[Nov 2022] Space Startups
Nov 2022
Companies we are following: ABL Space Systems, Accion Systems, Aerospace Corporation, Apollo Fusion, Benchmark Space Systems, Busek, CubeCab, Dawn Aerospace, Enpulsion, Exotrail, Generation Orbit Launch Services, HyImpulse Technologies, IVO Ltd, Momentus, Morpheus Space, Orbion Space Technology, Orbital Composites, Phase Four, Reaction Engines, Rocket Lab, Spacety, T4i, Terran Orbital, Tesseract, ThrustMe, TransAstra, Varda Space Industries, Vector Launch
URLs
ABL Space Systems - https://ablspace.com/
Accion Systems - https://www.accion-systems.com/
Aerospace Corporation - https://aerospace.org/
Apollo Fusion - https://apollofusion.com/
Benchmark Space Systems - https://www.benchmarkspacesystems.com/
Busek - https://www.busek.com/
CubeCab - https://www.cubecab.com/
Dawn Aerospace - https://dawnaerospace.com/
Enpulsion - https://enpulsion.com/
Exotrail - https://exotrail.com/
Generation Orbit Launch Services - https://www.generationorbit.com/
HyImpulse Technologies - https://hyimpulse.com/
IVO Ltd - https://ivo.space/
Momentus - https://www.momentus.space/
Morpheus Space - https://morpheus.space/
Orbion Space Technology - https://orbionspace.com/
Orbital Composites - https://orbitalcomposites.com/
Phase Four - https://www.phasefour.io/
Reaction Engines - https://www.reactionengines.co.uk/
Rocket Lab - https://www.rocketlabusa.com/
Spacety - https://www.spacety.com/
T4i - https://www.t4i-usa.com/
Terran Orbital - https://terranorbital.com/
Tesseract - https://tesseract.space/
ThrustMe - https://thrustme.fr/
TransAstra - https://www.transastracorp.com/
Varda Space Industries - https://varda.space/
Vector Launch - https://www.vectorlaunch.com/
HQs
ABL Space Systems - El Segundo, California, USA
Accion Systems - Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Aerospace Corporation - El Segundo, California, USA
Apollo Fusion - Mountain View, California, USA
Benchmark Space Systems - Burlington, Vermont, USA
Busek - Natick, Massachusetts, USA
CubeCab - Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Dawn Aerospace - Christchurch, New Zealand
Enpulsion - Graz, Austria
Exotrail - Paris, France
Generation Orbit Launch Services - Atlanta, Georgia, USA
HyImpulse Technologies - Kiruna, Sweden
IVO Ltd - Helsinki, Finland
Momentus - Santa Clara, California, USA
Morpheus Space - Berlin, Germany
Orbion Space Technology - Houghton, Michigan, USA
Orbital Composites - San Jose, California, USA
Phase Four - El Segundo, California, USA
Reaction Engines - Abingdon, Oxfordshire, UK
Rocket Lab - Long Beach, California, USA
Spacety - Changsha, Hunan, China
T4i - Northridge, California, USA
Terran Orbital - Irvine, California, USA
Tesseract - San Francisco, California, USA
ThrustMe - Chatou, France
TransAstra - Lake View Terrace, California, USA
Varda Space Industries - Irvine, California, USA
Vector Launch - Tucson, Arizona, USA
CEOs
ABL Space Systems - Harry O'Hanley
Accion Systems - Peter Kant
Aerospace Corporation - Steve Isakowitz
Apollo Fusion - Mike Cassidy
Benchmark Space Systems - Ryan McDevitt
Busek - Vlad Hruby
CubeCab - Adrian Tymes
Dawn Aerospace - Stefan Powell
Enpulsion - Alexander Reissner
Exotrail - David Henri
Generation Orbit Launch Services - Anthony J. Giovaniello
HyImpulse Technologies - Christian Schmierer
IVO Ltd - Pekka Väyrynen
Momentus - Dawn Harms
Morpheus Space - Daniel Bock
Orbion Space Technology - Brad King
Orbital Composites - Craig Russell
Phase Four - Beau Jarvis
Reaction Engines - Mark Thomas
Rocket Lab - Peter Beck
Spacety - Tang Yagang
T4i - Joshua McWilliams
Terran Orbital - Anthony Previte
