Yotam Avrahami

✨ Seraphim Space Index Highlights: Taxonomy 🌌 🛰 Downlink: Historically, it has been one of the smaller investment segments. However, the current and previous quarters have seen multiple significant deals with $30m+ rounds (Armada, Second Front Systems, Skyloom Global and Skylo Technologies). As a result of these deals, the category has seen the most significant year-over-year growth in investment. Technologies related to communications and cybersecurity are key enablers for satellite communications, one of the largest markets addressed by space today. 🔭 Build: is seeing increasing investment. We attribute this to the growth in the space segment, creating a larger market opportunity for businesses providing the building blocks for the space economy in terms of satellites, payloads,  and software. This quarter saw Hadrian, which produces precision machined components, raise the second largest round at $117m. 🚀 Beyond Earth: No standout deals in Q1 24. The TTM period has seen significant activity in large rounds from Sierra Space, Axiom, True Anomaly and more. In H2 2023, this sector attracted the greatest investment as investors back the next generation of space infrastructure. The sector has shown significant growth compared to the previous TTM period. Read the full index here for more details - https://lnkd.in/e2vfgrk4

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I am pleased to share the Seraphim Space Q3 2024 Index. Our quarterly review of global private SpaceTech investment. Great work from the team at Seraphim Space! 🛰️ Space startups raised $1.9 billion in the third quarter, up nearly a fifth from a year earlier, fueled by strong investor interest in rocket launchers and satellite manufacturers 💰 Nine of the top ten space sector deals in the third quarter were for capital-intensive businesses. As the activity and investment opportunities in space continue to grow, the industry now needs businesses capable of meeting demand for satellite launches 💹 Funding in the third quarter was up 18% from a year earlier at $1.9 billion, with an average deal size of $18 million 🌍 The largest transaction of the three-month period to Sept. 30 was for World Labs, a geospatial intelligence firm, which raised $230 million 🏈 The United States again overtook China in space startups funding so far this year. Find out more in the full report ⬇️ chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://lnkd.in/eCEF46Ap

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Defense tech and the dual-use market have seen incredible growth in the past three years, thanks to consistent investment. To strengthen our industrial base and national security, the Department of Defense and Defense Innovation Unit are funding and integrating commercial technology, bridging the gap between private and public sectors. The Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering and the Office of Strategic Capital have pinpointed 14 critical technology areas vital to U.S. national security. These areas, shown in the graphic below, represent the cutting edge of tech and strategic importance. We believe in the potential of these technologies and the opportunities they offer to founders and investors. From advanced materials and quantum science to AI and hypersonics, each sector promises transformative innovation. Collaboration between the government and private sectors is crucial. Combining the agility of the private sector with public resources will keep the U.S. at the forefront of technology and innovation. Looking ahead, these critical technologies will enhance national security and open new avenues for growth and investment, and I couldn’t be more excited. Stay tuned for more updates!

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I am excited to share that Seraphim Space has reached first close on our new early stage fund to support SpaceTech’s brightest stars 💫 With the space sector now entering the next phase of its transformation, the Fund will focus on investing at Seed and Series A stages in the next generation of visionary entrepreneurs looking to transform science fiction into science fact. Through this innovative model of supporting SpaceTech’s brightest stars from their inception through to helping them achieve escape velocity, Seraphim Space has gone on to establish itself as the most prolific SpaceTech investor globally, having supported more than 120 SpaceTech companies in 27 countries worldwide that collectively have raised more than $3 billion in funding🚀 Key themes the Fund anticipates investing in include: 👾 The application of artificial intelligence to the treasure trove of satellite data to unlock near real time insights about the world to help combat challenges posed by climate change and global security 🛰 The merging of terrestrial and space-based communications networks to enable ‘always on’ ubiquitous connectivity for both people and machines 👨‍🚀 Utilising the unique microgravity environment of space to drive the next wave of scientific breakthrough in areas such as biotech and material science 🌍 The creation of space-based networks for on-orbit edge compute, internet/ communications and data relay to power the developing in-orbit economy The Fund has already made nine investments aligned with some of these key themes into these world changing companies: -Hubble Network – Internet of Things satellite constellation for connecting directly to billions of Bluetooth enabled devices -Delos Insurance Solutions – Space data powered wildfire home insurance provider -ATMOS Space Cargo cargo return service for life sciences -Auriga Space – Novel electro-magnetic launch system Thanks to the entire team for their hard work and dedication into finding and supporting the most exciting SpaceTech companies globally. https://lnkd.in/e5At5aR2 #VC #Fundingnews #SpaceTech #Investinspace

