & Manufacturing. Funding stage: Series A. Founded: 2018. Country: Germany. Employees: 11-50.

Landscape fit: It fits this category because it is building hardware for in space manufacturing and deployable orbital structures, including work on in space manufactured solar arrays and other space systems that stay in orbit.

Funding rounds

Series A announced 2024-08-05 ; investors: Expansion Aerospace Ventures, BayBG, HTGF, Aurelia Foundry, Ventis, Rymdkapital, Decisive Point Europe ; source: Series A funding announcement ; https://dcubed.space/dcubed-secures-series-a-round-investment

Company timeline

2026-09-21: HR snapshot (hr) . Dcubed is actively hiring through its careers page and Teamtailor portal. The visible openings focus on production, electrical, technician, and project management roles in Germany and Colorado. Source: Unfold your career with DCUBED. https://dcubed.space/careers
2026-09-21: Product snapshot (product) . Dcubed develops and sells release actuators, deployable structures, and solar array subsystems for spacecraft and orbital power applications. Source: DCUBED – Space Engineering Made Easy. https://dcubed.space
2026-05-01: ArkEdge Space mission success (gtm) . ArkEdge Space selected Dcubed's Nano Pin Puller to release the VDES antenna on its AE1a mission, which deployed successfully in orbit in May 2026. Source: ArkEdge Space. https://dcubed.space/success-stories/arkedge-space
2026-03-23: ARAQYS-D3 partner selection (gtm) . Dcubed announced five international power beaming partners for its ARAQYS-D3 mission. Source: Dcubed Announces Five Power Beaming Partners for ARAQYS-D3 Mission. https://dcubed.space/dcubed-announces-five-power-beaming-partners-for-araqys-d3-mission
2026-02-10: EnduroSat partnership (gtm) . Dcubed announced a strategic partnership with EnduroSat to support serial production of the FRAME satellite platform. Source: Dcubed and EnduroSat Partner to Advance Serial Production of ESPA-Class FRAME Satellite. https://dcubed.space/dcubed-and-endurosat-partner-to-advance-serial-production-of-espa-class-frame-satellite
2025-12-11: Sidus Space selects Dcubed for 16 flight units (gtm) . Sidus Space selected Dcubed to supply 16 Nano Pin Pullers for the next generation of LizzieSat satellites, with eight release mechanisms used on each spacecraft to deploy rigid solar arrays. Source: Dcubed. https://dcubed.space/sidus-space-selects-dcubed-release-mechanisms-for-next-set-of-lizziesat-satellites/

Orbital Composites

Website: orbitalcomposites.com

Orbital Composites builds robotic manufacturing systems for advanced composite parts, including structures for aerospace and space applications and work on orbital infrastructure.

Category: In-Space Construction & Manufacturing. Funding stage: Seed. Founded: 2015. Country: United States. Employees: 11-50.

Landscape fit: It fits this category because the company says it is developing space grade components and orbital infrastructure, including parts meant for orbit and other extreme space environments.

Funding rounds

government contract announced 2024-06-13 : 1899978 USD ; investors: U.S. Air Force ; source: SBIR.gov ; https://www.sbir.gov/awards/210146
government contract announced 2024-05-15 : 70363 USD ; investors: U.S. Air Force ; source: SBIR.gov ; https://www.sbir.gov/awards/210918
government contract announced 2023-08-15 : 1249927 USD ; investors: U.S. Air Force ; source: SBIR.gov ; https://www.sbir.gov/awards/205836
government contract announced 2023-02-17 : 1699951 USD ; investors: U.S. Air Force ; source: SBIR.gov ; https://www.sbir.gov/awards/204484
STTR Phase I announced 2022-10-03 ; investors: SpaceWERX, Southwest Research Institute ; source: Orbital Composites ; https://www.orbitalcomposites.com/updates/orbital-composites-awarded-us-space-force-spacewerx-orbital-prime-contract

Company timeline

2026-09-21: HR snapshot (hr) . Orbital Composites appears to be a small, engineering focused team with active but limited hiring. The public careers page shows one open role, so the clearest signal is selective recruiting rather than broad expansion. Source: SBIR.gov. https://www.sbir.gov/portfolio/1708593
2026-09-21: Product snapshot (product) . Orbital Composites builds robotic manufacturing systems for advanced composite parts. Its current scope includes robotic 3D printing, continuous fiber composites, AMCM, and deployable factory systems for aerospace, defense, energy, and space applications. Source: Orbital Composites. https://www.orbitalcomposites.com
2026-09-01: Orbital posted an Engineering Technician role (hr) . Orbital’s careers page listed an open Engineering Technician position. Source: Orbital Composites. https://www.orbitalcomposites.com/join-us
2025-09-09: Orbital expanded into public demo marketing (gtm) . Orbital ran a live demonstration of its robotic 3D printing system at Honolulu Tech Week in September 2025. Source: Orbital Composites. https://www.orbitalcomposites.com/updates/orbital-composites-does-live-demo-at-honolulu-tech-week
2024-10-07: Orbital showed strategic aerospace customer work (gtm) . Orbital said it was working with strategic customers on 3D printed internal aircraft parts and cited Eaton on its aerospace page. Source: Orbital Composites. https://www.orbitalcomposites.com/aero
2024-06-13: USD 1.9M USAF SBIR II / TACFI (funding) . The U.S. Air Force awarded Orbital Composites USD 1,899,978 for a Sequential SBIR Phase II TACFI effort to develop scalable robotic manufacturing factories for rapid production of unmanned aircraft systems. Source: SBIR.gov. https://www.sbir.gov/awards/210146

Tensr

Website: tensr.com

Tensr builds autonomous robotic factories that use data from each build to improve how production is planned and run, and it says those robots are moving to the ISS for in space manufacturing work.

Category: In-Space Construction & Manufacturing. Funding stage: Pre Seed. Founded: 2025. Country: United States. Employees: 2-10.

Landscape fit: It fits this category because the company is developing robotic production systems that can operate in orbit, which is directly aligned with in space construction and manufacturing.

