CesiumAstro, a leading provider of space communications technology, announced the closing of a $65 million Series B+ funding round. This funding round was led by Trousdale Ventures, with matching participation from the Development Bank of Japan (DBJ) and Quanta Computer. Additional investors, including Kleiner Perkins, Lavrock Ventures, L3Harris Technologies, InMotion Ventures (JLR’s investment arm), Matter Venture Partners, MESH Ventures, and Assembly Ventures also joined the round.
This funding validates CesiumAstro’s 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 is transforming the space communications industry.
With $156 million raised in equity capital since being founded in 2017, CesiumAstro will utilize the new funds to accelerate core research and development, support its rapid manufacturing capabilities, expand facilities domestically and internationally, and accelerate talent acquisition. And this strengthens CesiumAstro’s position as a global leader in space communications technology.
CesiumAstro’s 200+ engineers, scientists, and business professionals, combined with its in-house rapid prototyping, testing, and manufacturing capabilities, positions them for continued success. And the company features a portfolio spanning development, production, and deployment of space communication systems.
Optimal Counsel served as legal advisor to CesiumAstro.
KEY QUOTES:
“This raise fuels our commitment to expanding our software-defined communication solutions for the next era of connectivity. We extend our deepest gratitude to our investors for their support in solidifying CesiumAstro’s leadership within the space and defense industries.”
– Shey Sabripour, Founder and CEO of CesiumAstro
“We are thrilled to lead CesiumAstro’s Series B+ round. 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.”
– Phillip Sarofim, Founding Partner and CEO of Trousdale Ventures
“CesiumAstro’s full-mission payloads for space and air have huge potential to enable the next generation of connectivity solutions. To deliver those advancements, DBJ is excited to help CesiumAstro form connections in space and non-space industries, including in Japan.”
– Masao Masuda, Managing Executive Officer at Development Bank of Japan
“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. 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.”
– CesiumAstro Board Member and Airbus Ventures Managing Partner Thomas d’Halluin