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I am pleased to share the Seraphim Space Q3 2024 Index. Our quarterly review of global private SpaceTech investment. Great work from the team at Seraphim Space! 🛰️ Space startups raised $1.9 billion in the third quarter, up nearly a fifth from a year earlier, fueled by strong investor interest in rocket launchers and satellite manufacturers 💰 Nine of the top ten space sector deals in the third quarter were for capital-intensive businesses. As the activity and investment opportunities in space continue to grow, the industry now needs businesses capable of meeting demand for satellite launches 💹 Funding in the third quarter was up 18% from a year earlier at $1.9 billion, with an average deal size of $18 million 🌍 The largest transaction of the three-month period to Sept. 30 was for World Labs, a geospatial intelligence firm, which raised $230 million 🏈 The United States again overtook China in space startups funding so far this year. Find out more in the full report ⬇️ chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://lnkd.in/euyW64dc

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🚨 New Episode Alert 🚨 We are delighted to share our new Portfolio Spotlight: Xona Space Systems with Co-Founder and CEO Brian Manning 🛰 In this episode, Leah Martin is joined by Brian Manning, Co-founder and CEO of Xona Space Systems. Xona is developing a commercial PNT (Positioning, Navigation, and Timing) service through a constellation of low-Earth orbit satellites. Their technology provides secure navigation and timing services for autonomous vehicles, UAVs, mobile robotics, and other critical applications, ensuring resilience and accuracy for modern intelligent systems.   Also joining the conversation is Lewis Alun Jones, Investment VP at Generation Space. Listen in as Brian shares his background and the origin story of Xona, discusses the company's mission and scale, and highlights the importance of their work in the new space economy. Discover what sets Xona apart from its competition, its biggest achievements, and its vision for the future. 🌌   Listen here 👉 https://lnkd.in/ed8MzXbc - or on all major platforms #generationspace #podcast

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🚀 I've been closely following the rapid growth of the space economy, and it's truly fascinating. 🌌 Private-sector funding has exceeded $10 billion, with predictions of the market reaching $1 trillion by 2040! The innovations in satellite connectivity, AI, and machine learning are game-changers. The potential to solve global challenges, from climate change to enhancing everyday services, is immense. Lower barriers to entry, like small satellites and cloud computing, are making space more accessible than ever. While high-profile space startups grab headlines with grand visions of interplanetary colonization and space tourism, many companies are focusing on essential missions like environmental management and sustainability. At Enventure, we're ready to help navigate these challenges and opportunities. Let's reach for the stars together! 🌠 https://lnkd.in/gVp8SvqU #SpaceEconomy #Innovation #Sustainability #Tech #AI #MachineLearning #Connectivity #FutureOfSpace #EnventureA

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In the earliest stages, startups have to balance two needs: capital to build now, and the focus to create the product that will bring their vision to life. We experienced this journey at Prewitt Ridge, and I had the opportunity to share parts of our story last week at AIAA ASCEND, and I wanted to share some of the highlights here, as well as the video clip captured by my teammate York Zhang! Steve Massey and I incorporated Prewitt Ridge in Dec 2019 and hit the ground running in 2020. Building on our experience as engineers working at SpaceX and Slingshot Aerospace, we set out to take a picks-and-shovels approach to build digital engineering software tooling for engineers like us, who are working at the companies out there using the picks and shovels, here on Earth and soon in space. We quickly found that there were a host of resources available to us. We received initial funding through the SBIR/STTR program, an initiative from the US government to provide early-stage technology funding for small businesses. With two STTR awards and a great university partner at UNM, we began to execute on our product vision. Simultaneously, we received phenomenal support from the Techstars Space Accelerator program. This accelerator helped us focus on the tradeoffs of bootstrapped growth through SBIR/STTR vs traditional fundraising. SBIR/STTR are fantastic sources of capital, providing a partnership that helps small businesses build through non-dilutive funding. But it’s important to remember that these opportunities are focused on specific topics and non-recurring. As a business, it's important to be disciplined on aligning the SBIR/STTR opportunities with your core product features and strategies to ensure they don't impede your teams execution. We made the decision to balance both SBIR/STTR with growth via venture capital. We successfully raised a round of funding, led by Squadra Ventures with participation from Stage Venture Partners, Aurelia Foundry, Wonder Ventures, Haystack, Acequia Capital, Techstars and GC&H We’ve had a wonderful experience working with the VC community, highlighted by the hands-on approach and national security expertise of Squadra Ventures. Going forward, we’ll continue to consider both types of funding. These resources have provided numerous connections to government and industry leaders, and in turn they have helped to focus our tool offering and capabilities. Our journey shows the importance of another balance that startups must strike: reducing risk and optimizing opportunities. Thanks to Techstars, AIAA ASCEND and all of the panelists for a great conversation! If you’re interested in discussing solutions for digital engineering, get in touch! #startups #aerospace #AIAAASCEND

