How Startups Are Transforming the Space Industry

There’s ambition, and then there’s Karman+, a company so bold it’s taking the concept of “scaling up” literally, all the way to deep space. While the rest of us are debating whether AI will steal our jobs or just automate our grocery lists, Teun van den Dries and Daynan Crull are busy solving a more pressing issue: the absurd cost of getting resources into orbit. Their answer? Don’t launch them; mine them from #asteroids instead. And now, they’ve got $20 million in fresh seed funding to prove that #asteroidmining isn’t sci-fi. It’s just good business. Plural Ventures and Hummingbird Ventures led the round, with backing from HCVC, Kevin Patrick Mahaffey (Lookout), Teun himself, and a lineup of sharp angel investors. The money fuels a clear mission: get an #autonomousmining operation to a near-Earth asteroid, pull water straight from space rocks, and flip the economics of the #spaceeconomy on its head. Let’s talk numbers. NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission spent an estimated $10.7 billion per kilogram retrieving #asteroidmaterial. Karman+? They’re working on a sub-$10 million mission cost; a 99% reduction that should make old-school #spacelogistics look like a blockbuster budget blunder. If they can extract water, they can split it into hydrogen and oxygen, creating rocket fuel on demand, which means refueling #satellites without ever needing a single launch from Earth. First stop: #geostationaryorbitrefueling by 2027. After that? The roadmap includes #offEarthmanufacturing, #deepspacelogistics, and making asteroid mining an actual industry, not a punchline. It’s not just about having the tech—it’s about having the team. They’ve stacked their bench with top-tier talent, including Miguel Ayala (ex-SpaceX, Falcon 9 production lead). Their playbook? A COTS+ strategy, combining off-the-shelf hardware with proprietary software to make their missions radically cheaper and more efficient. Throw in AI-driven navigation, real-time #asteroidmapping, and #adaptiveautonomy, and they’re not just mining asteroids—they’re rewriting how deep-space operations even work. Getting down to it: Karman+ isn’t just building a company, they’re laying the foundation for an entire off-world #supplychain. If they succeed, they don’t just win big, they change the rules of #spaceeconomics for everyone. Because the real future of space isn’t about getting there, it’s about staying there. So, now let’s see what happens when you put a mining rig where no mining rig has ever gone before. #Startups #StartupFunding #SpaceTech #DeepTech #SpaceAI #OuterSpace #VentureCapital #Technology #Innovation #TechEcosystem #StartupEcosystem #SpaceExploration

Japanese Space Industry (4) Japanese culture is often characterized by a strong aversion to failure and a deep desire to avoid social shame—a sentiment encapsulated in the saying, "the nail that sticks out gets hammered down." This cultural inclination toward conformity can sometimes hinder the adoption of disruptive ideas and innovations. In the decades following World War II, Japan's rapid economic growth led to the widespread adoption of lifetime employment practices. Companies secured their workforce regardless of individual productivity, fostering stability. However, as production shifted overseas and industries transformed, Japan experienced industrial hollowing, which forced companies to downsize and adapt, dramatically reshaping the job market. Simultaneously, new economic segments—such as the Internet and software industries—began breaking down traditional corporate boundaries, giving rise to a new generation of entrepreneurs. More recently, the space industry has joined this entrepreneurial wave, injecting fresh energy and innovation into Japan's established model. One notable example is Interstellar Technologies, led by Takahiro Inagawa (born in 1987). The company is pioneering the development of small rockets with the mission of making space accessible to everyone. Interstellar Technologies made headlines by successfully launching MOMO, the first privately developed sounding rocket in Japan to reach space. They are also developing the "ZERO" nano-launcher, engineered to deploy nano- and micro-satellites into orbit. According to the company’s website: "It all started when space enthusiasts from all over Japan came together to study the smallest rocket capable of enabling low-cost satellite launches by the private sector. They conceived a small rocket, with a launch weight of several hundred kilograms, designed to inject a satellite weighing only a few dozen grams into orbit. In the early days, lacking proper test facilities, the team conducted rocket engine tests in the bathroom of the apartment where they lived. Today, in Taiki-machi, Hokkaido, they continue to pursue this dream." At CES this past January, Toyota Motor Company announced an investment in Interstellar Technologies through its subsidiary, Woven by Toyota. This investment—approximately 7 billion yen, along with the deployment of a director from Woven by Toyota—underscores the growing recognition of private space ventures. Despite being relatively young compared to Japan’s longstanding government-led space programs, the entrepreneurial space sector is rapidly gaining momentum. Companies like Interstellar Technologies are focusing on innovation, cost-efficiency, and niche markets—such as small satellite launches and lunar exploration—paving the way for a more diverse and dynamic space landscape. This evolution not only expands Japan’s participation in global space endeavors but also fosters new business models. https://lnkd.in/gkFdfMG2