Company timeline

2026-09-21: HR snapshot (hr) . Tensr is a founder led robotics company with a small public footprint and no clear active hiring push. ([cbinsights.com](https://www.cbinsights.com/company/tenzr-health/financials?utm_source=openai)) Source: Tensr Dealroom profile. https://app.dealroom.co/companies/tensr_2
2026-09-21: Product snapshot (product) . Tensr currently presents itself as an autonomous robotic factory platform with Bay Area manufacturing capacity and a stated path into in space manufacturing for ISS related work. ([tensr.com](https://www.tensr.com/?utm_source=openai)) Source: Tensr · Manufacture Robots.. https://www.tensr.com
2026-08-12: Selected for ISS National Lab Orbital Edge Accelerator (gtm) . Tensr was selected for the 2026 ISS National Lab Orbital Edge Accelerator, giving it access to low Earth orbit for technology development, strategic partners, and private capital as it develops an in-space manufacturing project. Source: ISS National Lab. https://issnationallab.org/press-releases/startups-selected-2026-orbital-edge/
2026-08-01: Tensr exhibits at Actuate 26 (gtm) . Tensr exhibited hardware at Foxglove’s robotics conference in San Francisco. Source: Tensr at Actuate 26. https://www.tensr.com/news/actuate-2026
2026-08-01: Tensr launches its robot factory (product) . Tensr says its Bay Area factory is online and is already manufacturing robots and related hardware. Source: runtimewire.com. https://runtimewire.com/article/tensr-launches-autonomous-robot-factory
2026-04-01: Eric Berndt guest lectures at Berkeley (hr) . Eric Berndt guest lectured in UC Berkeley’s SCET Amazoogle course. Source: Back at Berkeley · Tensr. https://www.tensr.com/news/berkeley-talks

Redwire Corporation

Website: rdw.com

Redwire builds space infrastructure, including on orbit servicing, assembly, and manufacturing systems for satellites and other space missions.

Category: In-Space Construction & Manufacturing. Funding stage: Public. Founded: 2020. Country: United States. Employees: approximately 1,400.

Landscape fit: It fits this category because Redwire develops on orbit servicing, assembly, and manufacturing capabilities, which are used to build or enable structures in space rather than launching finished structures from Earth.

Funding rounds

preferred_equity_financing announced 2022-10-28 : 80000000 USD ; investors: AE Industrial Partners, LP, BCC Redwire Aggregator, LP (Bain) ; source: 2025 annual report excerpt ; https://ir.rdw.com/sec-filings/all-sec-filings/xbrl_doc_only/2346
committed_equity_facility announced 2022-04-15 : 80000000 USD ; investors: B. Riley Principal Capital, LLC ; source: Redwire announces $80 million committed equity facility ; https://ir.rdw.com/news-events/press-releases/detail/52/redwire-announces-80-million-b-riley-committed-equity

Company timeline

2026-09-21: HR snapshot (hr) . Redwire appears to employ roughly 1,400 people across North America and Europe and is actively recruiting for technical and commercial roles. The public careers pages show ongoing hiring in engineering, manufacturing, quality, and business development. Source: Redwire elects Frank Calvelli to board. https://ir.rdw.com/news-events/press-releases/detail/221/redwire-elects-the-honorable-frank-calvelli-to-board-of
2026-09-21: Product snapshot (product) . Redwire provides space and defense hardware and mission systems for civil, commercial, and national security programs. Current capabilities include power generation, RF systems, platforms, payloads and missions, microgravity payloads, avionics and sensors, digital engineering, testing and analysis, deployable solutions, star trackers, camera systems, in space manufacturing, and biotechnology facilities. Source: Redwire home page. https://rdw.com
2026-08-24: Seeker sensor line launches (product) . Redwire launched Seeker, a family of navigation sensors and space cameras manufactured in Riga, Latvia. Source: Redwire launches Seeker product line. https://rdw.com/newsroom/redwire-launches-european-manufactured-space-camera-and-navigation-sensor-product-line-to-strengthen-european-supply-chain-sovereignty
2026-08-14: ELSA reaches design review (product) . Redwire said it completed critical design review for ELSA solar arrays for a national security program with Moog. Source: Blog. https://rdw.com/newsroom/type/blog
2026-08-12: Kanematsu collaboration (gtm) . Redwire announced a strategic collaboration with Kanematsu for Japan's space sector. Source: Press Release. https://rdw.com/newsroom/type/press-release
2026-08-06: SpaceMD first commercial mission (product) . Redwire said SpaceMD would fly its first commercial mission on SpaceX's Starfall spacecraft. Source: Press Release. https://rdw.com/newsroom/type/press-release

Orbital Compute & Data Centers

Starcloud

Website: starcloud.com

Starcloud builds orbital data centers and GPU compute infrastructure for AI workloads and space-based data processing.

Category: Orbital Compute & Data Centers. Funding stage: Series A. Founded: 2024. Country: United States. Employees: 11-50.

Landscape fit: It fits this category because its core product is dedicated compute infrastructure in orbit, including GPU clusters, persistent storage, and commercial missions for space based processing. ([starcloud.com](https://www.starcloud.com/starcloud-2?utm_source=openai))

Funding rounds

Series A extension announced 2026-08-21 : 250000000 USD ; investors: Manhattan West Ventures, NVIDIA, Cisco Investments, Benchmark, EQT Ventures & Growth, Soma Capital, NFX, 776, Cedar Capital, Goanna Capital, Standard Capital ; source: GeekWire ; https://www.geekwire.com/2026/starcloud-250m-data-center-satellite-network-nvidia
Series A announced 2026-03-30 : 170000000 USD ; investors: Benchmark, EQT Ventures ; source: TechCrunch ; https://techcrunch.com/2026/03/30/starcloud-raises-170-million-series-ato-build-data-centers-in-space