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SpaceTech, Disrupting Every Industry on the Planet: ICEYE with Steve Young and Stephen Lathrope 🛰 In this episode, we are thrilled to host two esteemed guests from ICEYE. Joining the podcast is Steve Young, President of Satellite Missions, and Steve Lathrope, Senior Vice President of Solutions. ICEYE operates the world's largest constellation of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellites. In this episode, we delve into the fascinating world of SAR data and its transformative real-world applications. 🌎 Our conversation explores how SAR technology is disrupting various industries and addressing some of humanity's most pressing challenges. We examine how ICEYE's technology is not only crucial for defence and security but also revolutionises industries like insurance with its capabilities in risk assessment, claims processing, underwriting, and fraud detection. Tune in for an enlightening discussion on how cutting-edge SAR technology paves the way for a more resilient and informed world 👉 https://lnkd.in/eabNC8WB

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I am excited to share that Seraphim Space has reached first close on our new early stage fund to support SpaceTech’s brightest stars 💫 With the space sector now entering the next phase of its transformation, the Fund will focus on investing at Seed and Series A stages in the next generation of visionary entrepreneurs looking to transform science fiction into science fact. Through this innovative model of supporting SpaceTech’s brightest stars from their inception through to helping them achieve escape velocity, Seraphim Space has gone on to establish itself as the most prolific SpaceTech investor globally, having supported more than 120 SpaceTech companies in 27 countries worldwide that collectively have raised more than $3 billion in funding🚀 Key themes the Fund anticipates investing in include: 👾 The application of artificial intelligence to the treasure trove of satellite data to unlock near real time insights about the world to help combat challenges posed by climate change and global security 🛰 The merging of terrestrial and space-based communications networks to enable ‘always on’ ubiquitous connectivity for both people and machines 👨‍🚀 Utilising the unique microgravity environment of space to drive the next wave of scientific breakthrough in areas such as biotech and material science 🌍 The creation of space-based networks for on-orbit edge compute, internet/ communications and data relay to power the developing in-orbit economy The Fund has already made nine investments aligned with some of these key themes into these world changing companies: -Hubble Network – Internet of Things satellite constellation for connecting directly to billions of Bluetooth enabled devices -Delos Insurance Solutions – Space data powered wildfire home insurance provider -ATMOS Space Cargo cargo return service for life sciences -Auriga Space – Novel electro-magnetic launch system Thanks to the entire team for their hard work and dedication into finding and supporting the most exciting SpaceTech companies globally. https://lnkd.in/e5At5aR2 #VC #Fundingnews #SpaceTech #Investinspace

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The venture apocalypse is upon us. Only two funds raised 44% of the venture money in the US in 2024. The cash amounts deployed against emerging managers (firms with less than three funds) relative to more established firms dropped from 19% in the 2010 to 2020 periode to 16% and falling. Lux Capital's predictions of 30-50% of emerging managers ceasing to exist over the next couple of years are over-shadowed only by claims of an outright extinction of venture capital. This post explores the bigger context and why such developments are short term healthy and long term risky for a nascent startup ecosystem: https://lnkd.in/d-fsYg6b

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Excited to join the panel discussion next week on the future of smart cities! We'll be exploring how technology, entrepreneurship, and investment are shaping the cities of tomorrow. Don't miss this opportunity to learn about the latest trends and innovations driving the smart city revolution. Sign up now to reserve your spot! #smartcities #venturecapital #Frontiertechnology #entrepreneurship #urbaninnovation

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Space tech-focused investment firm Seraphim Space Space launched its second VC fund, SSV II, to back early-stage startups in the global space tech market. The fund aims to build a portfolio of 30 startups, investing in seed and Series A stages. The latest fund's target size is larger than its predecessor's, which closed at £70M ($90M) in 2017. The fund's investment themes include AI applications for space data, in-orbit computing, space-enabled communications, and microgravity for science. Eutelsat is one of the limited partners that contributed to the latest fund. Seraphim Space aims to stand out with its track record, having returned three times the original investment from its first fund. The first fund's returns were driven by five exits, including Siemens' acquisition of UltraSOC and four IPOs of Arqit, AST SpaceMobile, Nightingale, and Spire Global. The British firm listed its growth fund Seraphim Space Investment Trust (SSIT) on the London Stock Exchange in July 2021, getting about £250M (~$300M) in gross proceeds. The fund's market cap touched an all-time low of £130M ($162M) in July 2023. The market for space tech is expected to grow significantly, with the World Economic Forum and McKinsey estimating it could be worth $1.8R by 2035.

