Gaingels

Epirus, Inc. is a technology company based in Hawthorne, California, specializing in the design and development of advanced defense systems that utilize artificial intelligence and directed energy. Founded in 2018, the company focuses on creating solid-state, software-defined high-power microwave solutions aimed at countering unmanned aircraft systems and other asymmetric threats. Its flagship product, ELECTROMAGNETIC PULSE, serves as a counter-infrastructure solution that can simultaneously target multiple threats, effectively neutralizing drones and swarms. By integrating AI and machine learning with advanced electronics, Epirus enhances the detection and tracking of objects of interest, offering innovative capabilities in electronic warfare and power management for both defense and commercial sectors.

Interlune is a lunar resource startup focused on the extraction of natural resources from space to support sustainable economic development both on Earth and in space. The company specializes in the commercialization of these resources, employing innovative machinery and techniques to detect and extract valuable materials. Among its targets are rare resources, including Helium-3, which are sought after by various clients and governments. Through its efforts, Interlune aims to contribute to a clean and sustainable economy by tapping into space resources that can benefit humanity.

HelicitySpace, founded in 2018 and based in Berkeley, California, focuses on developing advanced propulsion and power technologies to facilitate human expansion into the solar system. The company specializes in its Helicity Drive technology, a scalable pulsed fusion concept that ranges from fusion-augmented electric propulsion to fully ignited reactors. This technology utilizes principles such as magnetic reconnection, plasma plectonemes, and peristaltic magnetic compression to enhance in-space propulsion systems. By offering high-power electric propulsion thrusters and harnessing fusion energy during the exhaust process, HelicitySpace aims to support space exploration initiatives and accelerate their development activities.

Cambium is a company focused on developing biomaterials for various sectors, including defense, aerospace, and renewable energy. Established in 2019 and located in Berkeley, California, it specializes in advanced materials research and development. The company utilizes a combination of synthetic biology, materials science, and artificial intelligence to enhance material performance and sustainability. Cambium's approach involves vertically integrated innovation, ranging from computational material discovery to the production of advanced composites within the United States. By leveraging cutting-edge advancements across multiple scientific disciplines, Cambium aims to improve existing products and facilitate the creation of next-generation materials.

Blackshark.ai specializes in creating a photorealistic 3D digital twin of Earth using satellite imagery. Its scalable AI platform detects global features with precision and speed, storing vast amounts of data for real-time visualization and simulation applications across industries such as government, geospatial intelligence, humanitarian relief, autonomous vehicles, insurance, and smart cities.

Solideon develops wire arc additive manufacturing WAAM solutions for large metallic components, enabling multi-robot, multi-tool manufacturing cells that produce finished parts in days rather than months. The company focuses on aerospace vehicle manufacturing and related infrastructure applications, leveraging additive manufacturing systems and machine-learning collaboration to build vehicles and infrastructure on Earth, the Moon, and Mars. This approach aims to expand space research capabilities and accelerate transportation and infrastructure projects, creating new opportunities across industries. Solideon emphasizes rapid production, scalable automation, and data-driven optimization to streamline fabrication of high-strength components for aerospace and other high-demand sectors.

Space Perspective Inc. is a spaceflight company based in Merritt Island, Florida, founded in 2019. It specializes in offering high-altitude balloon trips to the edge of space through its innovative spaceship, Neptune. The company aims to provide unique space travel experiences for tourists, allowing them to witness the curvature of the Earth from a stratospheric altitude. Flights are launched from Florida's Space Coast, specifically from the historic runway used by the Space Shuttle. Space Perspective plans to expand its operations to additional launch sites, including Cecil Spaceport in Florida, Hawaii, and Alaska, among others. The pressurized capsule used for these flights ascends to approximately 100,000 feet, remains at that altitude for two hours, and then descends slowly under the balloon, ultimately splashing down in the ocean for retrieval.

In Orbit Aerospace is building re-usable, re-entry vehicles and robotics to support mass manufacturing in space. Agnostic to the material type or manufacturing process, they supply the necessary power and data for equipment to operate, and the transportation back down to Earth. In Orbit's robotics enable customers to achieve the highest yields by utilizing the full, amply sized, payload bay for their products

Spartan Radar develops software algorithms that enhance radar sensing capabilities. Leveraging machine learning and edge-processing, its technology mimics human focus to safely respond to obstacles. It improves resolution, response time, and range of existing ADAS sensors at an affordable cost with minimal computational overhead.

Gravitics, Inc. specializes in the design and manufacturing of large space structures, including orbital carriers, cargo logistics spacecraft, and space station modules. The company is focused on developing aerospace station technology that serves as the foundation for human life in space. Utilizing next-generation hardware, Gravitics' innovations facilitate shipyard-style fabrication within the aerospace sector, providing clients with versatile interfacing options and robust space armor. Through its advancements, Gravitics aims to redefine space superiority and promote commercial development in Earth orbit and beyond.

Xona Space Systems develops and manufactures position, navigation, and timing satellite solutions for smart transportation and infrastructure. The company operates a constellation of low-cost, low-Earth-orbit satellites to deliver secure navigation and timing services with resilience and high location precision for autonomous vehicles, unmanned aerial vehicles, mobile robotics, and other location-critical applications. Founded in 2019 and based in San Mateo, California, Xona Space Systems aims to enable safe, scalable operation of intelligent systems at scale.

iRocket designs and manufactures fully autonomous reusable small launch vehicles, leveraging 3D printing and additive manufacturing to enable reliable, rapid, low-cost access to space. It emphasizes innovative design, rapid landing and relaunch capabilities, and aims to address inefficiencies in the space industry.