Company timeline

2026-09-21: HR snapshot (hr) . Starcloud appears to be a small Redmond based engineering team with active hiring for mission and satellite engineering roles. Source: LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/company/starcloudinc
2026-09-21: Product snapshot (product) . Starcloud provides space based data center infrastructure for AI compute and storage. Its current public product surface describes orbital GPU compute, persistent storage, real time analysis of satellite data, and secure sovereign cloud storage and compute. Source: Starcloud home. https://www.starcloud.com
2026-08-21: Series a extension (funding) . Amount: USD 250M. Investors: Manhattan West Ventures, NVIDIA, Cisco Investments, Benchmark, EQT Ventures & Growth, Soma Capital, NFX, 776, Cedar Capital, Goanna Capital, Standard Capital Source: GeekWire. https://www.geekwire.com/2026/starcloud-250m-data-center-satellite-network-nvidia
2026-08-01: Starcloud-2 becomes first commercial mission (product) . Starcloud says Starcloud-2 is its first commercial mission and will include GPU compute, persistent storage, 24/7 access, and proprietary thermal and power systems. Source: Starcloud-2. https://www.starcloud.com/starcloud-2
2026-08-01: Starcloud hires mission management lead (hr) . A Starcloud LinkedIn post says Victoria Davis joined the company as Head of Mission Management. Source: LinkedIn company profile. https://www.linkedin.com/company/starcloudinc
2026-03-30: Series A (funding) . Amount: USD 170M. Investors: Benchmark, EQT Ventures Source: TechCrunch. https://techcrunch.com/2026/03/30/starcloud-raises-170-million-series-ato-build-data-centers-in-space

Cowboy Space Corporation

Website: cowboyspace.com

Cowboy Space is building orbital compute and data center infrastructure for AI, using satellites and rockets to run GPU data centers in low Earth orbit.

Category: Orbital Compute & Data Centers. Funding stage: Series B. Founded: 2024. Country: United States. Employees: 103.

Landscape fit: It fits this category because the company is explicitly building orbital data centers and on orbit compute infrastructure, not a terrestrial data center business.

Funding rounds

Series B announced 2026-05-11 : 275000000 USD ; investors: Index Ventures, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Construct Capital, IVP, Blossom Capital, SAIC, Andreessen Horowitz, NEA, Interlagos, Baiju Bhatt ; source: Fenwick ; https://www.fenwick.com/insights/experience/fenwick-represents-cowboy-space-corporation-in-275m-series-b-financing
Series A announced 2025-04-02 : 50000000 USD ; investors: Index Ventures, Interlagos, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Andreessen Horowitz, NEA, Jared Leto ; source: TechCrunch ; https://techcrunch.com/2025/04/02/space-solar-startup-aetherflux-raises-50m-to-launch-first-space-demo-in-2026

Company timeline

2026-09-21: HR snapshot (hr) . Cowboy Space is actively hiring across technical and operations roles. The current jobs page shows live openings, and LinkedIn shows 103 employees. Source: LinkedIn jobs page. https://www.linkedin.com/company/cowboyspace/jobs
2026-09-21: Product snapshot (product) . Cowboy Space builds orbital infrastructure for AI. The company says it is creating a space based power grid with satellites and rockets that deliver high performance compute and optical data transmission from low Earth orbit, including solar powered GPU data centers in orbit. Source: Cowboy Space website. https://www.cowboyspace.com
2026-06-01: Files orbital data center plan (product) . Cowboy Space asked the FCC for authority to deploy and operate a 20,000 satellite system described as in orbit data centers. Source: FCC public notice. https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-422332A1.pdf
2026-05-11: Aetherflux becomes Cowboy Space and pivots to orbital data centers (milestone) . Baiju Bhatt's company rebranded from Aetherflux to Cowboy Space as it shifted from space-based solar power toward vertically integrated orbital data centers and its own launch vehicle. Source: TechCrunch. https://techcrunch.com/2026/05/11/there-arent-enough-rockets-for-space-data-centers-cowboy-space-raised-275-million-to-build-them/
2026-05-11: Series B (funding) . Amount: USD 275M. Investors: Index Ventures, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Construct Capital, IVP, Blossom Capital, SAIC, Andreessen Horowitz, NEA, Interlagos, Baiju Bhatt Source: Fenwick. https://www.fenwick.com/insights/experience/fenwick-represents-cowboy-space-corporation-in-275m-series-b-financing
2025-04-02: Series A (funding) . Amount: USD 50M. Investors: Index Ventures, Interlagos, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Andreessen Horowitz, NEA, Jared Leto Source: TechCrunch. https://techcrunch.com/2025/04/02/space-solar-startup-aetherflux-raises-50m-to-launch-first-space-demo-in-2026

Orbital

Website: orbital.inc

Orbital is building data centers in space, using satellites in low Earth orbit to run AI compute on solar power.

Category: Orbital Compute & Data Centers. Funding stage: Pre Seed. Founded: 2026. Country: United States. Employees: 2-10.

Landscape fit: It fits orbital compute and data centers because the company is explicitly building a constellation of satellites to provide AI compute from low Earth orbit.

Funding rounds

pre-seed announced 2026-06-09 : 5000000 USD ; investors: a16z speedrun, Basis Set, Human Element, Wayfinder, Antler, Anti Fund, Ascent, Rubik, Zero Knowledge Ventures, LYVC, Feld Ventures, New Legacy, FNDR, UpHonest, Asterisk ; source: GlobeNewswire / Orbital Compute Inc. ; https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/06/09/3308756/0/en/orbital-raises-oversubscribed-5m-pre-seed-round-to-build-ai-data-centers-in-space.html

