Draper Associates

Draper Associates, L.P. is a venture capital firm established in 1985 and headquartered in San Mateo, California. The firm specializes in seed-stage and early-stage investments across a variety of sectors, including consumer technology, financial technology, healthcare, education, and logistics, among others. Draper Associates seeks to identify and support innovative companies that have the potential to disrupt their respective markets. The firm is committed to fostering entrepreneurial talent and facilitating the growth of transformative businesses that can create significant economic impact. With a global investment approach, Draper Associates aims to build a portfolio of companies poised for substantial growth and success in the evolving landscape of technology and business.

Maxime Bucaille

Investor

Daniel Sangyoon Kim

Analyst

Megan Kurohara

Investor

Tyrone Lee

Venture Partner

James Walker

Principal

Past deals in Aerospace

Venus Aerospace

Series A in 2022
Venus Aerospace is a start-up focused on advancing hypersonic transportation solutions. The company develops rotating detonation rocket engines (RDRE) and high-speed vehicles tailored for research, defense, and commercial applications. By enhancing transport speed and range, Venus Aerospace aims to meet the growing demand for efficient and cost-effective aerospace solutions, particularly for space businesses.

Aquarian Space

Seed Round in 2022
Aquarian Space is focused on creating the essential infrastructure for a fully interconnected Solar System, addressing critical challenges in lunar and deep space communications and exploration. The company is developing a high-speed communication network intended to support interplanetary exploration, significantly enhancing current communication capabilities. This advancement is designed to facilitate the transmission of exponentially more data, enabling clients to effectively engage in the exploration of space frontiers and support human expansion throughout the Solar System.

Slingshot Aerospace

Series A in 2022
Slingshot Aerospace, Inc. is a company that develops innovative online tools and platforms aimed at providing geospatial information for the aerospace and defense sectors. Incorporated in 2016 and headquartered in El Segundo, California, with an additional office in Austin, Texas, Slingshot Aerospace offers a suite of platforms—Slingshot Earth, Slingshot Orbital, Slingshot Edge, and Slingshot Imagery—that integrate data from a variety of sources, including satellites, airplanes, drones, and ground-based sensors. This integration enables organizations in industries such as energy, military, government, and emergency management to access critical insights and analytics. By leveraging advanced technologies, including signal processing AI, the company helps clients make informed decisions based on Earth Observation data and other data sources, ultimately improving operational efficiency, reducing risks, and lowering costs.

Alef Aeronautics

Seed Round in 2021
Armada operates in a stealth mode

Alef Aeronautics

Seed Round in 2021
Armada operates in a stealth mode

Venus Aerospace

Seed Round in 2021
Venus Aerospace is a start-up focused on advancing hypersonic transportation solutions. The company develops rotating detonation rocket engines (RDRE) and high-speed vehicles tailored for research, defense, and commercial applications. By enhancing transport speed and range, Venus Aerospace aims to meet the growing demand for efficient and cost-effective aerospace solutions, particularly for space businesses.

Precious Payload

Seed Round in 2020
Precious Payload is a provider of space mission management services that simplifies the planning and execution of space missions. The company offers a marketplace for space launches, insurance, and integration services, enabling space entrepreneurs to manage and control their mission progress efficiently. Precious Payload assists clients in navigating licensing and export regulations, while also maintaining oversight of the mission roadmap. This comprehensive approach allows users to effectively test their business and technology hypotheses, making the complexities of space missions more accessible and manageable.

Precious Payload

Seed Round in 2020
Precious Payload is a provider of space mission management services that simplifies the planning and execution of space missions. The company offers a marketplace for space launches, insurance, and integration services, enabling space entrepreneurs to manage and control their mission progress efficiently. Precious Payload assists clients in navigating licensing and export regulations, while also maintaining oversight of the mission roadmap. This comprehensive approach allows users to effectively test their business and technology hypotheses, making the complexities of space missions more accessible and manageable.

Alef Aeronautics

Seed Round in 2020
Armada operates in a stealth mode

JetPack Aviation

Seed Round in 2019
JetPack Aviation dedicated to building world's first true jetpack, that is capable of getting from SF to Mountain View in ten minutes. Its mission is to build a vehicle that that will disrupt the way people and "things" are transported.

Near Space Labs

Seed Round in 2018
Near Space Labs is an aerial imagery and earth observation company, Near Space Labs' imagery makes it easy to monitor assets and gain remote access over broad or specific areas. Near Space Labs offers cloud-based delivery of fully processed images through its API. The company provides frictionless, affordable imaging for insurance, utilities, infrastructure, conservation, smart cities, retail, energy, government, and disaster response.

Alef Aeronautics

Seed Round in 2018
Armada operates in a stealth mode

Iceye

Series B in 2018
ICEYE Oy, founded in 2014 and based in Espoo, Finland, operates a commercial constellation of radar imaging satellites that provide real-time synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery. The company delivers timely and reliable satellite data, enabling users to monitor various activities and events, including illegal fishing, oil spills, storm damage, crop growth, and flood impacts. ICEYE’s technology supports sectors such as maritime operations, disaster management, insurance, and finance by offering frequent coverage, day and night. This innovative approach addresses the critical need for actionable information and empowers clients to make informed decisions across governmental and commercial industries.

