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All investor lists > Aerospace
Browse OpenVC's list of investors funding startups in aerospace, space exploration, and aviation technology.
Last update: June 6, 2026
List author: Lucas Roquilly
Shortlist investors, submit pitch decks, and get replies
Use code "OpenVC". Conditions apply.
Space and dual-use aerospace is hot again. On real revenue, not just vibes. Private investment into space hit new highs in 2025, with Seraphim tracking $3.5B in Q3 alone and \~$8.1B on a trailing-12-month basis into Q1 2025. Defense-aligned and orbital infrastructure plays (launch, in-space logistics, SDA, ISR, comms, manufacturing) are seeing the clearest pull-through as government and commercial demand converge.
What this means for founders:
Dual-use wins. If your tech maps to national security or commercial satcom/Earth observation, you’ll get more meetings. DCVC, Founders Fund, Lux, and Eclipse all leaned in on space/defense from 2023–2025.
Proof beats pitch. SBIR/AFWERX traction, DIU pilots, or anchor LEO/MEO customers shorten diligence cycles.
Capital stacks are blending. Non-dilutive + strategic + VC is now standard, from NASA/NSF SBIR to STRATFI/TACFI matches.
Seraphim backs visionary space entrepreneurs, providing capital, sector expertise, and global reach to turn science fiction into science fact. The firm focuses exclusively on spacetech and publishes robust market intelligence through its listed investment trust and research outputs.
Space Capital invests in the most consequential companies building the space economy—treating space as the invisible backbone of modern life. Their thesis maps the stack from orbital infrastructure through data distribution to application layers, concentrating on category-defining founders.
DCVC partners with founders solving complex, high-impact problems with defensible science and engineering. In space, they’ve backed companies that turned agile aerospace and synthetic-aperture radar into scaled, durable businesses.
Lux partners with iconoclast inventors building the next generation of hard-tech companies. In space, Lux backs ambitious teams redefining launch, satellite communications, and mission software.
Founders Fund backs audacious companies building the future, with a long history of contrarian bets in hard tech. Its space and defense posture emphasizes decisive capital and deep alignment with founders tackling decade-long roadmaps.
Eclipse is a team of operators and investors building the new industrial economy, backing full-stack companies that turn cutting-edge engineering into production at scale. The firm brings hands-on supply-chain, manufacturing, and commercialization depth to frontier hardware.
SpaceFund is a thesis-driven venture firm investing in the infrastructure enabling the space economy’s next era. The team focuses on scalable, near-term revenue models that unlock persistent commercial activity in orbit.
Airbus Ventures invests globally in entrepreneurs enhancing our planet’s best futures, with a cross-border team and network. The firm blends deep aerospace heritage with true financial-investor independence to catalyze frontier companies.
Playground partners early with technical founders building hard things, bringing hands-on company-building support and access to top engineering talent. In aerospace, they’ve backed autonomous, additive-manufacturing approaches to launch.
Techstars Space Accelerator connects founders directly with aerospace mentors, operators, and first DoD customers. Cohorts emphasize rapid validation, customer discovery, and investor readiness for dual-use applications.
Starburst operates one of the world’s largest aerospace and defense innovation platforms, giving founders access to primes, agencies, and investors. SCALE combines workshops, pitch prep, and curated intros culminating in a high-exposure demo day.
Hyperspace Challenge is a government-backed accelerator uniting innovators and mission owners to solve space’s toughest operational challenges. The program is optimized for dual-use startups ready to translate prototypes into operational capability.
Catalyst Accelerator helps startups align solutions with Space Force priorities while refining go-to-market and acquisition strategies. Founders gain targeted mentorship, end-user engagement, and a community embedded in one of the U.S.’s top space hubs.
MassChallenge is a global, equity-free accelerator whose Technology in Space Prize provides non-dilutive funding and access to the ISS National Lab. It’s a proven path to validate space-enabled applications without giving up equity.
Conferences you should actually attend:
Space Symposium (Colorado Springs) – the heavyweight policy and industry gathering; pair with Space Generation Fusion Forum if you’re an emerging leader.
SATELLITE / SATShow Week (Washington, DC) – end-to-end satellite ecosystem plus Startup Space pitch competition.
Small Satellite Conference (USU, Utah) – the best place to meet real smallsat buyers and partners.
