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Y Combinator, the leading accelerator globally with over 5,000 investments, does not focus exclusively on SpaceTech but includes New Space among the top categories in their recent request for startups. We did their portfolio overview in August 2024 in our previous article. Today, we will talk about top funded YC companies, SpaceTech startups from the latest batches, as well as the interviews with SpaceTech founders. We hope it will inspire you to build SpaceTech companies or invest in ones.
If you plan to raise funding or apply to Y Combinator or other accelerators and would like feedback from a professional US venture capitalist, our co-founder Denis Kalyshkin, who has over 12 years of VC experience and an aerospace background, is launching an initiative to help founders prepare their applications to accelerators and fundraising materials.
Please fill out the form here, and Denis will get in touch with you.
You can find more details about Y Combinator and apply here. The deadline for the next batch is July 28, 2026.
Additionally, we recommend reading our articles on 50 accelerators, interviews with SpaceTech VCs, and the investment case of Rocket Lab. These resources will help investors understand SpaceTech investments and guide startup founders on how to appeal to investors and address potential issues.
To begin, it’s useful to examine the top-funded Y Combinator companies as of June 25, 2026. While some of these companies have experienced ups and downs, they remain the startups that investors believed most at some point.
Stoke Space (Winter 2024) is a US-based rocket company founded in 2019. The company develops fully reusable Nova rockets for orbital space mobility. Both founders, Andy Lapsa and Thomas Feldman, come from Blue Origin, and the company has been one of the most closely watched launch startups since its founding. In January 2025, Stoke closed a landmark $260M Series C, bringing total funding to $1.4B, backed by Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Glade Brook Capital Partners, Point72 Ventures, and Y Combinator. Nova’s first orbital demonstration will be a defining moment for the reusable launch market.
Astranis (Winter 2016) is a U.S. company founded in 2015 that is working on a low-cost satellite internet constellation. The founder, John Gedmark, previously co-founded the Commercial Spaceflight Federation and served as the Director of Flight Operations at the X Prize Foundation. Astranis participated in Y Combinator’s Winter 2016 batch. The company raised a $300M Series E in May 2026, led by Andreessen Horowitz and BlackRock. The round brings total investment in the company to $1.2B.
Momentus (Summer 2018) is a U.S.-based company founded in 2017 that develops low-thrust propulsion systems. The company was founded by serial space-tech entrepreneur Mikhail Kokorich. Momentus participated in Y Combinator’s Summer 2018 batch. In November 2018, following Demo Day, the company raised an $8.3M round. Momentus went public in August 2021 with a market cap of $1.2B and raised $137M at its IPO. The total investment in Momentus has reached $237M. You can find their current market cap here.
Starcloud (Summer 2024) is a US-based startup founded in 2024. The company develops space-based data center infrastructure designed to support computing and data processing beyond Earth. It was co-founded by Ezra Feilden and Philip Johnston. Ezra brings experience in space systems engineering from Oxford Space Systems and Airbus, providing a strong foundation in satellite hardware and operations, while Philip is a former McKinsey consultant and the ex-founder of Opontia, a startup that raised $62M before being acquired. In March 2026, the company closed a $170M Series A at a $930M pre-money valuation, bringing total funding to $194M, backed by Benchmark, EQT, NFX, Seven Seven Six, Macquarie Capital, and Y Combinator — one of the largest early-stage space rounds in recent memory.
Relativity Space (Winter 2016) is a startup based in Los Angeles, founded in 2016. The company specializes in building 3D-printed rockets. Notably, Relativity Space was established after one of its competitors, Rocket Lab, secured a $20 million round from Bessemer Venture Partners in October 2014 (read our previous article about the deal here). Relativity Space participated in Y Combinator’s Winter 2016 batch. The founder, Tim Ellis, previously worked as an aerospace engineer at Blue Origin for nearly five years. The company raised $620k from Mark Cuban in March 2016 and $10.1M from Social Capital in July 2016, following Y Combinator’s Demo Day. To date, Relativity Space has raised a total of $1.4B.
Turion Space (Spring 2025) is a California-based company founded in 2021. The company builds spacecraft and software for space domain awareness, in-orbit servicing, and satellite-to-satellite transportation. It was co-founded by two SPACEX engineers Ryan Westerdahl (CEO) and Tyler Pierce. In April 2025, Turion closed a Series B, bringing total funding to $128M, backed by Forward Deployed Venture Capital, Washington Harbour Partners, and Y Combinator. Turion originally participated in YC’s Summer 2021 batch.
