Space Capital is a venture capital firm investing in the Space economy, specifically focused on unlocking the value in Space technology stacks such as GPS, Geospatial Intelligence, and Communications.

Space Capital

MassChallenge is a global non-profit organization that supports startups through accelerator programs. They were obsessed with helping promising startups across industries and regions around the world. In addition to providing expert mentorship, tailored curriculum, and unrivaled access to corporate partners, MassChallenge strengthens innovation-driven economic development around the world.

MassChallenge

The Engine, which was publicly announced on October 26, 2016, was built by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).  Prioritizing breakthrough ideas over early profit, The Engine represents an exciting new system for startup support, one that shortens the time from idea to investment, and from investment to impact.  To fuel The Engine, MIT is seeking to attract hundreds of millions of dollars of support and to provide hundreds of thousands of square feet of space for entrepreneurs in Kendall Square and nearby communities, starting with 26,000 square feet in its Central Square headquarters.  The Engine provides a physical space where an idea can begin to take shape. It also streamlines the legal processes and agreements required to get products to market. And it links entrepreneurs to “patient capital” from investors who share their vision of addressing big challenges with big ideas.  The Engine will eventually support up to 60 locally based startups concurrently; these companies will participate in the accelerator for up to 12 months. The Engine will make meaningful investments that will allow participating startups to get off the ground quickly and operate long enough to prove their concepts’ viability. It will also provide business planning, legal, and administrative support.  The Engine will require less equity than is typical, allowing founders to maintain more control over their companies and the ideas they’ve created.  Through the Engine Room, The Engine will provide access to a wide network of lab space, specialized equipment, business guidance, and other resources, at MIT and beyond.

The Engine

Flybridge is a seed-stage VC investing with entrepreneurs to leverage the power of the community. It prefers to invest in computer hardware, software, SaaS, and big data sectors. Founded in 2002, the company is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts.

Flybridge

Shasta Ventures invests in startups in sectors. Their program consists of a proven methodology and a set of comprehensive playbooks that dive deep into the obstacles and challenges of early-stage startups. There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to early-stage, so this agile program allows founders to tap into the resources they need when they need them.

Shasta Ventures

Dream Incubator is a strategic consulting and business development firm primarily for Japanese corporate clients and governmental institutions. DI provides both capital and professional services to next-generation companies to support their growth and expansion, while also operating their own businesses as well.

Dream Incubator

Dorm Room Fund is the strongest community of entrepreneurial students in the nation. Built by students and powered by First Round, we provide founders with a strong network of investors, world-class mentors, and a $20,000 check.

Dorm Room Fund

NXT Venture Fund is established for the purpose of discovering and enabling the next truly disruptive start-up companies, with potential to transfer and create cross-border synergies between US and China.

NXT Ventures

Alumni Ventures Group provides high-quality, diversified venture portfolios to individual investors who previously haven't had access to VC. It helps accredited alums from top entrepreneurial schools invest together in the ventures of fellow alums. The firm backs companies with an alumni connection and an institutional lead investor with expertise in the space. AVG also offers focused funds that allow any accredited investor access to a venture portfolio, diversified by type, sector, stage, and geography. Beth Obermiller, Michael Madden, and Mike Collins co-founded the firm in Manchester, New Hampshire in 2013.

Alumni Ventures

500 Global is a multi-stage venture capital firm with $2.4 billion in assets under management. The firm invests in founders who are building fast-growing technology companies. It focuses on markets where technology, innovation, and capital can generate long-term value and economic growth. 500 Global collaborates with key stakeholders and provides advisory services to governments on fostering entrepreneurial ecosystems to support startups. The firm has invested in over 5,000 founders and more than 2,800 companies across 80+ countries. It has funded over 35 companies valued at more than $1 billion and over 160 companies valued at over $100 million, including those that are private, public, or have exited. The team consists of over 190 members based in more than 25 countries, with experience as entrepreneurs, investors, and operators from leading technology companies.

500 Global

Fine Structure Venture is an investment firm.