Company timeline

2026-09-21: HR snapshot (hr) . Orbital is a very small Los Angeles team that appears to be hiring for foundational spacecraft engineering and a media role. Public postings suggest an early stage hardware buildout rather than a broad mature hiring program. Source: LinkedIn company profile. https://www.linkedin.com/company/orbitaldotinc
2026-09-21: Product snapshot (product) . Orbital builds and operates AI compute satellites in low Earth orbit. The system is designed to use continuous solar power and passive thermal rejection to run inference workloads in space. Source: Orbital official website. https://orbital.inc
2026-09-10: Partner with Reflex Aerospace (gtm) . Orbital selected Reflex Aerospace as its spacecraft platform partner for the planned orbital data center constellation and entered a development agreement with the company. Source: Reflex Aerospace. https://reflexaerospace.com/press-releases/orbital-selects-reflex-as-exclusive-satellite-platform-partner-space-data-center-constellation
2026-09-01: Open founding hardware roles (hr) . Orbital posted live roles for spacecraft structures, electrical and computer engineering, and media support in Los Angeles. Source: LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/mechanical-structural-engineer-%E2%80%94-space-at-orbital-4434937345
2026-06-30: Launch constellation plan (product) . Orbital announced a plan for a constellation of up to 100,000 satellites to run AI workloads in space. Source: Orbital official website. https://orbital.inc/press/orbital-100000-constellation.html
2026-06-09: Name Pathfinder and Orbital-1 (product) . Orbital named Pathfinder as its first in orbit technology demonstration and Orbital-1 as its first purpose built satellite for AI compute. Source: GlobeNewswire / Orbital Compute Inc.. https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/06/09/3308756/0/en/orbital-raises-oversubscribed-5m-pre-seed-round-to-build-ai-data-centers-in-space.html

Sophia Space

Website: sophia.space

Sophia Space builds orbital compute and data center systems that process AI and other workloads in low Earth orbit.

Category: Orbital Compute & Data Centers. Funding stage: Seed. Founded: 2023. Country: United States. Employees: 11 to 50.

Landscape fit: It fits this category because it is explicitly building orbital compute and in space data center infrastructure, with TILE modules designed for AI inference and data processing in orbit.

Funding rounds

government contract announced 2026-09-10 : 224936 USD ; investors: NASA ; source: Federal Compass ; https://www.federalcompass.com/fed-contract-award/80NSSC26C0446
SAFE financing announced 2026-06-23 : 7000000 USD ; source: Sophia Space ; https://sophia.space/news/sophia-space-pairs-with-apex-for-orbital-computing-demo-announces-22-million-in-total-funding
strategic investment announced 2026-05-09 ; investors: EverGreen Fund ; source: Sophia Space ; https://sophia.space/news/why-did-we-invest-sophia-space
seed announced 2026-02-01 : 10000000 USD ; investors: Alpha Funds, KDDI Green Partners Fund, Unlock Venture Partners ; source: Sophia Space ; https://sophia.space/news/sophia-space-closes-10m-seed-round-to-accelerate-orbital-edge-computing
pre-seed announced 2025-05-01 : 3500000 USD ; investors: Unlock Ventures, strategic angels, industry leaders ; source: Sophia Space ; https://sophia.space/news/sophia-space-closes-pre-seed-financing

Company timeline

2026-09-21: HR snapshot (hr) . Sophia Space is a small team with named leaders around founder led orbital compute development. Public sources suggest an early commercial organization rather than a large hiring organization. Source: Sophia Space. https://sophia.space/team
2026-09-21: Product snapshot (product) . Sophia Space builds orbital compute and data center systems. Its TILE architecture is a modular orbital compute suite that unifies power, compute, thermal management, and secure networking for in orbit processing. Source: Sophia Space. https://sophia.space
2026-09-13: Sophia Space and SLI set $300M asset-financing framework (gtm) . Sophia Space and SLI agreed a USD 300M asset-financing framework under which SLI would purchase a planned 10-satellite edge-compute constellation from Sophia and lease the satellites to end users. Source: Sophia Space. https://sophia.space/news/sophia-space-and-sli-set-terms-for-300-million-asset-financing-for-10-satellite-high-performance-edge-computing-constellation
2026-09-10: USD 224.936K NASA SBIR Phase I (funding) . NASA awarded Sophia Space USD 224,936 for a Phase I SBIR project developing Sophia Tile, a GPU-accelerated computing system with integrated thermal management. Source: Federal Compass. https://www.federalcompass.com/fed-contract-award/80NSSC26C0446
2026-08-24: Athena power system supplier selected (gtm) . Sophia Space picked Spherical to supply the electrical power system for the Athena in space demo. Source: Sophia Space. https://sophia.space/news/sophia-space-selects-spherical-as-power-systems-supplier-for-its-athena-in-space-demo
2026-07-29: Sophia Space and Caltech secure U.S. patent for space-based data centers (product) . Sophia Space and Caltech announced a U.S. patent for modular data center architectures in space. Source: Sophia Space. https://sophia.space/news/sophia-space-and-caltech-secure-u.s.-patent-for-space-based-data-centers-deepen-r-d-program

Axiom Space

Website: axiomspace.com

Axiom Space builds commercial space infrastructure, including a planned commercial space station, spacesuits, and an orbital data center initiative.

Category: Orbital Compute & Data Centers. Funding stage: Series C. Founded: 2016. Country: United States. Employees: about 809 employees.

Landscape fit: It fits this category because the company is now developing orbital data center capabilities in low Earth orbit, alongside its broader space station and space infrastructure work.

