Catalyx Space, a San Francisco-based space infrastructure company developing end-to-end hardware, software, and operations for orbital logistics, has closed an oversubscribed $5.4 million Seed funding round led by Outlander VC. The round follows a $1.7 million pre-seed raise in January, which culminated in Catalyx’s first successful capsule drop test within just six months.
The new capital will be used to commercialize the company’s next-generation reentry architecture, strengthen overseas operations, and expand customer acquisition worldwide. Participating investors include Arka Venture Labs, Lex Reddy, KDX Management, Together Fund, Higher Life Ventures, Nivesha Ventures, Prana Tech Ventures, Bria, HF0 Residency, and Techstars.
Catalyx is reimagining orbital logistics by turning the return leg of space operations into a predictable, bookable service. Its infrastructure aims to enable consistent “upmass” and “downmass” operations for microgravity manufacturing, time-sensitive research, and sample logistics—transforming space missions from one-off experiments into scheduled supply-chain activities.
The company’s mission is rooted in the vision of founder and CEO Rifath Shaarook, who founded Catalyx in 2024 after growing frustrated with the fragmented and slow development cycles of the space industry. A veteran of numerous missions, Shaarook gained early recognition at 18 for designing KalamSat, then the world’s lightest 3D-printed satellite.
Catalyx is developing a full-stack solution that includes reentry and recovery systems, lightweight spacecraft buses, ground-station software, and a non-canisterized smallsat deployment standard. Its integrated platform serves customers across various sectors, including defense, advanced manufacturing, and biopharma—enabling faster and more reliable experimentation and production in orbit.
According to Fortune Business Insights, the global space infrastructure market was valued at $146 billion in 2024 and is projected to exceed $308 billion by 2032. Catalyx aims to capture part of this rapidly expanding market by making orbital access as programmable and repeatable as terrestrial logistics.
KEY QUOTES:
“Space isn’t the next frontier — it’s the next infrastructure layer. Catalyx is making orbit as accessible and programmable as the cloud, and that shift will unleash entirely new industries. We are proud to back a team building the backbone of this transformation.”
Paige Craig, Founder and Managing Partner, Outlander VC
“Rifath’s story is one of relentless obsession. From building his first satellite as a teenager to leading Catalyx today, he’s never stopped chasing what others call impossible. I meet thousands of founders a year, and very few move with the speed and precision of Rifath and his team. Catalyx’s ability to go from idea to orbit at their pace is redefining how the space industry builds.”AJ Smith, Investing Partner, Outlander VC
“Catalyx’s mission is to accelerate the commercialization of space by enabling rapid, reliable, and affordable orbital access across industries, including defense, advanced manufacturing, and biopharma. This funding milestone moves us closer to making that future a reality.”
Rifath Shaarook, Founder and CEO, Catalyx Space