Albedo (Winter 2021) is a U.S. company founded in November 2020 that is building a high-resolution visible and thermal spectrum Earth observation constellation. The team includes professionals with experience at Lockheed Martin and Facebook. Albedo participated in Y Combinator’s Winter 2021 batch. The company raised a pre-seed round with an undisclosed amount in March 2021, following Demo Day. This was followed by a $10M seed round in April 2021, a $48M Series A in September 2022, and a $35M round in January 2024. The total investment in Albedo is $103M.
Hubble Networks (Winter 2022) is a Seattle-based startup founded in 2021. They are launching a constellation of satellites that provide IoT connectivity for devices using Bluetooth, targeting sectors such as manufacturing, energy, and agriculture. Co-founder Alex Haro previously founded Life360, a public company with a market cap exceeding $2B. After Demo Day, Hubble Networks raised a $500k seed round. The company recently raised a $70M Series B on September 2025 from Ryan Swagar, bringing total funding to $90.5M.
AstroForge (Summer 2024) is a US-based startup founded in 2021 and the world’s most well-funded commercial asteroid mining company. It was co-founded by Jose Acain, He began his career as a NASA intern before joining SpaceX as an avionics integration engineer — giving him hands-on experience with both mission design and spacecraft electronics. In August 2024, AstroForge raised a $42.5M Series A, bringing total funding to $55.8M, backed by Seven Seven Six, Soma Capital, Nova Threshold, Initialized Capital, and Y Combinator.
Inversion Space (Winter 2024) is a Los Angeles-based company founded in 2021. The company is building autonomous capsules to return cargo from orbit to Earth for commercial, civil, and defense customers. CEO Justin Fiaschetti previously worked across vehicle integration and mission operations at SpaceX and Relativity Space, while co-founder Austin Briggs contributed to launch vehicle development at ABL Space Systems. In November 2024, the company raised a $44M Series A, bringing total funding to $54.3M, backed by Adjacent, Infinite Capital, Lockheed Martin Ventures, Spark Capital, and Y Combinator.
Constellation Space (Spring 2026) is a Seattle-based startup founded in 2025. The company builds AI-powered software that predicts satellite link failures before they happen and automatically reroutes network traffic in real time. CEO Kamran Majid brings hands-on spacecraft software experience from both SpaceX and NASA, while CTO Raaid Kabir contributed to launch vehicle development at Blue Origin. In March 2026, the company raised a $6.5M Seed round — its first external funding — led by SGH Capital alongside Y Combinator.
General Aviation (Spring 2026) is a San Francisco-based company founded in 2026. The company is developing satellite-connected air traffic control and airport surface management systems designed to connect every aircraft, drone, rocket, and ground vehicle to a unified global network. It was founded by Ben Frank, who previously founded two aviation software companies — Rotabull and Seer Aerospace (acquired by Aviation Week) — and worked at Boeing as an aerospace engineer. In June 2026, the company raised a $500K Pre-Seed from Y Combinator, its sole investor at this stage.
Dispatch (Spring 2026) is a San Francisco-based company founded in 2025. The company is building autonomous cargo return vehicles to make high-frequency orbital logistics routine. CEO Payton Case is a seasoned aerospace engineer with mission experience at both NASA and Astranis Space Technologies, and CTO Andrew Mello previously developed satellite systems at Astranis. In April 2026, the company closed a $500K Pre-Seed backed solely by Y Combinator.
Beyond Reach Labs (Winter 2026) is a US-based startup founded in 2023. The company is developing deployable solar arrays and space structures for orbital and lunar missions. It was co-founded by Mitchell Fogelson and Pele Collins (ex-SpaceX). The company raised a $500K Pre-Seed from Y Combinator — a classic early-stage bet on a deep enabling technology.
G.R.U. Space (Winter 2026) is a San Francisco-based startup founded in 2025. The company is developing automated construction technology to build the world’s first permanent lunar hotel using local Moon soil. It was co-founded by Skyler Chan and Britt Tucker (ex-Blue Origin, Zero Gravity), She also serves as a Strategic Advisor at Planet Ventures. In March 2026, the company raised a Seed round from Y Combinator, Karman Ventures, Planet Ventures, and Zachary Laberge — four investors willing to back a very long-term bet.