IAC – International Astronautical Congress (2025 Sydney) – global deal-making and technical program.
AIAA ASCEND / AVIATION Forum – technical depth with national-security and commercial crossover.
NASA SBIR/STTR (incl. SBIR Ignite, CCRPP match) – Phase I awards (\~$150k–$305k depending on agency/year), with matching programs for external investment.
AFWERX / SpaceWERX (Open Topic; STRATFI/TACFI) – the fastest front door into DoD; rolling STRATFI/TACFI in 2025 for scaling awards with match.
DIU Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) – OT-authority pathway for rapid prototyping and contracts—ideal for dual-use fits.
NSF America’s Seed Fund (SBIR/STTR) – deep-tech friendly, zero-equity; typical Phase I around $300k. Great for pre-seed science risk.
MIT – The Engine / Engine Ventures – tough-tech incubator plus capital; serious lab space and scale-up support.
Georgia Tech – CREATE-X (Startup Launch) – 12-week summer build with seed and in-kind support; strong hardware community.
CU Boulder – AeroSpace Ventures – research and industry interface in a top U.S. aerospace hub.
StartX (Stanford-affiliated, equity-free) – deep founder network; solid for Bay Area aerospace and dual-use founders.
Aerospace innovation overlaps with multiple frontier sectors — from AI-driven autonomy to sustainable propulsion and advanced manufacturing. Explore these related investor lists to find even more VCs and funding opportunities that align with your technology stack.
Defensetech Investors & VC Firms – Backers funding dual-use technologies, military applications, and space defense innovation.
Deeptech Investors & VC Firms – Investors who specialize in science-based, frontier technologies that push physical and computational boundaries.
Drone Investors & VC Firms – VCs fueling the future of aerial robotics, UAV systems, and next-generation flight platforms.
Robotics Investors & VC Firms – Funds investing in automation, sensors, and intelligent systems powering aerospace manufacturing and exploration.
AI Investors & VC Firms – Capital partners advancing computer vision, autonomy, and mission-critical AI in aerospace and defense.
Manufacturing Investors & VC Firms – Investors supporting industrial automation, advanced materials, and production scaling for complex hardware.
Hardware Investors & VC Firms – Early backers of physical innovation from propulsion systems to orbital components.
🚀 Ready to raise? Here’s how OpenVC helps aerospace founders accelerate their next round:
Find aerospace investors fast – Filter by stage, check size, geography, and focus areas like launch, manufacturing, or dual-use defense tech.
Browse detailed investor profiles – See which VCs, angels, and strategics are actively funding space and aerospace startups.
Submit your pitch deck directly – Share your deck securely with investors and track who opens it.
Use the Fundraising CRM – Manage your entire raise in one place with follow-ups, notes, and deal tracking built for founders.
Get warm intros – Receive verified introductions from investors who already expressed interest in your category.
Close your round faster – Streamline outreach, track traction, and turn meetings into capital.
🔥 Join OpenVC today for free and start connecting with top aerospace investors instantly.
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OpenVC is a free startup fundraising platform that helps founders find the right investors and manage their entire raise. Search 20,000+ verified investors, including venture capitalists, angel investors, family offices, accelerators, and more. Build your target list, send your pitch deck, and track your pipeline all in one place.
Founders raise with OpenVC because it is designed to cut through the noise and get founders in front of the right investors, fast. With built-in tools for CRM, analytics, and warm intros, it helps you stay organized and improve your chances of getting a reply.
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Absolutely, OpenVC is designed for early-stage fundraising. You’ll find thousands of angel investors, pre-seed VCs, accelerators, incubators, and family offices who are actively backing startups across sectors and geographies. Use OpenVC’s filters to narrow your search and find the right investors for your startup.
Some examples of startups that successfully secured funding through OpenVC include Mobly (2.5M seed), Paxum ($1.2M seed), and Laennec AI ($400k pre-seed). OpenVC startups have gone on to raise more than $1 billion from top venture capital firms like YC, Sequoia, Google Ventures, and M12.
OpenVC was created by Stephane Nasser and Lucas Roquilly—two founders building tools to make startup fundraising more transparent and accessible. We launched OpenVC to help founders find investors, get replies, and raise smarter. The platform is bootstrapped, community-driven, and built with a lot of heart.
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