Top 14 Space startups in San Francisco
1
Funding: $579M
Varda is a space manufacturing startup that focuses on creating products and drugs in space for terrestrial applications. It is building a fleet of uncrewed space capsules that can function as orbital laboratories or manufacturing platforms for products whose development in space yields better efficiencies or purities than in the gravity of Earth. The company since 2023 has deployed six missions to orbit with its gumdrop-shaped free-flying W-Series capsule, with all but its fourth mission successfully re-entering from space. It plans to debut a next-generation capsule in 2030.
Varda is a space manufacturing startup that focuses on creating products and drugs in space for terrestrial applications. It is building a fleet of uncrewed space capsules that can function as orbital laboratories or manufacturing platforms for products whose development in space yields better efficiencies or purities than in the gravity of Earth. The company since 2023 has deployed six missions to orbit with its gumdrop-shaped free-flying W-Series capsule, with all but its fourth mission successfully re-entering from space. It plans to debut a next-generation capsule in 2030.
2
Funding: $23.6M
Farcast is a satellite tech company that builds advanced satcom user terminals.
Farcast is a satellite tech company that builds advanced satcom user terminals.
3
Funding: $8.3M
Satlyt enhances satellite computing resources and efficiently handles data traffic, making operations smoother and cheaper.
Satlyt enhances satellite computing resources and efficiently handles data traffic, making operations smoother and cheaper.
4
Funding: $1.7B
Astranis is a space startup that builds small and low-cost telecommunications satellites to provide internet access in remote regions.
Astranis is a space startup that builds small and low-cost telecommunications satellites to provide internet access in remote regions.
5
Funding: $1.1B
Planet operates own satellite constellation and provides a platform for geospatial data analysis for various industries (agriculture, maritime, energy, insurance, etc.). The company manufactures own small satellites. Its flagship satellite, Owl, provides near-daily imagery at 1-meter resolution across the entire Earth's surface to support critical global safety and environmental sustainability measures, while also ensuring uninterrupted communications. The Pelican satellite is designed to perform missions faster and with greater clarity thanks to ultra-high-resolution imagery. Its improved optical performance and extended spectral range are designed to deliver sharper and more detailed images.
Planet operates own satellite constellation and provides a platform for geospatial data analysis for various industries (agriculture, maritime, energy, insurance, etc.). The company manufactures own small satellites. Its flagship satellite, Owl, provides near-daily imagery at 1-meter resolution across the entire Earth's surface to support critical global safety and environmental sustainability measures, while also ensuring uninterrupted communications. The Pelican satellite is designed to perform missions faster and with greater clarity thanks to ultra-high-resolution imagery. Its improved optical performance and extended spectral range are designed to deliver sharper and more detailed images.
6
Funding: $326.2M
Loft Orbital deploys space infrastructure as a service, providing rapid, reliable, and simplified access to space.
Loft Orbital deploys space infrastructure as a service, providing rapid, reliable, and simplified access to space.
7
Funding: $325M
Aetherflux is building a constellation of small LEO satellites to beam solar energy to Earth using infrared lasers. This approach differs from traditional space-based solar power (SBSP) concepts, which rely on massive geostationary platforms transmitting power via microwaves. The US Defense Department has allocated funding for the development of this technology to ensure the energy supply to remote military bases and contested areas. Additionally, the Aetherflux satellites will have an orbital computing node that utilizes continuous solar power and radiative cooling to enable high-performance data processing in space. The node uses optical inter-satellite links and advanced relay networks to ensure continuous availability, consistent with ground-based application servers.
Aetherflux is building a constellation of small LEO satellites to beam solar energy to Earth using infrared lasers. This approach differs from traditional space-based solar power (SBSP) concepts, which rely on massive geostationary platforms transmitting power via microwaves. The US Defense Department has allocated funding for the development of this technology to ensure the energy supply to remote military bases and contested areas. Additionally, the Aetherflux satellites will have an orbital computing node that utilizes continuous solar power and radiative cooling to enable high-performance data processing in space. The node uses optical inter-satellite links and advanced relay networks to ensure continuous availability, consistent with ground-based application servers.
8
Funding: $239M
Capella Space is an information services company that provides on-demand 24/7 SAR data for government and commercial customers.
Capella Space is an information services company that provides on-demand 24/7 SAR data for government and commercial customers.
9
Funding: $55.4M
OSK is a satellite-based hyperspectral monitoring service helping organizations meet their sustainability and security goals.
OSK is a satellite-based hyperspectral monitoring service helping organizations meet their sustainability and security goals.
10
Funding: $8.4M
Aethero builds space computers to let satellites instantaneously process data on the edge.
Aethero builds space computers to let satellites instantaneously process data on the edge.