Fine Structure Venture

Lockheed Martin Ventures is the venture arm of Lockheed Martin Corporation. The mission of Lockheed Martin Ventures is to make strategic investments in companies that are developing disruptive, cutting edge technologies in core businesses and new markets important to Lockheed Martin. Since 2007, Lockheed Martin have invested more than $100 million in startup companies. These emerging innovations have the potential to become foundational technologies that solve the complex challenges customers face.

Lockheed Martin Ventures

Republic Labs is a growth-stage investment advisory focused on profitability and resiliency. Republic Labs works with high net-worth individuals and family offices to syndicate investment opportunities. It was founded in

Republic capital

The Yard Ventures is an investment firm with broad professional, investing, and entrepreneurial experience. It is part of the Alumni Ventures Group.

The Yard Ventures

Lime Street Ventures specializes in investing in early-stage tech and life sciences companies.

Lime Street Ventures

Explorer 1 Fund is a venture capital fund that invests in new space economy.

Explorer 1 Fund

Hedron

Hedron built a network of data satellites. They develop a network of data relay satellites to offer data connection in space. Their imaging satellites generate data that address problems including food and water security, climate change monitoring and mitigation, and disaster mitigation. They provide a series of data-relay nodes that provide connectivity to customer satellites.

Hedron is a satellite communications company based out of Boston that is leveraging hybrid RF-laser communications technology.

Technology providers that enhance satellite operations

Next-gen Satellites

Hedron, formerly Analytical Space, raises $17.8 million

SpinLaunch is a space technology company developing a kinetic launch system to provide low-cost and high-frequency access to space. Unlike traditional fuel-based rockets, SpinLaunch's system utilizes a ground-based, electric-powered centrifuge to accelerate payloads to hypersonic speeds before releasing them into the atmosphere. Its solution is capable of putting 200 kg-class satellites into low orbit. The firm claims this method significantly reduces environmental impact by ~95% compared to conventional rocket launches. Its electric-drive Orbital accelerator offers a revolutionary approach to space travel and significantly reduces the fuel needed to reach orbit by 4x, mitigates costs by 10x, and enables multiple launches per day.Suborbital Accelerator operates at speeds between 800 miph and 5,000 miph, and primarily serves as a testing platform for the Orbital Launch System. It allows customers to conduct tests and serves as a facility for long-term satellite qualification. The company’s first major milestone was the successful test of its suborbital accelerator at Spaceport America in New Mexico in October 2021, where a projectile was launched tens of thousands of feet at 20% power capacity. SpinLaunch also planned to launch small satellites into low-Earth orbit by 2026.SpinLaunch has also created a new type of highly affordable satellite. It claims that applying mass manufacturing techniques and simplifying the supply chain reduces costs without compromising performance. SpinLaunch’s satellites are specifically designed for mass accelerators but are also compatible with traditional launch systems and serve a variety of use cases, such as surveillance broadcasts, Internet of things (IoT), machine-to-machine communication (M2M), and emergency communication platforms.<h3>Key customers and partnerships</h3>In September 2023, SpinLaunch partnered with Sumitomo Corporation (Japan) for the global expansion of affordable and sustainable space services. SpinLaunch has also attracted significant interest and formed strategic partnerships with major organizations, including ATW Partners, Kleiner Perkins, and GV. In 2019, the Department of Defense signed a "launch prototype contract" with SpinLaunch to provide reliable and cost-effective launch services​.Funding and financialsIn September 2022, SpinLaunch secured USD 71 million in a Series B funding round led by ATW Partners to continue developing its launch system and satellite technologies​. In January 2020, the company raised USD 35 million from venture capitalists to aid the development of its kinetic launch system.