Funding rounds

financing extension announced 2026-06-04 : 175000000 USD ; investors: MUFG Bank, existing backers ; source: Axiom Space ; https://www.axiomspace.com/release/axiom-space-closes-oversubscribed-financing-at-525m
Financing round announced 2026-02-12 : 350000000 USD ; investors: Type One Ventures, Qatar Investment Authority, 1789 Capital, 4iG, LuminArx Capital Management, Kam Ghaffarian ; source: Axiom Space secures $350M financing ; https://www.axiomspace.com/release/axiom-space-secures-350m-financing-to-accelerate-space-station-spacesuit-development
government award announced 2025-05-23 : 5500000 USD ; investors: Texas Space Commission ; source: Axiom Space ; https://axiomspace.com/release/texas-space-commission-fuels-orbital-data-center
Series C announced 2023-08-21 : 350000000 USD ; investors: Aljazira Capital, Boryung Co., Ltd. ; source: Axiom Space raises $350M at Series C close ; https://www.axiomspace.com/release/series-c
Series B announced 2021-02-16 : 130000000 USD ; investors: C5 Capital, TQS Advisors, Declaration Partners, Moelis Dynasty Investments, Washington University in St. Louis, The Venture Collective, Aidenlair Capital, Hemisphere Ventures, Starbridge Venture Capital ; source: Axiom raises $130M in Series B funding ; https://www.axiomspace.com/release/series-b

Company timeline

2026-09-21: HR snapshot (hr) . Axiom Space is hiring across engineering, EVA systems, software, station operations, international markets, and business development. The company appears to be scaling both core technical teams and commercial market functions. Source: Jobs at Axiom Space. https://www.linkedin.com/company/axiom-space/jobs
2026-09-21: Product snapshot (product) . Axiom Space offers commercial human spaceflight services and is building Axiom Station, the AxEMU spacesuit, and orbital data center and in space data security capabilities. It also supports in space manufacturing and microgravity research for civil, government, and commercial customers. Source: Team — Axiom Space. https://www.axiomspace.com/team
2026-09-10: ESA partnership expanded access to LEO (gtm) . Axiom Space and the European Space Agency signed an agreement to expand Europe's access to low Earth orbit and support future missions. Source: Newsroom. https://www.axiomspace.com/newsroom
2026-08-04: International operations lead appointed (hr) . Axiom Space appointed Dr. Renato Krpoun to lead Europe, Middle East, and Africa operations for its Switzerland subsidiary. Source: Axiom Space Appoints Chief of International Operations for New Switzerland Entity. https://www.axiomspace.com/release/axiom-space-appoints-chief-of-international-operations-for-new-switzerland-entity
2026-07-21: AxEMU featured in public AMA (product) . Axiom Space hosted a Reddit AMA focused on the AxEMU spacesuit and described its lunar EVA capabilities. Source: Axiom Space Celebrates National Moon Day, Hosts Reddit AMA on AxEMU Spacesuit. https://www.axiomspace.com/news/axiom-space-celebrates-national-moon-day-hosts-reddit-ama-on-axemu-spacesuit
2026-07-15: Axiom appoints new CFO and CIO (hr) . Axiom Space appointed Zach Gitomer as Chief Financial Officer and Erick Wegerer as Chief Information Officer. Source: Axiom Space. https://www.axiomspace.com/release/axiom-space-builds-out-executive-team-for-commercial-space-station-era-welcoming-new-cfo-cio

SpaceBilt

Website: spacebilt.com

SpaceBilt builds in space assembly and orbital edge compute infrastructure, including server and data center nodes for AI, storage, and communications in orbit.

Category: Orbital Compute & Data Centers. Funding stage: Seed. Founded: 2023. Country: United States. Employees: 11-50.

Landscape fit: It fits this category because it is explicitly developing orbital data center and edge compute systems, including a server and data center node for use in low Earth orbit and beyond.

Funding rounds

debt and warrants financing announced 2024-07-31 : 2364000 USD ; source: U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ; https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1992598/000147793224005614/xslFormDX08/primary_doc.xml

Company timeline

2026-09-21: HR snapshot (hr) . SpaceBilt appears to have a small team with named founders and technical leadership, and its public careers page currently shows no openings. Source: SpaceBilt LinkedIn company page. https://www.linkedin.com/company/spacebilt
2026-09-21: Product snapshot (product) . SpaceBilt offers on orbit assembled satellite systems, a server and data center node for RF, sensing, cloud compute, storage, and communications payloads, and an orbital cloud offering for hosted payloads and in space data storage. Source: SpaceBilt | STARport Assembly & STARcraft Platforms. https://www.spacebilt.com/products-capabilities
2025-09-16: Axiom selects SpaceBilt for ISS orbital data center node (gtm) . Axiom Space and SpaceBilt announced a collaboration for a 2027 optically interconnected orbital data center node on the ISS. SpaceBilt will lead engineering and provide its Large In-Space Servers. Source: Axiom Space. https://axiomspace.com/release/axiom-space-spacebilt-announce-orbital-data-center-node
2025-03-05: SpaceBilt-built Freedom data center operates in cislunar space (product) . The Freedom data center built for Lonestar by SpaceBilt successfully completed commercial operational tests in cislunar space en route to the Moon, validating storage, processing, communications, and resilience. Source: Lonestar. https://lonestar.space/press-releases/lunar-data-center-achieves-first-success-en-route-to-the-moon
2025-01-08: DIU advances SpaceBilt STARcraft prototype (gtm) . The Defense Innovation Unit said SpaceBilt was moving forward under its Orbital Logistics Vehicle project to validate in-space assembly and manufacturing for its m-OLV STARcraft, targeting a 2026 first launch. Source: Defense Innovation Unit. https://www.diu.mil/latest/companies-selected-for-diu-orbital-logistics-vehicle-project-moving-forward
2024-07-31: USD 2.364M financing closes (funding) . SpaceBilt closed a USD 2.364M exempt offering consisting of debt and rights to acquire securities. The offering began on August 24, 2023 and closed on July 31, 2024. Source: U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1992598/000147793224005614/xslFormDX08/primary_doc.xml

Lonestar

Website: lonestar.space

Lonestar builds sovereign orbital data storage and compute infrastructure, including space-based data centers and lunar storage services for governments and regulated enterprises.

Category: Orbital Compute & Data Centers. Funding stage: Seed. Founded: 2021. Country: United States. Employees: unknown.

