Former Disney Channel Star Bridgit Mendler Is Now Space Startup CEO: 'Expect the Unexpected'

"We have a lot of work ahead of us, but that’s the fun part," the 'Good Luck Charlie' alum wrote on X

Bridgit Mendler
Bridgit Mendler. Photo: Mindy Best/Getty Images

Bridgit Mendler has added a new role to her already impressive resume.

On Monday, the former Disney Channel star, 31, announced on X, formerly known as Twitter, that she will serve as the CEO of Northwood Space, a startup on a mission to create a "data highway between earth and space."

"We are designing shared ground infrastructure from first principles to expand access to space. We have a lot of work ahead of us, but that’s the fun part," wrote the Good Luck Charlie alum in her announcement.

The company has already received $6.3 million in funding, per Mendler's tweet.

Mendler surprised fans by revealing in a follow-up tweet that she is a mom to a 4-year-old boy.

"The other news I wanted to share is I’m a mama to a sweet 4yo boy. Started fostering in 2021 adopted near Christmas of 2022. I’m so lucky — being a parent is the biggest gift and most defining experience there is. That’s my news for now folks," her tweet read.

While this is the first time that Mendler opened up about becoming a mother, she told CNBC she "completely fell in love with space law" while working at the Federal Communications Commission's Space Bureau.

"Space is getting easier along so many different dimensions, but still, the actual exercise of sending data to and from space is difficult. You have difficulty finding an access point for contacting your satellite," she told CNBC.

Mendler worked with the agency in 2022 and has studied at the University of Southern California, MIT and Harvard, per her LinkedIn profile.

Bridgit Mendler in 'Good Luck Charlie'
Bridgit Mendler in "Good Luck Charlie".

Adam Taylor/Disney Channel via Getty

The multi-hyphenate said she developed the idea for the company after spending time with her family in New Hampshire during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"While everybody else was making their sourdough starters, we were building antennas out of random crap we could find at Home Depot … and receiving data from [National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration] satellites," Mendler told CNBC.

According to the outlet, Mendler's husband, Griffin Cleverly, whom she married in October 2019, will serve as the startup's chief technology officer.

Bridgit Mendler performs at the NYLON's Happiest Of Hours At #TwitterHouse at Bar 96 on March 13, 2017 in Austin, Texas.
Bridgit Mendler performing on March 13, 2017.

Jonathan Leibson/Getty

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"It was magical," she told Extra about their wedding in November 2019. "There was a great sunset, and there was actually even this dude who built a sandcastle behind us while we were getting married — in his board shorts, constructing this beautiful, amazing sandcastle. While we are doing our vows, I could just see him in my eye line."

Aside from acting, Mendler has also found success as a musician, having released her debut album Hello My Name Is… in 2012 and the 2016 EP Nemesis.

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