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ThinkOrbital has raised $4.0M across 1 funding round.
Key people at ThinkOrbital.
ThinkOrbital has raised $4.0M in total across 1 funding round.
ThinkOrbital develops large, scalable space structures for in-orbit operations, primarily through its spherical ThinkPlatforms. These platforms offer a protected environment designed to facilitate In-Space Assembly, Manufacturing (ISAM) and habitation. The company also advances orbital defense, in-space construction, and X-ray inspection technologies, leveraging mature approaches for the space economy.
The company was founded in 2021 by Sebastian Asprella, Dr. Vojtech Holub, and Colonel Lee Rosen. Dr. Holub, the Chief Innovation Officer, initiated the venture following an academic peer-review of their foundational concepts. Colonel Rosen, a co-founder, brings experience as a former SpaceX executive and United States Air Force officer, contributing leadership from both private aerospace and defense.
ThinkOrbital targets the New Space economy, providing foundational infrastructure for orbital missions. Its long-term vision centers on establishing cost-efficient, robust structures that support an enduring presence in space. The firm aims to enable future endeavors, including space domain awareness, fostering a sustainable orbital ecosystem.
Key people at ThinkOrbital.
ThinkOrbital has raised $4.0M in total across 1 funding round.
ThinkOrbital's investors include 7percent Ventures, One Way Ventures, Alexander Ljung, Esther Dyson.
ThinkOrbital has raised $4.0M across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $4.0M Seed in February 2023.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 1, 2023 | $4M Seed | — | 7percent Ventures, ONE WAY Ventures, Alexander Ljung, Esther Dyson | Announced |
ThinkOrbital is a Boulder, Colorado-based aerospace startup founded in 2021, specializing in space infrastructure for the New Space economy.[1][2][4] The company develops robotic tools and platforms for on-orbit servicing, construction, inspection, and assembly, including the ThinkX imaging system for remote satellite inspection (using x-rays detectable up to 10 km away), the ThinkToolkit robotic arm for servicing and military operations, and ThinkPlatforms for autonomous, single-launch assembly of large structures like scalable habitats.[1][2][4] It serves government clients (NASA, Space Force), space tourism, research, manufacturing (e.g., pharmaceuticals), military, and orbital debris remediation, solving key challenges in space domain awareness, satellite longevity, and efficient in-orbit construction to reduce launch costs and enable mega-structures.[1][2][3][4] With $250K raised and in biz plan competition stage, it shows early momentum toward demonstration missions by mid-2024 and market debut in 2025-2026.[1][4]
ThinkOrbital emerged from CTO Vojtech Holub, Ph.D.'s vision for in-space infrastructure, brought to life by co-founders CEO Sebastian Asprella and President Col. Lee Rosen (U.S. Air Force retiree with a decade at SpaceX).[4][5] Rosen's military and commercial space expertise bridged Holub's technical ideas with practical execution, addressing the inefficiency of launching pre-built structures—like "building the Empire State Building in New Jersey and trucking it to New York."[4] Pivotal early traction includes adapting industrial x-ray tech for satellite imaging and stacking modular ThinkPlatform components "IKEA-style" for dense launches equivalent to four ISS volumes on one rocket.[1][2][4] Investor Brandon Shelton of TFX Capital backed them for Rosen's "been there, done that" resilience, fueling plans for $9M seed post-demos.[4]
ThinkOrbital rides the in-orbit servicing and manufacturing boom, fueled by satellite mega-constellations (e.g., Starlink), rising debris risks, and demand for on-site assembly amid launch cost drops from reusable rockets.[1][2][4] Timing aligns with New Space proliferation—tourism (SpaceX, Blue Origin), pharma microgravity production, and military needs—where building in-space beats Earth-launch limits.[4] Market tailwinds include U.S. Space Force investments and commercial incentives for satellite life extension, positioning ThinkOrbital to influence ecosystem resilience against failures (e.g., via inspection/salvage like Galactiv) and enable scalable infrastructure for a trillion-dollar space economy.[1][3][4]
ThinkOrbital is primed for 2024-2026 demos unlocking $9M seed and 2027 ThinkPlatform 1, scaling to defend, service, and build in orbit amid AI-driven autonomy and deep-tech space trends.[2][4] Evolving U.S.-China space race and debris mandates will amplify demand, potentially expanding its influence from tools to full habitats—echoing its founding bet on infrastructure as the "missing piece" for sustainable New Space.[1][2] Investors eyeing resilience will watch how this SpaceX-honed team disrupts on-orbit economics.