Natilus

Seed Round in 2017
Natilus Inc. is a drone manufacturing company based in San Jose, California, founded in 2016 by LZ Zhang, Anatoly Starikov, and Aleksey Matyushev. The company specializes in designing large-scale drones, comparable in size to Boeing 747s, aimed at providing intercontinental cargo delivery services. These drones are constructed using carbon fiber composites and utilize existing turbofan and turboprop engines, which allows for efficient operation and reduced air freight costs. Natilus has completed flight tests of its 2,200-pound prototype and has a significant order book rumored to exceed $1 billion. The company's innovative approach to freight forwarding aims to enhance the capabilities of transport and delivery companies worldwide.

Iceye

Series A in 2017
ICEYE Oy, founded in 2014 and based in Espoo, Finland, operates a commercial constellation of radar imaging satellites that provide real-time synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery. The company delivers timely and reliable satellite data, enabling users to monitor various activities and events, including illegal fishing, oil spills, storm damage, crop growth, and flood impacts. ICEYE’s technology supports sectors such as maritime operations, disaster management, insurance, and finance by offering frequent coverage, day and night. This innovative approach addresses the critical need for actionable information and empowers clients to make informed decisions across governmental and commercial industries.

Gravity

Venture Round in 2017
Gravity Industries Ltd is a British start-up specializing in human propulsion technology, founded in March 2017 by Richard Browning and based in Barnet, United Kingdom. The company has developed a groundbreaking flight suit that integrates body-mounted miniaturized jet engines with an exoskeletal design. This innovative suit enables pilots to take off vertically and control their flight using body movements, specifically shifting their weight and manipulating their arms. The technology features four arm-mounted and two hip-mounted gas turbine engines, providing sufficient thrust to sustain human flight over extended periods. Gravity's products find applications in both commercial and entertainment sectors, reflecting its mission to inspire and advance the future of human flight.

Mothership Aeronautics

Seed Round in 2017
Mothership Aeronautics Limited specializes in developing and manufacturing solar-powered airships designed for inspection, surveillance, and monitoring applications. Founded in 2016 and headquartered in South San Francisco, California, the company provides a range of services including infrastructure inspection, magnetic sensing, terrain mapping, thermal sensing, and inspections of solar panels and wind turbines. Mothership Aeronautics also offers data processing services such as 3D and digital modeling, mapping, and planimetrics. Its solutions cater to various industries, including oil and gas, transportation, mining, and renewable energy, utilizing innovative technologies that combine lighter-than-air lifting methods with high power density photovoltaics.

Global Energy Transmission

Seed Round in 2017
Global Energy Transmission Corporation specializes in long-distance wireless power transmission solutions, particularly for industrial applications. Based in Woodland, Washington, the company has developed GET Distant Wireless Power Technology, which allows battery-powered drones to recharge in flight. This innovative technology enables drones to hover for a few minutes in designated charging areas, which can be strategically installed along flight routes or within facilities. The company offers the GET Air solution, comprising a Ground Station for wireless power transmission and commercial-grade drones equipped with proprietary wireless power receiving systems and rapid battery charging packs. This technology supports various drone applications, including parcel delivery, inspection, surveillance, mapping, agricultural monitoring, and rescue operations, while ensuring functionality across diverse environmental conditions.

Kubos

Seed Round in 2017
Kubos Corporation is a satellite software company based in Denton, Texas, founded in 2014. It develops an open-source space flight software platform designed for building and operating satellite constellations on various hardware. The KubOS Platform includes essential flight-critical functions, such as a Linux kernel, hardware APIs, and a suite of onboard services, facilitating the development of satellite applications. Key features of the platform enable users to send commands to satellites, monitor telemetry data, and perform remote updates. Additionally, Kubos provides service level agreements to satellite operators, ensuring support for missions through guaranteed response times and onsite integration during satellite operations.

Alef Aeronautics

Pre Seed Round in 2017
Armada operates in a stealth mode

Mothership Aeronautics

Seed Round in 2017
Mothership Aeronautics Limited specializes in developing and manufacturing solar-powered airships designed for inspection, surveillance, and monitoring applications. Founded in 2016 and headquartered in South San Francisco, California, the company provides a range of services including infrastructure inspection, magnetic sensing, terrain mapping, thermal sensing, and inspections of solar panels and wind turbines. Mothership Aeronautics also offers data processing services such as 3D and digital modeling, mapping, and planimetrics. Its solutions cater to various industries, including oil and gas, transportation, mining, and renewable energy, utilizing innovative technologies that combine lighter-than-air lifting methods with high power density photovoltaics.

