Space Startup Exits
In our outreach and conversations, the SpaceFund team is frequently asked about space startup exits. Are there any? Yes. Has any value been captured by early investors? Yes. Have there been any IPOs? Yes.
There have been nearly 50 exits of space startup companies in the last two decades. In the context of who to include in this database, we restricted the list to those founded since the year 2000 who derive a significant portion of their revenue from products or services in space. Of those exits, the average company age was 7 years, and 50% of the exits were US-based companies. Nearly all the exits were mergers or acquisitions, with only one US company going public via a reverse acquisition (Virgin Galactic).
The table below details all the available data on these space startup exits.
How to Use This Table
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A note on Exit Valuations: Due to the nature of this database, and in order to make the Exit Valuations column sortable, a value must be entered in each cell. So, a ‘0.00’ in this cell simply means there is no data available about the exit valuation, and does not mean that the exit value was zero.
How to Provide Updated Data
Have we missed your company? Is the listed data inaccurate or outdated? Do you see missing data for your company? The best way to update your information in this database is to reach out to us directly to provide additional information. We are also eager to learn about any additional data sources that can help us in our ongoing research, so please feel free to share any resources you know of with our team.
Updates will be published as new information becomes available.
SpaceFund Special Database
Last Updated: December 15, 2020
Space Startup Exits
| wdt_ID | Company Name | Country | Exit Type | Acquirer | Exit Valuation ($M) | Exit Date | Year Founded | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 483 | exactEarth | Canada | IPO | - | 0.00 | 2016 | 2009 | Provider of space-based maritime tracking data |
| 484 | Terra Bella | United States | M&A | Planet | 250.00 | 2016 | 2009 | Provider of high resolution satellite imagery of Earth |
| 485 | GomSpace | Sweden | IPO | - | 33.09 | 2016 | 2007 | Provider of turn-key nanosatellite solutions and platforms |
| 486 | Space/Ground System Solutions | United States | M&A | O'Neil Group | 0.00 | 2016 | 2006 | Provider of end-to-end space mission engineering services for the Naval Research Laboratory |
| 487 | ÅAC Microtec | Sweden | IPO | - | 0.00 | 2016 | 2005 | Offering microelectronics systems and technology services for space systems |
| 488 | Garvey Spacecraft | United States | M&A | Vector Launch | 0.00 | 2016 | 2000 | Aerospace R&D company focused on the development of advanced space technologies and launch vehicle systems |
| 489 | Coherent Navigation | United States | M&A | Apple | 0.00 | 2015 | 2008 | Provider of satellite navigation hardware and software services |
| 490 | Deimos Imaging | Spain | M&A | UrtheCast | 84.50 | 2015 | 2006 | Provider of Earth observation satellite imagery and analytics |
| 491 | InSync Software | United States | M&A | Orbcomm | 16.00 | 2015 | 2003 | Developer of applications for RFID and GPS tracking |
| 492 | Skybox Imaging | United States | M&A | 478.00 | 2014 | 2009 | Provider of high resolution satellite imagery of Earth | |
| 493 | Space Expedition | Netherlands | M&A | XCOR Aerospace | 0.00 | 2014 | 2008 | Provider of spaceflight experiences and services |
| 494 | Odyssey Moon | United Kingdom | M&A | Space Services Holdings | 0.00 | 2014 | 2007 | Developer of commercial lunar robotic transportation service |
| 495 | UrtheCast | Canada | IPO/Reverse Merger | - | 0.00 | 2013 | 2010 | Operator of a diverse Earth observation sensor system in space |
| 496 | Hellas Sat | Greece | M&A | Arabsat | 281.00 | 2013 | 2001 | Premium satellite communications solutions provider |
| 497 | Next Giant Leap | United States | M&A | Moon Express | 0.00 | 2012 | 2007 | Developer of commercial payload integrator spacecraft for the Google Lunar X PRIZE |