Exosonic is an early-stage aerospace start-up based in Los Angeles, California, focused on developing supersonic unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to enhance adversary air training missions for both commercial and government clients. Founded in 2019, the company aims to evolve these supersonic UAVs into collaborative combat aircraft, with aspirations to create quiet supersonic airliners informed by the insights and revenues generated from its UAV endeavors. Exosonic has secured over $4.5 million in private capital and over $2 million in funding from AFWERX. The company's team of 15 full-time employees is currently working on a subscale flight test vehicle designed to showcase autonomous capabilities and explore crewed-uncrewed cooperation, with the first flight anticipated in the second quarter of 2023.

Pyka develops autonomous electric aircraft for agriculture and related applications, including crop-dusting and precision spraying on farms and potential cargo transport. The company designs and manufactures drones and aircraft with autonomous flight controllers and onboard sensors to enable safe, efficient operation over varied terrain. Its fully electric aircraft aim to reduce environmental impact while improving safety, affordability, and accessibility in aviation. Founded in 2016 and based in Oakland, California.

Xplore Inc is a company that specializes in developing space aircraft and offering space as a service. Founded in 2017 and based in Mercer Island, Washington, Xplore provides a range of services including mission planning, spacecraft engineering, flight financing, payload insurance, communications, data management, and spacecraft operations. The company caters to both government agencies and commercial space enterprises, engaging in missions that span the moon, earth, Venus, Mars, asteroids, and custom expeditions. Xplore's satellite constellation is equipped with remote sensing instruments such as optical, video, and hyperspectral sensors, which generate valuable data and insights for clients. Furthermore, Xplore's edge computing capabilities facilitate the creation of data fusion products, allowing for on-orbit insights and reducing latency and data transmission costs.

Epirus, Inc. is a technology company based in Hawthorne, California, specializing in the design and development of advanced defense systems that utilize artificial intelligence and directed energy. Founded in 2018, the company focuses on creating solid-state, software-defined high-power microwave solutions aimed at countering unmanned aircraft systems and other asymmetric threats. Its flagship product, ELECTROMAGNETIC PULSE, serves as a counter-infrastructure solution that can simultaneously target multiple threats, effectively neutralizing drones and swarms. By integrating AI and machine learning with advanced electronics, Epirus enhances the detection and tracking of objects of interest, offering innovative capabilities in electronic warfare and power management for both defense and commercial sectors.

Pavilion Data Systems Inc. is a technology company based in San Jose, California, specializing in the design and development of NVMe-over-Fabric storage platforms. The company focuses on enabling real-time performance at scale for massively-parallel applications, offering solutions that cater to sectors such as financial services, government, cloud services, media and entertainment, and research facilities. Pavilion's innovative architecture features Hyperparallel Flash Arrays, which utilize multiple controllers to surpass the limitations of traditional storage systems, providing ultra-low latency and linear scalability. By introducing a unique model called OPENCHOICE, Pavilion challenges conventional approaches to storage procurement and deployment. Founded in 2011, Pavilion Data Systems also has offices in Schiphol, the Netherlands, and Pune, India, and is recognized as a leader in a new category of storage appliances that aims to meet the ever-increasing demand for data throughput.

Radian Aerospace is innovating the aerospace sector with its next-generation spaceplane, which is the first fully reusable vehicle designed for horizontal takeoff and landing. This single-stage to orbit spacecraft aims to facilitate the transportation of people and light cargo to low Earth orbit as well as various terrestrial locations, operating in a manner similar to conventional aircraft. Radian's vehicles are constructed from advanced materials that can endure extreme conditions and are equipped with propulsion technologies that enhance maneuverability and overall performance. Additionally, they incorporate satellite systems that improve communication capabilities, thereby supporting enhanced missions and operational efficiency within the space industry.

Spartan Radar develops software algorithms that enhance radar sensing capabilities. Leveraging machine learning and edge-processing, its technology mimics human focus to safely respond to obstacles. It improves resolution, response time, and range of existing ADAS sensors at an affordable cost with minimal computational overhead.

Rescale develops cloud-based platforms for scientific and engineering simulations. It offers ScaleX Pro for professionals and SMBs, ScaleX Developer for software developers, and ScaleX Enterprise for enterprises, featuring unified simulation platforms and on-premise resource management. Serving industries such as aerospace, automotive, and life sciences, Rescale enables customers to accelerate design cycles and time to market.

Space Forge is a space manufacturing company that develops a reusable satellite designed to produce next-generation super materials in space for return to Earth. The satellite uses the space environment to create alloys and crystals that are not possible to manufacture on Earth, enabling clients to achieve materials with lower energy loss and lighter components for use in computing, telecoms, and pharmaceutical products. The company operates laboratories in Bristol and Wales and focuses on manufacturing advanced metals and materials. Founded in 2018 and based in Bristol, Space Forge aims to enable on-orbit manufacturing that advances material performance for industrial and aerospace applications.