Orbital Operations (Winter 2025) is a US-based startup founded in 2024. The company develops high-thrust space vehicles engineered specifically for satellite defense applications. Co-founder Ross Doherty has hands-on propulsion and vehicle development experience from Relativity Space and Blue Origin, while co-founder Ben Schleuniger brings a multi-program background spanning NASA, SpaceX, and Relativity Space. In March 2025, the company raised an $8.8M Seed round from Alumni Ventures, Karman Ventures, Rebel Fund, Unpopular Ventures, and Y Combinator.
Zephyr Fusion (Fall 2025) is a San Diego-based startup founded in 2025. The company develops fusion-powered satellite technologies capable of enabling megawatt-scale energy production in orbit. It was co-founded by Galen Burke and Edward Hinson. In December 2025, the company raised a $500K Pre-Seed from Y Combinator, Alumni Ventures, Nova Threshold, and Pioneer Fund.
Wardstone (Fall 2025) is a San Francisco-based space defense startup founded in 2025, developing a constellation of next-generation satellites for space-based missile defense. It was co-founded by Sebastian Fischer (CEO, MIT Aerospace Engineering, Harvard MBA) and Tobias Fischer (CTO). In December 2025, Wardstone raised a $500K Pre-Seed from Pioneer Fund, angel investor Taro Fukuyama, and Y Combinator — an early-stage bet on a very high-stakes problem.
Cascade Space (Spring 2025) is a San Francisco-based startup founded in 2025. The company provides deep space communications as a service and unified software tools for lunar and deep space mission design. It was co-founded by Jacob Portukalian (CEO) and Arlen Abraham (CTO). The company raised a $5.9M Seed round — a well-timed bet as the number of lunar missions from both government agencies and commercial operators is set to increase sharply through the end of the decade.
General Astronautics (Winter 2026) is a San Francisco-based startup founded in 2025. The company builds autonomous robotic systems for research and manufacturing tasks in microgravity environments, positioning itself as the operating system for in-space laboratories. It was founded by Bram Schork (CEO) who also served at SpaceX as Starlink laser engineer. The company raised a $100K Pre-Seed from Y Combinator — an early, conviction-stage bet as it builds toward its first demonstration missions.
Instinct (Winter 2025) is a San Francisco-based aerospace company founded in 2024. The company is developing a high-efficiency lunar lander to lower the barrier to entry for lunar exploration. Co-founders Joaquim Dickson and Joe Papworth are early-career engineers applying fresh academic training to one of the hardest problems in space. Instinct raised a Seed round in March 2025 from Rebel Fund and Y Combinator.
Starcloud (Summer 2024) is a US-based startup founded in 2024. The company develops space-based data center infrastructure designed to support computing and data processing beyond Earth. It was co-founded by Ezra Feilden and Philip Johnston. Ezra brings experience in space systems engineering from Oxford Space Systems and Airbus, providing a strong foundation in satellite hardware and operations, while Philip is a former McKinsey consultant and the ex-founder of Opontia, a startup that raised $62M before being acquired. In March 2026, the company closed a $170M Series A at a $930M pre-money valuation, bringing total funding to $194M, backed by Benchmark, EQT, NFX, Seven Seven Six, Macquarie Capital, and Y Combinator — one of the largest early-stage space rounds in recent memory.
Spaceium (Summer 2024) is a Canada-based startup founded in 2023. The company develops spacecraft docking systems to support interplanetary missions — essentially the “gas station and workshop” layer of the emerging space economy. CEO Ashi Dissanayake and CTO Reza Fetanat are both engineering graduates who have focused their technical training on in-space infrastructure. In January 2025, the company closed a $6.3M Seed from a16z Scout Fund, Alumni Ventures, Initialized Capital, and Y Combinator, following a $500K Pre-Seed in September 2024 from Mergus Ventures and Y Combinator.
Reditus Space (Winter 2024) is a US-based startup founded in 2024. The company focuses on reusable satellite platforms designed to return payloads and manufactured products from LEO to Earth. It was co-founded by Stef Crum (CEO) and Will Sherman (CTO). Reditus raised a $7.1M Seed round in December 2025, backed by Antler and Y Combinator.
Apolink (Fall 2024) is a Palo Alto-based startup founded in 2025. The company is building an interoperable LEO satellite relay network combining RF and optical links to provide real-time, continuous connectivity for global satellite operators. It was founded by Onkar Singh Batra (CEO), who was recognized on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in 2026. The company raised a $4.3M Seed round from Y Combinator.
We hope this overview of Y Combinator’s portfolio companies inspires you to launch a SpaceTech startup or invest in one. If you plan to seek investment or apply to top accelerators, we’d be happy to assist. Please fill out the form here or denis@spaceambition.org.
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