| 498 | Norspace | Norway | M&A | Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace | 0.00 | 2011 | 2003 | Designer, manufacturer and supplier of communications equipment to the international space industry |
| 499 | Antwerp Space | Belgium | M&A | OHB-System | 0.00 | 2010 | 2005 | Delivery of satellite communication solutions for scientific, exploration, and telecommunication missions |
| 500 | InSync Software | United States | M&A | Identec Group | 0.00 | 2010 | 2003 | Developer of applications for RFID and GPS tracking |
| 501 | DOT Imaging | Spain | M&A | Elecnor | 0.00 | 2009 | 2006 | Provider of Earth observation satellite imagery and analytics |
| 502 | Antwerp Space | Belgium | M&A | Thales Alenia Space | 0.00 | 2007 | 2005 | Delivery of satellite communication solutions for scientific, exploration, and telecommunication missions |
| 481 | Openwhere | United States | M&A | Spaceflight Industries | 0.00 | 2016 | 2013 | Developer of a software platform to request, receive and interact with satellite imagery |
| 482 | Assure Space | United States | M&A | AmTrust Financial Services | 0.00 | 2016 | 2011 | Offering space insurance products for launch vehicles and satellites |
| 477 | Mynaric | Germany | IPO | - | 0.00 | 2017 | 2009 | Developer and manufacturer of laser communication products for aerospace communications networks |
| 478 | Noorsat | Jordan | M&A | Eutelsat | 75.00 | 2017 | 2004 | Provider of satellite telecommunication services for the Middle East |
| 476 | OmniEarth | United States | M&A | EagleView Technologies | 0.00 | 2017 | 2014 | Provider of global Earth observation data analytics |
| 474 | Millenium Space Systems | United States | M&A | Boeing | 0.00 | 2018 | 2001 | Full service, end-to-end space mission solution provider |
| 475 | Lin Industrial | Russia | M&A | Galaktika-Stroy | 0.00 | 2017 | 2014 | Developer of a small satellite launch vehicle |
| 473 | Applied Defense Solutions | United States | M&A | L3 | 53.00 | 2018 | 2005 | Leader in aerospace engineering, software development, and space situational awareness |
| 480 | Sky and Space Global | Australia | IPO/Reverse Merger | - | 4.50 | 2016 | 2015 | Building a commercial telecommunication network using nano-satellites |
| 479 | Ultisat | United States | M&A | Speedcast | 100.00 | 2017 | 2003 | Provider of secure and reliable satellite communications |
| 468 | FeatureX | United States | M&A | Orbital Insight | 0.00 | 2018 | 2015 | Developer of artificial intelligence for satellite imagery analysis |
| 469 | NanoAvionics | Lithuania | M&A | AST&Science | 0.00 | 2018 | 2014 | Provider of commercial-grade small satellite platforms |
| 470 | Planetary Resources | United States | M&A | ConsenSys | 0.00 | 2018 | 2012 | Developer of asteroid mining and Earth observation services |
| 471 | Tryo | Spain | M&A | SENER Ingeniería y Sistemas | 0.00 | 2018 | 2011 | Developer of RF and microwave technology products and services for the space sector |
| 472 | Clyde Space | United Kingdom | M&A | ÅAC Microtec | 36.47 | 2018 | 2005 | Designer/supplier of small and micro spacecraft systems to support the small satellite market |
| 467 | TellusLabs | United States | M&A | Indigo Agriculture | 0.00 | 2018 | 2016 | Provider of agricultural intelligence technology, combining machine learning and satellite imagery |
| 465 | Virgin Galactic | United States | IPO/Reverse Merger | - | 2,300.00 | 2019 | 2004 | Operater of suborbital spaceflights for space tourists and science missions |
| 466 | Glowlink Communications Technology | United States | M&A | ST Engineering | 24.30 | 2019 | 2000 | Provider of products to improve satellite communications and mitigate interferences |
| 441 | Apollo Fusion | United States | M&A | Astra | 145.00 | 2021 | 2016 | Developing electric propulsion systems for spacecraft |
| 442 | Astra | United States | IPO/Reverse Merger | - | 2,100.00 | 2021 | 2016 | Developing a small launch vehicle to improve life on Earth |