Tesseract - Matt Travis
ThrustMe - Ane Aanesland
TransAstra - Joel C. Sercel
Varda Space Industries - Delian Asparouhov
Vector Launch - John Garvey
Founded
ABL Space Systems - 2017
Accion Systems - 2014
Aerospace Corporation - 1960
Apollo Fusion - 2017
Benchmark Space Systems - 2017
Busek - 1985
CubeCab - 2014
Dawn Aerospace - 2016
Enpulsion - 2016
Exotrail - 2017
Generation Orbit Launch Services - 2011
HyImpulse Technologies - 2018
IVO Ltd - 2017
Momentus - 2017
Morpheus Space - 2018
Orbion Space Technology - 2016
Orbital Composites - 2018
Phase Four - 2015
Reaction Engines - 1989
Rocket Lab - 2006
Spacety - 2016
T4i - 2016
Terran Orbital - 2013
Tesseract - 2015
ThrustMe - 2017
TransAstra - 2014
Varda Space Industries - 2020
Vector Launch - 2016
Number of Employees
ABL Space Systems - estimated 50-200 employees
Accion Systems - estimated 50-200 employees
Aerospace Corporation - over 4,000 employees
Apollo Fusion - estimated 11-50 employees
Benchmark Space Systems - estimated 11-50 employees
Busek - estimated 11-50 employees
CubeCab - estimated 11-50 employees
Dawn Aerospace - estimated 11-50 employees
Enpulsion - estimated 11-50 employees
Exotrail - estimated 11-50 employees
Generation Orbit Launch Services - estimated 11-50 employees
HyImpulse Technologies - estimated 11-50 employees
IVO Ltd - estimated 11-50 employees
Momentus - estimated 11-50 employees
Morpheus Space - estimated 11-50 employees
Orbion Space Technology - estimated 11-50 employees
Orbital Composites - estimated 11-50 employees
Phase Four - estimated 11-50 employees
Reaction Engines - estimated 250-500 employees
Rocket Lab - estimated 500-1,000 employees
Spacety - estimated 51-200 employees
T4i - estimated 11-50 employees
Terran Orbital - estimated 51-200 employees
Tesseract - estimated 11-50 employees
ThrustMe - estimated 11-50 employees
TransAstra - estimated 11-50 employees
Varda Space Industries - estimated 11-50 employees
Vector Launch - estimated 11-50 employees
VC raised
ABL Space Systems: According to Crunchbase, ABL Space Systems has raised a total of $217.1 million in funding over 6 rounds.
Accion Systems: According to Crunchbase, Accion Systems has raised a total of $36.9 million in funding over 4 rounds.
Aerospace Corporation: The Aerospace Corporation is a non-profit organization that does not disclose its funding information publicly.
Apollo Fusion: According to Crunchbase, Apollo Fusion has raised a total of $24.1 million in funding over 3 rounds.
Benchmark Space Systems: According to Crunchbase, Benchmark Space Systems has raised a total of $24.3 million in funding over 5 rounds.
Busek: Busek is a privately held company and does not disclose its funding information publicly.
CubeCab: According to Crunchbase, CubeCab has raised a total of $1.2 million in funding over 2 rounds.
Dawn Aerospace: According to Crunchbase, Dawn Aerospace has raised a total of $12.5 million in funding over 4 rounds.
Enpulsion: According to Crunchbase, Enpulsion has raised a total of $9.9 million in funding over 4 rounds.
Exotrail: According to Crunchbase, Exotrail has raised a total of $38.9 million in funding over 4 rounds.
Generation Orbit Launch Services: According to Crunchbase, Generation Orbit Launch Services has raised a total of $11.9 million in funding over 6 rounds.
HyImpulse Technologies: According to Crunchbase, HyImpulse Technologies has raised a total of €10 million in funding over 1 round.
IVO Ltd: IVO Ltd is a privately held company and does not disclose its funding information publicly.
Momentus: According to Crunchbase, Momentus has raised a total of $115.5 million in funding over 6 rounds.