Landscape fit: It fits this category because its core product is orbital compute and data center infrastructure rather than satellite edge software. ([lonestar.space](https://lonestar.space/?utm_source=openai))

Funding rounds

minority_investment announced 2026-07-01 ; investors: 021T Capital ; source: 021T Capital Joins Lonestar to Build Dyson Swarm for Sovereign Global AI and Storage ; https://lonestar.space/press-releases/021t-capital-joins-lonestar-to-build-dyson-swarm-for-sovereign-global-ai-and-storage-
pre-series a announced 2023-10-19 : 825000 USD ; source: PR Newswire ; https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lonestar-data-holdings-inc-successfully-completes-oversubscribed-financing-round-raising-825-000--301962120.html
seed announced 2023-03-06 : 5000000 USD ; investors: Scout Ventures, Seldor Capital, 2 Future Holding, Veteran Fund, Irongate Capital, Atypical Ventures, KittyHawk Ventures ; source: PR Newswire ; https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lonestar-data-holdings-inc-successfully-completes-5m-in-oversubscribed-seed-financing-301762600.html

Company timeline

2026-09-21: HR snapshot (hr) . Lonestar has a small public leadership team and no clear evidence of broad active hiring in the supplied sources. The company appears to be staffing around specialized space and data infrastructure roles. Source: LinkedIn company page. https://www.linkedin.com/company/lonestar-space
2026-09-21: Product snapshot (product) . Lonestar provides sovereign secure orbital data centers and space based data services for governments and mission critical customers. Its current offerings include orbital storage, resiliency, key management, orbital computing, secure intelligence services, lunar storage services, and orbital data embassies. Source: Lonestar homepage. https://lonestar.space
2026-09-06: NYSE LaunchPad participation (gtm) . Lonestar joined NYSE LaunchPad and reserved LNST as its future ticker symbol. Source: Lonestar Joins NYSE LaunchPad. https://lonestar.space/press-releases/lonestar-joins-new-york-stock-exchange-launchpad
2026-08-25: Orbit protection contract (gtm) . Lonestar contracted Ares Shield to protect its orbital data centers in a deal worth up to six million dollars. Source: Ares Shield to Protect Lonestar's Orbiting Data Centers. https://lonestar.space/press-releases/ares-shield-to-protect-lonestars-orbiting-data-centers
2026-07-13: Sovereign language models announced (product) . Lonestar announced sovereign language models that will run from its secure orbital data centers. Source: Lonestar Announces Sovereign Language Models From Secure Orbital Data Centers. https://lonestar.space/press-releases/lonestar-announces-sovereign-language-models
2026-07-06: Orbital data embassy announced (product) . Lonestar announced the first commercial orbital data embassy as a product built on its space based sovereign storage platform. Source: The First Commercial Orbital Data Embassy. https://lonestar.space/press-releases/the-first-commercial-orbital-data-embassy

Kepler Communications

Website: kepler.space

Kepler builds space communications infrastructure with on orbit compute and optical data relay for satellites and other space missions. ([kepler.space](https://kepler.space/?utm_source=openai))

Category: Orbital Compute & Data Centers. Funding stage: Series C. Founded: 2015. Country: Canada. Employees: unknown.

Landscape fit: It fits this category because it is actively offering on orbit compute and space based data processing, which is part of orbital compute and data center infrastructure. ([kepler.space](https://kepler.space/kepler-deploys-first-space-based-scalable-cloud-infrastructure-powered-by-nvidia/?utm_source=openai))

Funding rounds

grant announced 2024-10-16 : 20000000 CAD ; investors: Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, Canadian Space Agency ; source: Canada announces Strategic Innovation Fund support for Kepler ; https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/federal-government-invests-to-strengthen-canada-s-expertise-in-satellite-communications-837983693.html
series_c announced 2023-04-13 : 92000000 USD ; investors: IA Ventures ; source: Kepler raises Series C ; https://kepler.space/kepler-raises-92-million-usd-series-c-to-complete-internet-ready-optical-constellation-3
series_b announced 2021-06-09 : 60000000 USD ; investors: Tribe Capital, Canaan Partners, IA Ventures, Costanoa Ventures ; source: Kepler closes Series B ; https://kepler.space/kepler-communications-raises-oversubscribed-60m-series-b-for-satellite-communications-network
series a announced 2018-10-15 : 16000000 USD ; investors: Costanoa Ventures, Deutsche Bahn Digital Ventures, IA Ventures ; source: Kepler Communications ; https://kepler.space/about/
seed announced 2016-08-11 : 5000000 USD ; investors: IA Ventures, Techstars Ventures, Liquid 2 VC, SK Ventures, Zelkova Ventures, Plug and Play Ventures, V1 VC, Globalive Capital, BDC ; source: Kepler announces seed round and investors ; https://kepler.space/new-partners

Company timeline

2026-09-21: HR snapshot (hr) . Kepler is actively hiring for engineering, manufacturing, software, systems, compliance, and sales roles. The company also shows a stable senior leadership team on its about page. Source: Kepler jobs board. https://jobs.lever.co/kepler?location=United+States
2026-09-21: Product snapshot (product) . Kepler provides optical data relay, on orbit compute, and hosted payload services through its satellite network. The company describes Kepler Connect, Kepler Compute, and Kepler Hosted as its main product surfaces. Source: Kepler Communications Inc.. https://kepler.space
2026-09-14: Launch capacity secured with Maverick and Portal (gtm) . Maverick Space Systems said it secured launch capacity for 10 Kepler satellites on Portal's Motus Via Sol mission. Source: Recent news archive. https://kepler.space/tag/recent
2026-08-24: Optical relay network entered commercial service (product) . Kepler said its optical data relay network began commercial service. Source: Optical infrastructure update. https://kepler.space/kepler-delivers-optical-infrastructure-for-real-time-space-operations
2026-08-10: Kepler books first dedicated launch with Rocket Lab Neutron (gtm) . Kepler selected Rocket Lab's Neutron for its first dedicated commercial launch, planned no earlier than 2028, to deploy multiple next-generation satellites with additional optical connectivity, on-orbit compute, and hosted payload capacity. Source: Kepler Communications. https://kepler.space/kepler-selects-rocket-labs-neutron-for-first-dedicated-launch-as-network-expansion-accelerates/
2026-03-16: On orbit computing commissioned (product) . Kepler said it commissioned distributed on orbit computing across its Tranche 1 optical data relay constellation. Source: Kepler commissions distributed on orbit computing. https://kepler.space/kepler-deploys-first-space-based-scalable-cloud-infrastructure-powered-by-nvidia