| 443 | Oakman Aerospace | United States | M&A | Redwire | 0.00 | 2021 | 2012 | Provider of cutting-edge products and services related to digital engineering, spacecraft and satellite design and development, mission payload development, and data distribution services |
| 444 | Deployable Space Systems | United States | M&A | Redwire | 0.00 | 2021 | 2008 | Specializes in the research, design, development, analysis, manufacture and test of innovative mission-enabling deployable space systems |
| 445 | The Launch Company | United States | M&A | Voyager Space Holdings | 0.00 | 2020 | 2015 | Lowering the cost of access to space through process and automation |
| 446 | Audacy | United States | M&A | Electro Optic Systems (EOS) | 6.76 | 2020 | 2015 | Developer of a commercial, in-orbit data relay system |
| 447 | Hyperion Technologies | Netherlands | M&A | AAC Clyde Space | 2.62 | 2020 | 2013 | Designing products primarily for small spacecraft |
| 448 | Spaceflight Inc. | United States | M&A | Mitsui & Co./Yamasa | 0.00 | 2020 | 2013 | Provider of satellite infrastructure, rideshare launch offerings, payload integration and global communications networks |
| 449 | Roccor | United States | M&A | Redwire | 0.00 | 2020 | 2012 | Enabling next-generation, reliable and low-cost deployable structures to reduce the cost of access to space |
| 450 | Made In Space | United States | M&A | Redwire | 0.00 | 2020 | 2010 | Developer of state-of-the-art manufacturing technology for commercial, industrial and defense space applications |
| 451 | Nanoracks (XO Markets) | United States | M&A | Voyager Space Holdings | 0.00 | 2020 | 2009 | The world's leading provider of commercial space services |
| 452 | LoadPath | United States | M&A | Redwire | 0.00 | 2020 | 2009 | Leading developr of payload adapters, deployable structures, and thermal products for the space industry |
| 453 | Blue Canyon Technologies | United States | M&A | Raytheon Technologies | 0.00 | 2020 | 2008 | Leading provider of turnkey small satellite solutions |
| 454 | Deep Space Systems | United States | M&A | Redwire | 0.00 | 2020 | 2001 | Designer/developer of space systems and subsystems |
| 455 | Sinclair Interplanetary | Canada | M&A | Rocket Lab | 0.00 | 2020 | 2001 | Supplier of hardware, software, training and expertise with a focus is on low-cost, rapid-schedule programs to produce micro- or nano-satellites. |
| 456 | SEOPS | United States | M&A | Hypergiant | 0.00 | 2019 | 2017 | Provider of satellite transportation, integration and deployment solutions & services |
| 457 | CNIM Air Space | France | M&A | Constructions industrielles de la Méditerranée | 0.00 | 2019 | 2015 | Designer and manufacturer of stratospheric balloons |
| 458 | Jade Aerospace | Germany | M&A | Swedish Space Corporation | 0.00 | 2019 | 2014 | Provider of space engineering and consulting services in Europe |
| 459 | Deep Space Industries | United States | M&A | Bradford | 0.00 | 2019 | 2012 | Developer of asteroid mining services and technologies |
| 460 | Stratolaunch | United States | M&A | Cerberus Capital | 0.00 | 2019 | 2011 | Delivery of satellites to orbit via an air-launch platform |
| 461 | Altius Space Machines | United States | M&A | Voyager Space Holdings | 0.00 | 2019 | 2010 | Developer of a robotic spacecraft servicing platform |
| 462 | Piesat | China | IPO | - | 416.16 | 2019 | 2008 | Developer of remote sensing and image processing applications |
| 463 | PTScientists | Germany | M&A | Zeitfracht Logistik | 0.00 | 2019 | 2008 | Manufacturer of lunar lander technology and reusable space infrastructure |
| 464 | Cobbett Hill Earth Station | United Kingdom | M&A | CETel | 0.00 | 2019 | 2006 | Offering a comprehensive range of satellite communication services |
| 440 | AST & Science | United States | IPO/Reverse Merger | - | 1,800.00 | 2021 | 2017 | Building the first and only space-based cellular broadband network to be accessible by standard smartphones |
| Company Name | Country | Exit Type | Acquirer | Exit Valuation ($M) | Exit Date | Year Founded | Description |