Morpheus Space: According to Crunchbase, Morpheus Space has raised a total of $10.1 million in funding over 2 rounds.
Orbion Space Technology: According to Crunchbase, Orbion Space Technology has raised a total of $30.1 million in funding over 5 rounds.
Orbital Composites: According to Crunchbase, Orbital Composites has raised a total of $3.3 million in funding over 3 rounds.
Phase Four: According to Crunchbase, Phase Four has raised a total of $26.2 million in funding over 4 rounds.
Reaction Engines: According to Crunchbase, Reaction Engines has raised a total of £131.8 million in funding over 4 rounds.
Rocket Lab: According to Crunchbase, Rocket Lab has raised a total of $288.2 million in funding over 10 rounds.
Spacety: According to Crunchbase, Spacety has raised a total of ¥320 million in funding over 2 rounds.
T4i: T4i is a privately held company and does not disclose its funding information publicly.
Terran Orbital: According to Crunchbase, Terran Orbital has raised a total of $39.5 million in funding over 5 rounds.
Tesseract: According to Crunchbase, Tesseract has raised a total of $15.2 million in funding over 2 rounds.
ThrustMe: According to Crunchbase, ThrustMe has raised a total of €10 million in funding over 2 rounds.
TransAstra: According to Crunchbase, TransAstra has raised a total of $3.7 million in funding over 3 rounds.
Varda Space Industries: According to Crunchbase, Varda Space Industries has raised a total of $42.5 million over 2 rounds.
Vector Launch: According to Crunchbase, Vector Launch has raised a total of $151.1 million in funding over 6 rounds.
Valuations
ABL Space Systems: $1.3 billion
Accion Systems: $83 million
Aerospace Corporation: N/A
Apollo Fusion: $1.1 billion
Benchmark Space Systems: N/A
Busek: N/A
CubeCab: N/A
Dawn Aerospace: N/A
Enpulsion: N/A
Exotrail: $190 million
Generation Orbit Launch Services: N/A
HyImpulse Technologies: N/A
IVO Ltd: N/A
Momentus: $1.2 billion
Morpheus Space: $120 million
Orbion Space Technology: N/A
Orbital Composites: N/A
Phase Four: $230 million
Reaction Engines: $2.7 billion
Rocket Lab: $4.1 billion
Spacety: N/A
T4i: N/A
Terran Orbital: N/A
Tesseract: N/A
ThrustMe: $35 million
TransAstra: N/A
Varda Space Industries: $480 million
Vector Launch: N/A
HQ Country
ABL Space Systems: United States
Accion Systems: United States
Aerospace Corporation: United States
Apollo Fusion: United States
Benchmark Space Systems: United States
Busek: United States
CubeCab: Germany
Dawn Aerospace: New Zealand
Enpulsion: Austria
Exotrail: France
Generation Orbit Launch Services: United States
HyImpulse Technologies: Germany
IVO Ltd: Japan
Momentus: United States
Morpheus Space: Germany
Orbion Space Technology: United States
Orbital Composites: United States
Phase Four: United States
Reaction Engines: United Kingdom
Rocket Lab: United States
Spacety: China
T4i: United States
Terran Orbital: United States
Tesseract: United States
ThrustMe: France
TransAstra: United States
Varda Space Industries: United States
Vector Launch: United States
HQ State
ABL Space Systems: California
Accion Systems: Massachusetts
Aerospace Corporation: California
Apollo Fusion: California
Benchmark Space Systems: New York
Busek: Massachusetts
CubeCab: Texas
Dawn Aerospace: California
Enpulsion: N/A (headquartered in Austria)
Exotrail: N/A (headquartered in France)
Generation Orbit Launch Services: Georgia
HyImpulse Technologies: N/A (headquartered in Germany)
IVO Ltd: N/A (headquartered in Japan)
Momentus: California
Morpheus Space: N/A (headquartered in Germany)
Orbion Space Technology: Michigan
Orbital Composites: California
Phase Four: California
Reaction Engines: N/A (headquartered in the United Kingdom)
Rocket Lab: California
Spacety: N/A (headquartered in China)
T4i: California
Terran Orbital: California
Tesseract: Colorado
ThrustMe: N/A (headquartered in France)
TransAstra: California
Varda Space Industries: California
Vector Launch: Arizona
| # | Company Name | Description |
|---|
| 1 | Accion Systems | develops scalable electric propulsion systems for small satellites - while primarily focused on scalable electric propulsion systems, Accion Systems has also developed a miniature Hall thruster for small satellites |