"Northwood Space, the startup founded by former Disney star Bridgit Mendler, nailed a key test last week when its ground station unit successfully connected with orbiting Planet Labs satellites. Operating from Planet’s ground station in Maddock, North Dakota, the team successfully showed the startup’s novel phased-array antenna system can transmit data to and from satellites on orbit. This first test focused on telemetry and tasking of the satellites, and achieved bidirectional links over five satellite passes. 'The purpose of what we’re doing is building a more performant ground network that can help industrialize the space industry,' Mendler said in a recent interview. 'We see connectivity as really a fundamental pillar of expanding space.' Northwood is aiming to solve what it calls 'the bottleneck for space': the terrestrial infrastructure that enables satellites to communicate with Earth and vice versa. Typically large dish antennas, these ground stations are a critical part of satellite operations, enabling satellite owners to track, send commands to, and receive data from spacecraft. The colossal growth of the space industry has led to a correspondingly large increase in the volume of data traveling to and from satellites. While a few companies, like SpaceX and Amazon, build and operate their own ground stations, many satellite providers pay for capacity with ground station providers. But these services and their ground stations don’t always have availability. El Segundo, California-based Northwood’s solution is to mass produce a digital phased-array system, which it calls a 'Portal', to enable 'always-on satellite connectivity.' Northwood’s technology is being designed for scale: Unlike traditional parabolic dish antennas, Northwood says its antenna can connect with multiple satellites simultaneously. While traditional antennas need to be physically pointed at a satellite, the beam direction of phased arrays can be electronically steered and track multiple objects at once." Read more 👉 https://lnkd.in/epZK2RE5 #WomenInSTEM #WomenInScience #GirlsInSTEM #STEMGems #GiveGirlsRoleModels

The U.S. military is investing in reusable reentry capsules designed by space startups to return cargo from space and deliver it to precise locations on Earth. These vehicles are seen as key tools for future space operations and logistics, as the Pentagon explores new methods to streamline transportation in space. Startups specializing in reentry vehicle technology, such as Inversion Space and Outpost Space, recently secured more than $100 million in defense and private investments under the Strategic Funding Increase (STRATFI) initiative. This program, aimed at assisting small businesses in transitioning from development to full-scale production, combines up to $15 million in Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) investment with matching funds from government agencies and private sources, bringing the potential total to $60 million. Some STRATFI contracts exceed the $60 million threshold. Inversion Space, based in California, disclosed that its agreement is valued at $71 million, which will support the development of autonomous reentry vehicles and demonstration missions tailored to military customers. “Autonomous reentry vehicles that can be called to Earth on demand will transform logistics and provide rapid access to even the most remote parts of the globe,” said Justin Fiaschetti, chief executive of Inversion Space. The military’s interest in reentry capsule technology is closely tied to the Air Force’s ambitious Rocket Cargo program, which is investigating how to use space launch vehicles to transport supplies or other cargo across vast distances on Earth. Reusable reentry capsules are a cornerstone of this effort, enabling the delivery of supplies through controlled de-orbiting and descent from space using parachutes or other mechanisms for precise drops. #Cargo #Space #Delivery #STRATFI Illustration of Outpost's Carryall reentry capsule. (Outpost Space)

🚀 The Future of Entrepreneurship Is Interdisciplinary In today’s space economy—and beyond—the most groundbreaking ventures aren’t confined by industry. They’re fueled by bold entrepreneurs who bridge science, business, and purpose to solve real-world challenges. In my latest Launch Lessons column for Global Trends Magazine, GTM, I explore how space-based innovation is being reshaped by leaders who think across boundaries—and act with vision. 🔍 Spotlighted in this feature: 🔹 SpeQtral – Co-Founders Chune Yang L. and Dr. Robert Bedington are building a quantum-secure future with satellite-based entanglement technology. 🔹 National Stem Cell Foundation – Led by Dr. Paula Grisanti, this team is using the microgravity of space to accelerate breakthroughs in Parkinson’s, MS, and beyond. 🔹 Muon Space – CEO Jonny Dyer is turning climate urgency into action with real-time Earth observation and $100M+ in customer contracts. These visionaries prove that the future belongs to those who connect worlds—biotech and orbit, quantum physics and cybersecurity, data analytics and environmental stewardship. 📰 Read the full article in the July 2025 issue of Global Trends Magazine: 📍 PressReader: https://lnkd.in/ezXtFdqY 📍 GCBL Website: https://lnkd.in/gBhfDUDq ✨ Let’s redefine what’s possible—through collaboration, courage, and crossing frontiers. Thank you to the incredible team at Global Trends Magazine and especially Nicole S.J. Farrell. #LaunchLessons #WhatsSpaceGotToDoWithIt #GlobalTrendsMagazine #SpeQtral #MuonSpace #NationalStemCellFoundation #SpaceEconomy #InterdisciplinaryInnovation #Leadership #Entrepreneurship #QuantumTech #Biotech #ClimateAction #ShelliBrunswick