Find the next SpaceX
before everyone else
The researched database of real space startups: who they are, what they build, who funds them, and the founders' own stories. Curated by hand since 2019. Not the giants. The ones that will be.
Monthly and free: $11.2B+ in sourced funding, 27 founders in their own words, tracked since 2019. Or browse the 215 startups →
Epsilon3
Spaced Ventures
Helios
Space Impulse
Latitudo 40
Miles Space
Phase Four
Spacept
HOSTmi
Skyrora
Because Learning
Sen
HEO Robotics
Astroscale
STAR
AI SpaceFactory
Oxford Space Systems
Orbit Fab
Fleet
Accion Systems
Open Cosmos
Space Store
Cemvita Factory
SpaceX
Blue Origin
Rocket Lab
Planet
IceyeEpsilon3Spaced VenturesHeliosSpace ImpulseLatitudo 40Miles SpacePhase FourSpaceptHOSTmiSkyroraBecause LearningSenHEO RoboticsAstroscaleSTARAI SpaceFactoryOxford Space SystemsOrbit FabFleetAccion SystemsOpen CosmosSpace StoreCemvita FactorySpaceXBlue OriginRocket LabPlanetIceyeWhat’s new
New names on the list and the latest milestones from companies we track, each dated and sourced on its record.
Latest milestones
Apex: Agrees to set up a US factory to build direct-to-device satellites for Elveo Mobile, the operator formed by the merger of Lynk Global and Omnispace
The Exploration Company: ESA awards a €760M ALADDIN contract for a Nyx cargo demonstration to the ISS by mid-2029, €310M firm and €450M in options for two more missions
Stoke Space: Raises a $1B first close of a Series E led by Point72 Ventures and Spark Capital, taking total funding to $2.3B, with Nova's debut now early 2027
Pixxel: Raises a $100M Series C led by Temasek and Seraphim to fund the Honeybee constellation and satellite production in India and the USOnes to watch
The space startups we think are most worth following right now, ranked, with the reason for each. Last reviewed 27 September 2026.
#1LandSpace Why now: In August 2026 a Zhuque-3 first stage came back from an orbital launch and landed 390 km downrange. LandSpace is the third company to land an orbital-class booster, after SpaceX and Blue Origin, and the first in China.
#2Skyroot Aerospace Why now: Vikram-1 reached orbit on its first flight in July 2026. It was the first orbital launch by a private Indian company.
#3Space Forge Why now: At the end of 2025 ForgeStar-1 heated its furnace past 1,000°C in orbit and made plasma, a first for commercial in-space manufacturing. Space Forge wants to grow semiconductor materials in orbit and bring them back to Earth.
#4Galactic EnergyWhy now: Pallas-1, a kerosene-fuelled rocket designed to have its first stage recovered, reached orbit on its first flight on 1 September 2026. It followed a failed debut for Ceres-2, the company's other new rocket, in January.
Founder interviews
The stories behind the startups, in the founders' own words. All interviews →
Pick a sector. Meet the builders.
20 sectors, mapped to how the industry actually talks about itself in 2026. Companies that span two sectors are listed in both. See all sectors →
The dataset behind the directory
Every company on this site as a spreadsheet: 215 startups with sourced funding rounds, honest statuses and timelines, free with attribution. Here is a taste.
Join the new space race
Founder interviews and the most promising space startups, straight to your inbox. Free, no spam, unsubscribe anytime.