SpinLaunch

Rocket Lab is a global leader in launch services and space systems, offering a comprehensive range of solutions from satellite manufacturing to orbital launches. The company's primary launch vehicle, Electron, has become the second most frequently launched US rocket annually, having delivered over 190 satellites to orbit for various commercial and government partners. Electron is capable of carrying payloads of up to 300 kilograms to low Earth orbit. In addition to Electron, Rocket Lab has developed HASTE, a suborbital hypersonic launch vehicle. Rocket Lab is currently developing Neutron, an advanced 13-tonne payload class reusable launch vehicle designed for constellation deployment and interplanetary missions. The company successfully conducted the first hot fire test of its Archimedes engine in August 2024, which will power Neutron's first stage. Neutron's unique design encapsulates its second stage within a reusable first stage with an integrated payload fairing. Rocket Lab aims to launch Neutron by mid-2025, potentially marking the fastest time to market for a commercially developed medium-class launch vehicle. Beyond launch services, Rocket Lab has established itself as a premier supplier of advanced satellites, flight-proven subsystems, and spacecraft components. The company's technology spans various areas, including space solar power, composite structures, flight software, star trackers, reaction wheels, and separation systems. As of August 2024, Rocket Lab's satellite technology and components have been integrated into more than 1,700 satellite missions globally. In the second quarter of 2024, Rocket Lab reported record revenue of USD 106.3 million, representing a 71% year-over-year increase. Key customers and partnerships Rocket Lab has secured partnerships with several high-profile customers and organizations. The company has conducted multiple launches for NASA, including the CAPSTONE mission to the Moon in 2022 and the upcoming ESCAPADE mission to Mars. In August 2024, Rocket Lab delivered two spacecraft for the ESCAPADE mission to Cape Canaveral. Rocket Lab has also established a strong relationship with Capella Space, having completed five missions for the company since August 2020. In August 2024, Rocket Lab successfully launched Capella Space's Acadia-3 satellite, a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite, into orbit. Additionally, the company has partnered with the University of California Berkeley's Space Science Laboratory to build spacecraft for NASA missions.

Rocket Lab

Italy-based D-Orbit specializes in end-to-end solutions for satellite deployment, in-space transportation, and in-orbit servicing through its proprietary orbital transfer vehicle, the ION Satellite Carrier. The company asserts that the ION Satellite Carrier enables efficient satellite deployment by reducing the time from launch to operations by up to 85% and potential cost savings of up to 40%. It is also the first certified B-Corp space company in the world. As at June 2024, D-Orbit conducted its launches from the US and had completed 13 orbital transportation missions, deployed 100 satellites and 44 hosted payloads, with its next launch planned for July 2024.D-Orbit's services include (1) launch and deployment of satellites, (2) in-orbit services, (3) mission control as a service, (4) advanced services, and (5) systems and components.D-Orbit's launch and deployment services cater to small satellite operators with turnkey solutions that cover various phases of a satellite's lifecycle and includes offerings such as (1) Rideshare, which uses third-party compatible launchers for standard orbit deployment, (2) Precision Deployment, which uses the ION Satellite Carrier for customized orbit placement, and (3) Constellation Deployment, which phases satellite constellations using the ION carrier for optimal orbital placement. Additional services include insurance, mission analysis, onboard software development, and specialized transportation​.For Satellite management, D-Orbit offers a cloud-based mission control software suite named Aurora, which is designed for satellite operators and features a customizable web interface for telemetry, trajectory updates, and telecommands, along with 2D/3D orbit visualization. Operators can control satellites from any location and outsource mission control tasks to D-Orbit, reducing operational costs.The company also offers in-orbit maintenance services, which include satellite transportation, lifetime extension, in-orbit assembly and refurbishment, manufacturing, resupply, recycling, relocation, inspection, and debris removal.D-Orbit also offers advanced services such as the (1) ION Hosted Payload Service for swift payload deployment for testing and experiments, the (2) D-Orbit Cloud Platform for in-orbit data computing, and the (3) Satellite as a Service (SaaS) model exemplified by projects like IRIDE, offering satellite-based services without requiring customer-owned infrastructure. The IRIDE satellite constellation project is financed by the Italian PNRR (National Plan for Recovery and Resilience) and supported by the ESA (European Space Agency) and ASI (Italian Space Agency). IRIDE aims to provide advanced earth observation data for the Italian public administration and will offer services related to marine and coastal monitoring, air quality, land movement monitoring, land cover, hydro weather climate, and more. Satellite launches for the constellation are planned between 2025 and 2026.D-Orbit's Systems and Components division provides a suite of hardware components and software solutions for satellite operations, including the AOCS Suite, a modular Attitude and Orbit Control System designed for satellite stabilization and control, alongside the D-Sense multi-sensor ADCS module for precise satellite positioning. Additionally, its product lineup features specialized systems such as SimOn for safe rocket motor ignition, D3, a decommissioning device for satellite disposal, and D-Raise, a propulsion system engineered for efficient orbit raising, among others.Key customers and partnershipsKey customers include the European Space Agency (ESA), the Italian Space Agency (ASI), Planet Labs, the University of Southern California, Brown University School of Engineering, Spaceflight, Ensign-Bickford Aerospace &amp; Defense (EBAD), and TelePIX, a South Korean space startup.Notable partnerships include its tie-up with <a href="https://sp-edge.com/companies/26250">SpaceX </a>to launch its ION Satellite Carrier missions on <a href="https://sp-edge.com/companies/26250">SpaceX</a> transporters. D-Orbit has also partnered with <a href="https://sp-edge.com/companies/404857">Leaf Space</a> and AWS Ground Station to provide global coverage for its mission control software suite Aurora. Other partnerships include a collaboration with Starfish Space for orbital rendezvous missions, ​HyImpulse Technologies for a joint launch and deployment mission, MetaSensing for collaboration on the IRIDE project, and with SkyServe STORM to integrate edge computing functionalities within the SkyServe STORM platform, enabling the processing of live Earth observation data from D-Orbit's resources into inferences directly in space.