| 2 | Benchmark Space Systems | provides innovative propulsion solutions for small satellites - in addition to their work on electric propulsion systems for small satellites, Busek also develops Hall thrusters for larger spacecraft |
| 3 | Busek | specializes in designing and manufacturing electric propulsion systems for small satellites |
| 4 | Enpulsion | offers electric propulsion solutions for small satellites, including the development of a miniature ion thruster |
| 5 | Phase Four | develops radio-frequency plasma thrusters for small satellites - in addition to their radio-frequency plasma thrusters, Phase Four also develops Hall-effect thrusters |
| 6 | ThrustMe | offers advanced propulsion systems for small satellites, including cold gas and electric propulsion |
| 7 | Tesseract | develops innovative propulsion systems for small satellites, including hybrid chemical and electric propulsion - in addition to their work on innovative propulsion systems for small satellites, Tesseract is also developing a hybrid rocket engine |
| 8 | Orbion Space Technology | develops advanced plasma thrusters for small and medium-sized satellites |
| 9 | Momentus | provides in-space transportation services for small satellites using their own water-plasma propulsion technology |
| 10 | Apollo Fusion | develops electric propulsion systems for small satellites, including Hall-effect thrusters and ion thrusters - develops electric propulsion systems for small satellites, including Hall-effect thrusters |
| 11 | Exotrail | offers electric propulsion systems for small satellites, as well as mission analysis and simulation tools - offers a range of electric propulsion systems for small satellites, including Hall thrusters |
| 12 | TransAstra | focuses on developing advanced propulsion systems for space exploration, including the use of asteroid-derived propellant |
| 13 | Generation Orbit Launch Services | develops advanced air-launched rockets and propulsion systems for small satellites |
| 14 | Rocket Lab | provides launch services for small satellites using their own electric-pump-fed rocket engine technology |
| 15 | Morpheus Space | provides advanced electric propulsion systems for small satellites, including Hall thrusters |
| 16 | Varda Space Industries | developing autonomous factories in space, Varda Space Industries is also working on developing electric propulsion systems for their spacecraft |
| 17 | ABL Space Systems | focused on providing low-cost launch services for small and medium-sized payloads, ABL Space Systems has also developed their own rocket engines and thrusters |
| 18 | CubeCab | a company that provides low-cost launch services for small satellites, CubeCab has also developed a small rocket engine for their spacecraft |
| 19 | Vector Launch | another launch services provider for small satellites, Vector Launch is also developing their own rocket engines and propulsion systems |
| 20 | Dawn Aerospace | a company that provides reusable rocket engines and propulsion systems for small satellites and suborbital vehicles |
| 21 | Orbital Composites | based in California, Orbital Composites is developing a range of technologies for in-orbit manufacturing, including 3D printing of satellite components and electric propulsion systems |
| 22 | HyImpulse Technologies | based in California and Germany, HyImpulse is developing advanced hybrid rocket engines for small satellite launch vehicles |
| 23 | Aerospace Corporation | based in California, Aerospace Corporation is a non-profit organization that conducts research and development on a wide range of space technologies, including advanced propulsion systems |
| 24 | T4i | based in France, T4i develops high-performance Hall thrusters and other electric propulsion systems for small satellites |
| 25 | Terran Orbital | based in California, Terran Orbital is focused on providing end-to-end solutions for small satellite missions, including propulsion systems such as ion thrusters |
| 26 | IVO Ltd | UK-based propulsion startup that focuses on developing advanced plasma thrusters for small satellites |
| 27 | Reaction Engines | designs and manufactures ultra-lightweight heat exchangers and aerospace propulsion technology. |
| 28 | Spacety | a Changsha-based small satellite startup that has successfully tested in orbit iodine thrusters developed by French startup ThrustMe. |