Investors

Top-tier and active investors

Top-tier investors who invested

Did not invest

Other investors

Funding & Exits

Sep 2026

Sophia Space

government contract

$224.9K • Investors: NASA

Federal Compass

Besxar

Seed

$10.3M • Investors: Dauntless Ventures, Overture VC, Keymaker VC, 645 Ventures, Singh Capital Partners, Koru Capital, Plum Alley Ventures, Mana Ventures, Earthrise VC

Besxar

Helogen

Seed

$7.1M • Investors: RRE Ventures, Oceans, One Way Ventures, Blisce

Techflier

Zero Gravity Works

Pre-Seed

Gian Luca Petrelli LinkedIn post announcing role at Zero Gravity Works

Aug 2026

Starcloud

Series A extension

$250M • Investors: Manhattan West Ventures, NVIDIA, Cisco Investments, Benchmark, EQT Ventures & Growth, Soma Capital, NFX, 776, Cedar Capital, Goanna Capital, Standard Capital

GeekWire

United Semiconductors LLC

contract

Investors: NASA

United Semiconductors LLC

Jul 2026

Orbital Matter

grant

EUR 500K • Investors: European Innovation Council

Orbital Matter receives €500k from the European Innovation Council to build solar arrays in space for megawatt-class satellites

Lonestar

minority_investment

Investors: 021T Capital

021T Capital Joins Lonestar to Build Dyson Swarm for Sovereign Global AI and Storage

Jun 2026

Sophia Space

SAFE financing

$7M

Sophia Space

Orbital

Pre-Seed

$5M • Investors: a16z speedrun, Basis Set, Human Element, Wayfinder, Antler, Anti Fund, Ascent, Rubik, Zero Knowledge Ventures, LYVC, Feld Ventures, New Legacy, FNDR, UpHonest, Asterisk

GlobeNewswire / Orbital Compute Inc.

Axiom Space

financing extension

$175M • Investors: MUFG Bank, existing backers

Axiom Space

Aloft Biotechnologies

investment

$50K • Investors: Space Florida

Space Florida

May 2026

Cowboy Space Corporation

Series B

$275M • Investors: Index Ventures, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Construct Capital, IVP, Blossom Capital, SAIC, Andreessen Horowitz, NEA, Interlagos, Baiju Bhatt

Fenwick

Sophia Space

strategic investment

Investors: EverGreen Fund

Sophia Space

BioOrbit

Seed

GBP 9.8M • Investors: LocalGlobe, BREEGA, Auxxo, Seedcamp, Type One Ventures, 7percent Ventures, Phil Chambers, angel investors

Payload on BioOrbit seed financing

Mar 2026

Starcloud

Series A

$170M • Investors: Benchmark, EQT Ventures

TechCrunch

Feb 2026

Axiom Space

Financing round

$350M • Investors: Type One Ventures, Qatar Investment Authority, 1789 Capital, 4iG, LuminArx Capital Management, Kam Ghaffarian

Axiom Space secures $350M financing

BioOrbit

grant

GBP 250K • Investors: UK Space Agency

UK government announcement on in orbit manufacturing studies

Varda Space Industries

Growth

$251M

Forge

Sophia Space

Seed

$10M • Investors: Alpha Funds, KDDI Green Partners Fund, Unlock Venture Partners

Sophia Space

Jan 2026

ThinkOrbital

Seed

Investors: TFX Capital

ThinkOrbital

Dec 2025

Auxilium Biotechnologies

equity financing

$3.9M

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission

Reditus Space

Seed

$7.1M • Investors: Y Combinator, Antler, Aera VC

Axios

Nov 2025

LambdaVision

Seed

$7M • Investors: Seven Seven Six, Aurelia Foundry Fund, Seraphim Space

LambdaVision

Sep 2025

LambdaVision

grant

Investors: NASA

LambdaVision

Aug 2025

Reditus Space

grant

$142K • Investors: NASA

SBIR.gov

ThinkOrbital

government contract

$2M • Investors: U.S. Air Force

SBIR.gov

Orbital Matter

Seed

EUR 1M • Investors: Early Game Ventures

Vestbee

Jul 2025

Varda Space Industries

Series C

$187M • Investors: Natural Capital, Shrug Capital, Founders Fund, Peter Thiel, Khosla Ventures, Caffeinated Capital, Lux Capital, Also Capital

Varda Space Industries

Jun 2025

Redwire Corporation

Acquisition

Acquirer: Redwire Corporation • Status: Completed

Redwire completes acquisition of Edge Autonomy

May 2025

Axiom Space

government award

$5.5M • Investors: Texas Space Commission

Axiom Space

Aloft Biotechnologies

unattributed financing

$130K

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission

Space Forge

Series A

GBP 22.6M • Investors: NATO Innovation Fund, World Fund, NSSIF, British Business Bank

Space Forge

Sophia Space

Pre-Seed

$3.5M • Investors: Unlock Ventures, strategic angels, industry leaders

Sophia Space

Apr 2025

Ambrosia Space

government contract

$179.4K • Investors: AFRL, AFOSR

AFRL

Cowboy Space Corporation

Series A

$50M • Investors: Index Ventures, Interlagos, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Andreessen Horowitz, NEA, Jared Leto

TechCrunch

Mar 2025

Astral Materials

equity investment

Investors: AE Blue Capital

AE Blue Capital

Jan 2025

Ambrosia Space

Seed

$1M

Dealroom company profile

Oct 2024

Kepler Communications

grant

CAD 20M • Investors: Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, Canadian Space Agency

Canada announces Strategic Innovation Fund support for Kepler

Helogen

Seed

$2.8M • Investors: AUM Ventures, Aurelia Foundry, One Way Ventures

Dealroom company profile for Helogen

Sep 2024

Astral Materials

grant

$899.8K • Investors: NASA

SBIR.gov

Aug 2024

Redwire Corporation

Acquisition

Acquirer: Redwire Corporation • Status: Completed

2025 annual report excerpt

Dcubed

Series A

Investors: Expansion Aerospace Ventures, BayBG, HTGF, Aurelia Foundry, Ventis, Rymdkapital, Decisive Point Europe