D-Orbit

Phantom Space Corporation is a space services company providing all-in-one capabilities for satellite manufacturing and launch services to commercial and government clients.Phantom Space caters to launch services primarily using its launch vehicle, Daytona Rocket, which is a two-stage system designed to carry payloads of up to 450 kg, including satellites and other space cargo into low-Earth orbit (LEO), for less than USD 4 million per launch. In addition to the Daytona, Phantom Space was developing the larger Laguna rocket, scheduled for launch in 2025, to be powered by a combination of Ripley and Hadley engines produced by Ursa Major to increase payload capacity to 1,200 kg for LEO missions at USD 8 million per launch.In November 2022, the company achieved a major milestone by conducting a successful 60-second hot fire test of the Daytona's Pathfinder test stage at Spaceport America in New Mexico, validating approximately 75% of the vehicle's systems in a flight-realistic condition.The company also provides solutions for designing, manufacturing, and operating small satellites, ranging from single CubeSats to constellations of ESPA-class spacecraft. As of May 2024, Phantom Space had 46 satellite and spacecraft programs successfully executed, while three were currently in progress.As of June 2023, the company aimed to offer affordable access to space through its proprietary rocket and satellite designs. To this end, Phantom Space aimed to employ mass production techniques to reduce costs and increase the frequency of space access for government and commercial entities. Key customers and partnershipsIn May 2023, Phantom Space signed a launch services agreement with Quub, a satellite manufacturer, for three dedicated launches in 2025.In November 2022, Phantom Space secured task orders from NASA for the agency's Venture-Class Acquisition of Dedicated and Rideshare (VADR) missions program. The orders involved launching four CubeSat satellites on the second and fourth Daytona rocket flights from Vandenberg Space Force Base, planned for 2024.

Phantom Space

Beyond Earth builds small rockets to provide dedicated CubeSat launches to low-earth-orbit on short notice.

Beyond Earth

Companies that offer launch capabilities to get satellites into orbit, including last-mile delivery of satellites and value-added services including launch mission planning and execution

Companies that provide satellite management services once they are deployed

Includes companies that develop satellite buses and payloads for mini, micro and nano systems

Companies that manufacture components for mini, micro, nano, and picosatellite systems

Satellite companies that offer location-based intelligence, navigation, mapping, spatial awareness, and data analytics services

Use of autonomous robotics in the production process, specially in the miniature satellite segments

Hedron

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