CesiumAstro Secures $65M in Oversubscribed Funding Round

June 18, 2024

CesiumAstro Inc.announced the closing of a $65 million Series B+ funding round. The round was led by Trousdale Ventures, with matching participation from Development Bank of Japan Inc. (“DBJ”) and Quanta Computer, Inc. (TWSE: 2382.TW). Renowned investors, including Kleiner Perkins, Lavrock Ventures, L3Harris Technologies (NYSE: LHX), InMotion Ventures (JLR’s investment arm), Matter Venture Partners, MESH Ventures, and Assembly Ventures, also joined the round.

CesiumAstro's Founder and CEO, Shey Sabripour, pictured in the company's Austin, Texas, New Product Introduction facility. Photo credit: Melissa Glynn

‍Industry Leaders Back Groundbreaking Technology

This investment validates CesiumAstro’s innovative approach to space communications technology, as exemplified by their industry-leading Vireo multi-beam Ka-band active phased array payload and provider-agnostic Skylark SATCOM terminal, which are disrupting the space communications landscape.

“This raise fuels our commitment to expanding our software-defined communication solutions for the next era of connectivity, ” said Shey Sabripour, Founder and CEO of CesiumAstro. “We extend our deepest gratitude to our investors for their support in solidifying CesiumAstro’s leadership within the space and defense industries.”

Trousdale Ventures Leads Funding Round, Voice Confidence in CesiumAstro’s Vision

“We are thrilled to lead CesiumAstro's Series B+ round,” said Phillip Sarofim, Founding Partner and CEO of Trousdale Ventures. “Their innovative technologies are game changers. We have unwavering confidence in Shey’s leadership and CesiumAstro’s team and believe this investment will propel their mission to deliver scalable space tech for a range of applications.” 

Funding Boosts Growth and Global Expansion

With $156 million raised in equity capital since its founding in 2017, CesiumAstro will leverage the new funds to accelerate core research and development, bolster its rapid manufacturing capabilities, expand facilities domestically and internationally, and accelerate talent acquisition. This strengthens CesiumAstro’s position as a global leader in space communications technology.

DBJ Backs CesiumAstro’s Mission to Transform Space Communications

“CesiumAstro's full-mission payloads for space and air have huge potential to enable the next generation of connectivity solutions,” noted Masao Masuda, Managing Executive Officer at Development Bank of Japan. “To deliver those advancements, DBJ is excited to help CesiumAstro form connections in space and non-space industries, including in Japan.”

 A Team Built for Success

CesiumAstro’s more than 200 engineers, scientists, and business professionals, combined with its in-house rapid prototyping, testing, and manufacturing capabilities, positions them for continued success. The Company boasts a robust portfolio spanning development, production, and deployment of high-reliability space communication systems.

“In a world where connectivity and national security are increasingly entwined, CesiumAstro emerges with a unique combination of team, capability, and ambition jointly built to power a new era harnessed by reliable, high-powered connectivity,” remarked CesiumAstro Board Member and Airbus Ventures Managing Partner, Thomas d’Halluin. “This latest round of investment signifies the collective force that Shey and the team have unlocked to accelerate an impressive roadmap in a moment that will be defined by the agility and strength of dual-use frontier technologies—with secure connectivity being an essentially relevant global priority.”