Positron Dynamics

Private Equity Round in 2017
Positron Dynamics, LLC is a technology company based in Port Angeles, Washington, founded in 2011 by Ryan Weed and Joshua Machacek. The company specializes in developing advanced solutions for positron production and storage, with a focus on semiconductor diagnostic tools that detect defects at the atomic level. Positron Dynamics also innovates in the fields of cold positron production, non-destructive testing for aerospace and defense applications, and propulsion systems for spacecraft. Its proprietary technology generates intense beams of cold positrons, which are utilized in the design of compact propulsion systems aimed at enhancing space exploration capabilities. The company holds several patents related to its unique methods of producing and moderating positrons, contributing to its position in the market.

Natilus

Seed Round in 2016
Natilus Inc. is a drone manufacturing company based in San Jose, California, founded in 2016 by LZ Zhang, Anatoly Starikov, and Aleksey Matyushev. The company specializes in designing large-scale drones, comparable in size to Boeing 747s, aimed at providing intercontinental cargo delivery services. These drones are constructed using carbon fiber composites and utilize existing turbofan and turboprop engines, which allows for efficient operation and reduced air freight costs. Natilus has completed flight tests of its 2,200-pound prototype and has a significant order book rumored to exceed $1 billion. The company's innovative approach to freight forwarding aims to enhance the capabilities of transport and delivery companies worldwide.

SkyWard

Seed Round in 2015
Skyward IO, Inc. specializes in enterprise-grade software for fleet and operations management, particularly for commercial drone businesses. The company's flagship product, The SkyWard System, is a cloud-based software that integrates a comprehensive drone airspace map with flight planning tools and a digital system of record. This solution addresses various operational needs, including regulatory compliance, fleet and personnel management, and the establishment of safe and efficient flight procedures. Founded in 2012 by professionals with expertise in aviation and computer science, Skyward aims to uphold high standards of safety and professionalism in the evolving field of aviation. Based in Portland, Oregon, the company has operated as a subsidiary of Verizon Enterprise Solutions since 2017.

SkyWard

Seed Round in 2014
Skyward IO, Inc. specializes in enterprise-grade software for fleet and operations management, particularly for commercial drone businesses. The company's flagship product, The SkyWard System, is a cloud-based software that integrates a comprehensive drone airspace map with flight planning tools and a digital system of record. This solution addresses various operational needs, including regulatory compliance, fleet and personnel management, and the establishment of safe and efficient flight procedures. Founded in 2012 by professionals with expertise in aviation and computer science, Skyward aims to uphold high standards of safety and professionalism in the evolving field of aviation. Based in Portland, Oregon, the company has operated as a subsidiary of Verizon Enterprise Solutions since 2017.

Vires Aeronautics

Seed Round in 2013
VIRES Aeronautics, Inc. specializes in advanced wing design technology aimed at enhancing the performance of various vehicles, particularly in the aeronautics sector. Established in 2013 and headquartered in Livermore, California, the company offers the VIRES Aquila MK1, a wing equipped with an embedded control surface that retrofits legacy aircraft. This innovative design enables significant improvements such as faster takeoff and landing, increased payload capacity, enhanced maneuverability, extended range, and reduced fuel consumption. Beyond aeronautics, VIRES Aeronautics' technology has potential applications in multiple industries, including automobiles, submarines, ships, turbines, and trains. The company is well-positioned to make a substantial impact across these diverse markets.

Aerospike

Series B in 2012
Aerospike, Inc. is a technology company that specializes in NoSQL database solutions, offering both enterprise and open-source versions of its platform. The company provides a range of features, including key-value storage, flexible data models, user-defined functions, and geographic replication, which help organizations manage and scale their data effectively. Aerospike's solutions are designed to address data bottlenecks and reduce infrastructure complexity, making it suitable for a variety of applications, including fraud detection, e-commerce, and global digital payment systems. Founded in 2009 and headquartered in Mountain View, California, Aerospike serves a diverse clientele, from startups to Fortune 100 companies, and also offers community and enterprise support, as well as consulting services. The company has additional offices in Bengaluru, London, and Or Yehuda.

Aerospike

Series A in 2011
Aerospike, Inc. is a technology company that specializes in NoSQL database solutions, offering both enterprise and open-source versions of its platform. The company provides a range of features, including key-value storage, flexible data models, user-defined functions, and geographic replication, which help organizations manage and scale their data effectively. Aerospike's solutions are designed to address data bottlenecks and reduce infrastructure complexity, making it suitable for a variety of applications, including fraud detection, e-commerce, and global digital payment systems. Founded in 2009 and headquartered in Mountain View, California, Aerospike serves a diverse clientele, from startups to Fortune 100 companies, and also offers community and enterprise support, as well as consulting services. The company has additional offices in Bengaluru, London, and Or Yehuda.

Airpoints

Series B in 1999
AirPoints provides incentive and motivation management solutions that enable organizations to maximize the value of the audiences vital to their success. AirPoints solutions are geared toward motivational Sales Incentive, Corporate Incentives and Promotions, Employee Performance and Customer Loyalty programs. AirPoints is headquartered in Los Angeles and is comprised of professionals with decades of expertise in marketing, promotions, incentive programs, and computer technology, all combined to create effect motivational and loyalty programs.
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