Series A funding announcement

Jul 2024

SpaceBilt

debt and warrants financing

$2.4M

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission

Jun 2024

Orbital Composites

government contract

$1.9M • Investors: U.S. Air Force

SBIR.gov

May 2024

Orbital Composites

government contract

$70.4K • Investors: U.S. Air Force

SBIR.gov

Flawless Photonics

grant

$275K • Investors: National Science Foundation

NSF SBIR award database

Apr 2024

Varda Space Industries

Series B

$90M • Investors: Caffeinated Capital, Lux Capital, General Catalyst, Founders Fund, Khosla Ventures

Varda Space Industries

Mar 2024

Flawless Photonics

project funding

$400K • Investors: U.S. Department of Energy

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

Feb 2024

Space Tango

government award

$5M • Investors: NASA

Space Tango

Jan 2024

Space Tango

grant

$148.6K • Investors: NASA

SBIR.gov

United Semiconductors LLC

grant

$275K • Investors: NSF

NSF SBIR award record

Dec 2023

Astral Materials

grant

$150K • Investors: NASA

NASA SBIR Ignite awards announcement

Nov 2023

Space Forge

Grant

GBP 7.9M • Investors: UK Space Agency, Space Clusters Infrastructure Fund

Space Forge

Orbital Matter

Pre-Seed

EUR 1M • Investors: Sunfish Partners, Dhyan VC, Amar Shah, Aleksander Ciszek

Orbital Matter pre seed round and hiring post

Oct 2023

Lonestar

pre-series a

$825K

PR Newswire

Aug 2023

Axiom Space

Series C

$350M • Investors: Aljazira Capital, Boryung Co., Ltd.

Axiom Space raises $350M at Series C close

Orbital Composites

government contract

$1.2M • Investors: U.S. Air Force

SBIR.gov

Jul 2023

Varda Space Industries

grant

$1.9M • Investors: NASA

NASA 2023 Tipping Point selections

Apr 2023

Kepler Communications

Series C

$92M • Investors: IA Ventures

Kepler raises Series C

Mar 2023

Lonestar

Seed

$5M • Investors: Scout Ventures, Seldor Capital, 2 Future Holding, Veteran Fund, Irongate Capital, Atypical Ventures, KittyHawk Ventures

PR Newswire

Feb 2023

Orbital Composites

government contract

$1.7M • Investors: U.S. Air Force

SBIR.gov

Nov 2022

Space Tango

Acquisition

Acquirer: Space Tango • Status: Announced

Space Tango press release

Oct 2022

Redwire Corporation

preferred_equity_financing

$80M • Investors: AE Industrial Partners, LP, BCC Redwire Aggregator, LP (Bain)

2025 annual report excerpt

Redwire Corporation

Acquisition

Deal: EUR 32M • Acquirer: Redwire Corporation • Status: Announced

Redwire announces acquisition of QinetiQ Space NV

Orbital Composites

STTR Phase I

Investors: SpaceWERX, Southwest Research Institute

Orbital Composites

Aug 2022

Flawless Photonics

contract

$3.7M • Investors: NASA Johnson Space Center

HigherGov contract tracker

Jul 2022

Yuri GmbH

Seed

$4.3M • Investors: Verve Ventures, Sigma Capital, Fifty Years, APEX Ventures

Yuri

Apr 2022

Redwire Corporation

committed_equity_facility

$80M • Investors: B. Riley Principal Capital, LLC

Redwire announces $80 million committed equity facility

Dec 2021

Space Forge

Seed

$10.2M • Investors: SpaceFund, Type One, World Fund, SpaceVC, Starbridge Venture Capital, Quiet Capital, Kencoa Aerospace, Trousdale Ventures, Dylan Taylor, FJ Labs, Newable Ventures, George T. Whitesides

Space Forge

Jul 2021

Varda Space Industries

Series A

$42M • Investors: Khosla Ventures, Caffeinated Capital, Lux Capital, General Catalyst, Founders Fund

Varda Raises $42MM Series A

Jun 2021

Kepler Communications

Series B

$60M • Investors: Tribe Capital, Canaan Partners, IA Ventures, Costanoa Ventures

Kepler closes Series B

Feb 2021

Axiom Space

Series B

$130M • Investors: C5 Capital, TQS Advisors, Declaration Partners, Moelis Dynasty Investments, Washington University in St. Louis, The Venture Collective, Aidenlair Capital, Hemisphere Ventures, Starbridge Venture Capital

Axiom raises $130M in Series B funding

Dec 2020

Varda Space Industries

Seed

$9M • Investors: Founders Fund, Lux Capital, Also Capital, Fifty Years, Raymond Tonsing, Justin Mateen, Naval

Our start

Jun 2020

LambdaVision

grant

$750K • Investors: NASA

LambdaVision

Apr 2020

LambdaVision

commercialization award

$5M • Investors: NASA

LambdaVision

Jan 2020

Auxilium Biotechnologies

equity financing

$3.2M

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission

Oct 2018

Kepler Communications

Series A

$16M • Investors: Costanoa Ventures, Deutsche Bahn Digital Ventures, IA Ventures

Kepler Communications

Oct 2017

LambdaVision

equity financing

$500K • Investors: Connecticut Innovations

LambdaVision news archive

Aug 2016

Kepler Communications

Seed

$5M • Investors: IA Ventures, Techstars Ventures, Liquid 2 VC, SK Ventures, Zelkova Ventures, Plug and Play Ventures, V1 VC, Globalive Capital, BDC

Kepler announces seed round and investors

May 2013

LambdaVision

grant

Investors: Connecticut Innovations

LambdaVision news archive

On mobile, only the 10 most recent funding and exit groups are shown.