bluShift Aerospace has successfully raised $1.3 million in a seed round led by Houston-based Late Stage Capital, with additional backing from the Maine Technology Institute.
This private investment is further bolstered by a $1 million matching Federal SBIR grant, bringing the total to $2.3 million.
This influx of capital will be instrumental in accelerating bluShift's development of launch services for the orbital and small satellite markets.
About bluShift Aerospace
Founded in 2014, bluShift Aerospace is dedicated to providing fast and individualized small satellite launch services, significantly reducing wait times for educational, research, commercial, and governmental customers.
The company made history with the first commercial rocket powered by its proprietary non-toxic, carbon-neutral biofuel.
Focused on the small satellite launch market, bluShift offers customers direct access to sun-synchronous orbit with rockets designed for research and commercial payloads.
Strategic Leadership and Board Expansion
Brady Brim-DeForest, managing partner at Late Stage Capital and CEO of Formula.Monks, will assume the role of chairman of bluShift's board of directors.
Brim-DeForest brings over 20 years of experience in AI technology solutions, product design, and startup management, having co-founded six successful startups and assisted numerous Fortune 500 companies in implementing innovative processes.
Joining Brim-DeForest on the board are bluShift's CEO and founder, Sascha Deri, and Maine-based entrepreneur and investor, Peter Murray. Brim-DeForest expressed his excitement about bluShift's growth, highlighting the company's unique strengths:
"bluShift stands out by manufacturing its own non-toxic biofuel and reusable rockets, developing a private launch site with direct access to sun-synchronous orbit, and optimizing costs. This combination positions bluShift for significant success in the satellite services market."
A Vision for Democratizing Space Access
The new funding marks a pivotal moment for bluShift, which has previously raised nearly $4 million. The company plans to use the new capital to complete a full-duration burn engine test in the coming months and to scale operations for commercial suborbital launches in 2025.
CEO Sascha Deri emphasized the importance of this investment:
"This funding reflects investor confidence in our exceptional engineering team and our vision for the future. It enables us to move forward with the next critical phase of our mission."
Addressing Market Needs
Deri also pointed out the significant demand for dedicated, small-lift satellite deliveries to space. Unlike large companies like SpaceX, which focus on massive satellite deployments, bluShift aims to serve smaller players who face long wait times and sub-optimal orbit delivery.
"With increasing demand for replacing individual small satellites every 3-7 years, customers are seeking rapid, affordable access to space and direct delivery to their desired orbit. We are uniquely positioned to meet this need," said Deri.
The small satellite market has grown rapidly over the past two decades, with a study by Straits Research P. Ltd predicting that the global market size for Cubesats, a class of small satellites, will increase from $210 million in 2021 to $857 million by 2030.
Strategic Location
bluShift has chosen Maine's Downeast coastline as the headquarters for its first private launch services and manufacturing sites.
This location offers distinct geographic advantages, including launch opportunities over the Atlantic Ocean directly into polar orbit, minimal interference from established flight patterns, and limited overflight of populated areas.
This strategic choice enhances bluShift's ability to provide efficient and safe launch services.
