15 Best Space Travel Startups to Watch in [2023]

Have you ever wondered who is on the list of Space Travel Companies with the highest growth rates?

You’re not alone.

There are hundreds of Space Travel Companies found there, and keeping track of the hottest new startups can be challenging.

But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Here are the top 15 fast-growing Space Travel Startups that have top-tier venture capital funding.

What is Space Travel Startups?

Space Travel Startups are companies that are looking to provide commercial trips to space. These companies are developing new and innovative ways to make space travel more accessible to the public. 

They are taking on projects such as developing new rockets, space tourism, satellite launches, and more. These companies are often privately funded and have the potential to revolutionize the space industry.

Top 15 Fastest-Growing Startups In Space Travel

1) SpaceX

SpaceX is a private aerospace and aviation firm that develops, builds, and launches sophisticated rockets and spacecraft.

Details of the startup:

• Country: United States
• City: Hawthorne
• Started in: 2002
• Founders: Elon Musk
• Number of employees: 5001-10000
• Funding amount: $7,460,112,010
• Number of funding rounds: 43
• Number of investors: 45

You can find their website here.

2) Astra

Astra is a rocket launch company that specializes in satellite delivery and launch.

Details of the startup:

• Country: United States
• City: Alameda
• Started in: 2016
• Founders: Adam London, Chris Kemp
• Number of employees: 101-250
• Funding amount: $100,000,000
• Number of funding rounds: 3
• Number of investors: 8

You can find their website here.

3) Axiom Space

Axiom Space is a business developing the first multinational commercial space station.

Details of the startup:

• Country: United States
• City: Houston
• Started in: 2016
• Founders: Kam Ghaffarian, Michael Suffredini
• Number of employees: 101-250
• Funding amount: $150,000,000
• Number of funding rounds: 4
• Number of investors: 19

You can find their website here.

4) Firefly Aerospace

Firefly Aerospace provides tiny payloads with cost-effective and dependable launch vehicles, spacecraft, and in-space services.

Details of the startup:

• Country: United States
• City: Cedar Park
• Started in: 2014
• Founders: Eric Salwan, Maureen Gannon, Max Polyakov, Michael Blum, PJ King, Thomas Markusic
• Number of employees: 251-500
• Funding amount: $196,557,023
• Number of funding rounds: 6
• Number of investors: 10

You can find their website here.

5) Isar Aerospace

Isar Aerospace is a space technology firm that specializes in satellite constellation launch systems.

Details of the startup:

• Country: Germany
• City: Munich
• Started in: 2018
• Founders: Daniel Metzler, Josef Fleischmann, Markus Brandl
• Number of employees: 101-250
• Funding amount: $176,718,945
• Number of funding rounds: 3
• Number of investors: 11

You can find their website here.

6) Phase Four

Electric propulsion (EP) for tiny spacecraft.

Details of the startup:

• Country: United States
• City: El Segundo
• Started in: 2015
• Founders: J. P. Sheehan, Simon Halpern
• Number of employees: 11-50
• Funding amount: $29,565,499
• Number of funding rounds: 6
• Number of investors: 10

You can find their website here.

7) Infinite Composites

Advanced gas storage systems for aircraft, industrial gas, and transportation applications are designed, developed, and manufactured by ICT.

Details of the startup:

• Country: United States
• City: Tulsa
• Started in: 2010
• Founders: Matt Villarreal, Michael Tate
• Number of employees: 11-50
• Funding amount: $5,435,205
• Number of funding rounds: 14
• Number of investors: 14

You can find their website here.

8) Astroscale

Astroscale was formed by an IT entrepreneur who recommended approaching the business of orbital debris mitigation with a start-up ethos.

Details of the startup:

• Country: Japan
• City: Sumida
• Started in: 2013
• Founders: Miki Ito, Mitsunobu Okada, Nobu Okada
• Number of employees: 51-100
• Funding amount: $204,200,000
• Number of funding rounds: 8
• Number of investors: 28

You can find their website here.

9) GITAI

GITAI is a robotics company that creates remote-controlled robots to take the place of astronauts in commercial space stations.

Details of the startup:

• Country: Japan
• City: Tokyo
• Started in: 2016
• Founders: Sho Nakanose
• Number of employees: 1-10
• Funding amount: ¥2,395,000,000
• Number of funding rounds: 4
• Number of investors: 12

You can find their website here.

10) Ispace Technologies

Ispace Technologies is a cis-lunar space resource exploration firm that finds, collects, and delivers lunar ice to customers.

Details of the startup:

• Country: Japan
• City: Tokyo
• Started in: 2010
• Founders: Takeshi Hakamada
• Number of employees: 101-250
• Funding amount: $128,814,148
• Number of funding rounds: 7
• Number of investors: 19

You can find their website here.

11) Gilmour Space Technologies

Gilmour Space Technologies is a space rocket development business that focuses on developing low-cost hybrid launch vehicles.

Details of the startup:

• Country: Australia
• City: Pimpama
• Started in: 2012
• Founders: Adam Gilmour
• Number of employees: 11-50
• Funding amount: A$27,000,000
• Number of funding rounds: 3
• Number of investors: 3

You can find their website here.

12) ALE

ALE is an extraterrestrial entertainment corporation that creates artificial meteor showers and shooting stars on demand.

Details of the startup:

• Country: Japan
• City: Tokyo
• Started in: 2011
• Founders: Lena Okajima
• Number of employees: 11-50
• Funding amount: $2,226,094,682
• Number of funding rounds: 5
• Number of investors: 8

You can find their website here.

13) iSpace China

iSpace is a company that creates and builds commercial space shuttles.

Details of the startup:

• Country: China
• City: Beijing
• Started in: 2016
• Founders: Dongyi Zhang, Guosong Wu
• Number of employees: 11-50
• Funding amount: $276,524,285
• Number of funding rounds: 4
• Number of investors: 29

You can find their website here.

14) Mancando

Mancando is an automotive parts provider that provides auto repair shops with car worn components.

Details of the startup:

• Country: China
• City: Guangzhou
• Started in: 2015
• Number of employees: 101-250
• Funding amount: $114,302,119
• Number of funding rounds: 4
• Number of investors: 6

You can find their website here.

15) Wayz.ai

Wayz.ai is a Chinese firm that provides smart location and mapping services.

Details of the startup:

• Country: China
• City: Wuhan
• Started in: 2017
• Founders: Tao Chuang, Vincent Tao
• Number of employees: 251-500
• Funding amount: $80,000,000
• Number of funding rounds: 1

You can find their website here.

FAQs

Is Space Travel Business Profitable?

The profitability of space travel businesses depends on the type of business and the space travel market. 

The profitability of space tourism businesses has increased in recent years due to the rise in demand, while the profitability of businesses providing space-related services and products have also seen growth. 

That said, space travel businesses are still relatively new and untested, meaning that their profitability can be difficult to predict in the short-term.

What Is The Average Investment In Space Travel?

The average investment in space travel startups depends on the stage of development of the startup and the amount of capital required. 

Generally, seed investments in space travel startups range from $250,000 to $2 million. Later stage investments can range from $5 million to $50 million or more.