Latest news with #spaceTech
TechCrunch
4 days ago
- Business
- TechCrunch
Robinhood's co-founder is beaming up (and down) the future of energy
Robinhood's Baiju Bhatt has a new mission: solar power from space. Fresh off a $50 million Series A raise, Robinhood co-founder Baiju Bhatt is going all-in on space-based solar power. His new startup, Aetherflux, wants to launch solar power-collecting satellites into low Earth orbit, with a demo flight set for 2026, and to transmit clean energy back down to Earth. Bhatt sat down with Rebecca Bellan on TechCrunch's Equity podcast to talk about his jump from fintech to frontier tech, what it takes to build a deep tech company from the ground up, and where investor interest in the space economy stands in 2025. Listen to the full episode to hear more about: Why Bhatt thinks now is the time for space-based solar How Aetherflux is thinking about fundraising and scaling And Bellan and Bhatt's idea for a Burning Man light show (yes, really) Bhatt also joined us on stage at StrictlyVC Menlo Park last month — and if you missed it, don't worry. StrictlyVC is coming to Palo Alto; you can join the waitlist here. Equity will be back tomorrow with a special rundown ahead of the long weekend here in the U.S., so stay tuned! Equity is TechCrunch's flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Wednesday and Friday. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads, at @EquityPod.
Entrepreneur
4 days ago
- Business
- Entrepreneur
India Must Build Space Tech Muscle to Avoid New-Age Colonization: Former ISRO Chief AS Kiran
The country is now home to more than 100 space-tech startups, most of which were founded in the last 5 years. The global space technology startup stage experienced a slowdown, while the Indian counterparts enjoyed a healthy upward funding trend. Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. India should start enabling its competence, both for survival and being one among the equals in the modern space race, to not get into another "colonization" situation, said AS Kiran Kumar, Former chairperson of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), speaking to Entrepreneur India. "Space is a new frontier, and human systems always look at any new capability to take advantage of that and dominate and impose themselves. So if you don't want to get imposed and get into another type of colonization, there is no option but to build your competence. And India has shown that it is capable of doing so. As these resources and your economic strength continue to increase, if you stay behind, you'll run into another kind of colonization," said Kumar. The country is now home to more than 100 space-tech startups, most of which were founded in the last 5 years. The global space technology startup stage experienced a slowdown, while the Indian counterparts enjoyed a healthy upward funding trend. A Tracxn report reveals that 2023 served as the year with the highest funds pouring in, totalling USD 126 Million, which is a 7 per cent increase from 2022, and a whopping 235 per cent increase compared to 2021. Early-stage startups attracted the majority of the available funds with USD 120 million. Seed-stage funding saw a growth of 24 per cent in 2023 with USD 5.3 Million, and in 2024 saw USD 2.29 Million invested in seed-stage rounds so far. "Startups in the space segment are very tough," Kumar said, emphasizing that transforming an idea into a viable revenue model in this field comes with immense technical and financial challenges. The space sector, he explained, has "very low tolerance for failure," making it historically the domain of nation-states. However, the environment is shifting. Governments are now "enabling private entities to participate by reducing the risk," said Kumar, adding that this support often includes consumption guarantees and service commitments that help private ventures gain a foothold. Startups today are increasingly shifting toward service-based models such as "launch as a service" and "satellite as a service," which allow companies to leverage existing infrastructure rather than build from scratch. "Earlier, the problem was if you have an idea... the entire process of building it, launching it, maintaining it is a huge infrastructure. Now those mechanisms are getting decoupled," he noted. Kumar also pointed out emerging opportunities in satellite waste management, or as he called it, "waste to wealth services," which could become a significant vertical as more satellites enter orbit. Speaking about new frontiers, the Indian startup ecosystem is brimming with potential, especially in deep tech and frontier technology. Rohan Choukkar, VP of Investments at Bharat Innovation Fund (BIF), said that India can lead in these sectors globally. "Deep tech and frontier tech don't exist in a vacuum. It comes from the existing technology, economic, and engineering base that a country has built over decades. For example, India has built real depth in chemistry. That plays out not just in pharma but in batteries, specialty chemicals, and materials innovation. We're seeing a lot of action in battery materials and novel chemical formulations, those that leverage the chemistry muscle India has built over generations," said Choukkar. Choukkar also added that there are semiconductors and electronics. "India has historically been a base for global semiconductor companies. Bangalore is full of large global players who have major engineering teams here. The talent that's come out of these companies is now going on to build next-generation solutions in semiconductors, defense electronics, and more."
CTV News
11-06-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Space and defense tech firm Voyager raises US$382.8M in U.S. IPO
The New York Stock Exchange is seen in New York, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File) Space and defense tech firm Voyager raises $382.8 million in U.S. IPO Voyager Technologies raised $382.8 million in its U.S. initial public offering, the space and defense tech company said on Tuesday, amid a global rush to amp up military spending. The company, which provides mission-critical space and defense technology solutions, along with some investors sold roughly 12.35 million shares at $31 per share, above its marketed range of $26 to $29. The offering is the latest in recent weeks as the U.S. IPO market regained its footing after being restricted by tariff-driven volatility. The Denver, Colorado–based company's IPO comes as President Donald Trump's administration looks to sharply increase spending on defense and space projects. Trump last month selected a design for his $175 billion Golden Dome project, a next-generation U.S. missile defense shield. The stock will trade on the New York Stock Exchange on Wednesday under the symbol 'VOYG.' Morgan Stanley and J.P. Morgan are the lead underwriters on the listing. (Reporting by Ateev Bhandari and Manya Saini in Bengaluru; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila)
CNA
02-06-2025
- Business
- CNA
Starlab developer Voyager seeks $1.6 billion valuation in US IPO
Voyager Technologies said on Monday it was targeting a valuation of $1.6 billion in its U.S. listing, as the defense and space tech company looks to capitalize on a spending boost for the sector under the Trump administration. Companies are finding renewed opportunities to list shares on U.S. exchanges after the IPO market recovery was delayed by policy uncertainties linked to President Donald Trump's trade policies. Voyager's filing comes after digital banking startup Chime and stablecoin giant Circle also reignited their plans to go public in recent weeks. The Denver, Colorado–based company plans to sell 11 million shares and would raise $319 million if priced at the top of its proposed $26 to $29 range. The U.S. government is expected to boost spending on defense and space projects, with policymakers predicting Trump would push ahead with a race to the moon and possibly Mars, bolstered by his friendship with SpaceX founder Elon Musk. Last month, Trump selected a design for his $175 billion Golden dome missile defense shield, which aims to create a network of satellites to detect, track and potentially intercept incoming missiles. Founded in 2019, Voyager has completed more than 2,000 missions from about 35 nations, according to its website. The company is also developing Starlab, a potential commercial successor to the International Space Station, via a joint venture with Airbus, Mitsubishi, and Palantir. The company reported $34.5 million in net sales for the quarter ended March 31, up 14.2 per cent from the previous year. Losses attributable to Voyager, however, nearly doubled to $26.9 million in the period. Voyager's shares will trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "VOYG".
CNA
02-06-2025
- Business
- CNA
Defense and space firm Voyager seeks $1.6 billion valuation in US IPO
Defense and space tech company Voyager Technologies aims at a valuation of $1.6 billion in its U.S. listing, the company revealed in a filing on Monday. The Denver, Colorado–based company plans to sell 11 million shares and would raise $319 million if priced at the top of its proposed $26 to $29 range. Voyager's shares will trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "VOYG". Morgan Stanley and J.P. Morgan are the lead underwriters on the listing.