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Are you confused about what's happening in Israel right now relative to Hezbollah, Lebanon, Hamas, Gaza, and Iran, and what's coming next? This fantastic podcast with Haviv Rettig Gur and Bari Weiss not only dissects the most recent events in the region, but explains why it won't really end until Iran is held in check. The last portion clarifies why the recent US foreign policy of stability at all costs is ironically catalyzing the rising conflict in the region. https://lnkd.in/ewEw_bEZ

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We’re excited to announce that Pyka has raised $40M in Series B funding to accelerate the commercialization of their autonomous electric aircraft! Led by Obvious Ventures, with support from Piva Capital, Prelude Ventures, Metaplanet, and Y Combinator, this investment will expand Pyka’s impact in sectors like agriculture, cargo transport, and defense logistics. With commercial operations already underway across multiple continents and partners like Dole and Embraer, Pyka is transforming aviation while driving sustainability and decarbonization. ⚡✈️ More here from TechCrunch: https://lnkd.in/gGYfc824

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𝗧𝗼𝗽 𝗦𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗧𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀   The space economy is growing more massively than ever…   It could generate $1.8T by 2035 and is growing at an average of 9% annually (World Economic Forum)   Over the past 20 years, satellite launch costs have plummeted 10x. This, coupled with a 50% increase in the number of satellites launched, is a testament to the rapid evolution of the space industry.   Here, we have top space trends and resources for you:   𝗧𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀 1.   Nanosatellites 2.   Space Manufacturing 3.   Space traffic management 4.   Smart propulsion 5.   Space mining 6.   Low earth orbit satellites 7.   Space data   𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝙀𝙎𝘼 𝙄𝙣𝙙𝙪𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙮 𝙎𝙥𝙖𝙘𝙚 𝘿𝙖𝙮𝙨 2024 18–19 September 2024 | Noordwijk, The Netherlands 🔗 https://isd.esa.int/ 𝙄𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝘼𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙡 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙜𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨 14-18 October 2024 | Milan, Italy 🔗 https://www.iac2024.org/ 𝙈𝙚𝙚𝙩 𝙄𝙣𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 & 𝙏𝙚𝙘𝙝𝙣𝙤𝙡𝙤𝙜𝙮 𝙞𝙣 𝙎𝙋𝘼𝘾𝙀 24 - 25 October 2024 | Bodø, Norway  🔗 https://lnkd.in/d_wk9gTT 𝙎𝙥𝙖𝙘𝙚 𝙏𝙚𝙘𝙝 𝙀𝙭𝙥𝙤 19 – 21 November 2024 | Bremen, Germany 🔗 https://lnkd.in/dReDmu9d 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝙎𝙥𝙖𝙘𝙚 𝙀𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙤𝙢𝙮 𝙍𝙚𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩 by World Economic Forum and McKinsey & Company 🔗 https://lnkd.in/dFYUDtdp   𝘿𝙚𝙡𝙤𝙞𝙩𝙩𝙚'𝙨 𝙎𝙥𝙖𝙘𝙚 𝙏𝙚𝙘𝙝 𝙍𝙚𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩 🔗 https://lnkd.in/d9D9HfDg   𝙏𝙤𝙩𝙖𝙡 𝙛𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣 𝙨𝙥𝙖𝙘𝙚 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙫𝙚𝙡 𝘾𝙧𝙪𝙣𝙘𝙝𝘽𝙖𝙨𝙚 🔗 https://lnkd.in/da3YVHTS   𝙎𝙥𝙖𝙘𝙚 𝙏𝙚𝙘𝙝 𝘿𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙧𝙤𝙤𝙢 🔗 https://lnkd.in/dGz29ij7   𝗜𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗔𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘀𝗶𝘀 Why European space tech hasn’t quite taken off – yet 🔗 https://lnkd.in/dQ_DY4A7 15 space tech startups set to lift off, according to investors 🔗 https://lnkd.in/dzRuwtJF Other Sifted articles on SpaceTech 🔗 https://lnkd.in/dR4cYfiQ   𝗧𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀 𝙀𝙎𝘼 𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙣𝙖𝙫𝙞𝙜𝙖𝙩𝙤𝙧 🔗 https://lnkd.in/d4YYPwDK   Share this with your network, and let us know if you have any important space tech resources. #Venturecapital #AI #Deeptech #Startups   Follow us for strategies and resources for Deep Tech founders and VCs!   And get access to exclusive content on deep tech startups like ATMOS Space Cargo, planqc, smedo GmbH, and SENISCA in our newsletter:   🗻 https://lnkd.in/dtTX49AF

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AST SpaceMobile Stock Surges, Hits $5.6B Market Cap 🛰 Huge news from AST SpaceMobile as share price jumped another 18% yesterday, bringing its year-to-date market gains to a staggering 326%. The company’s market cap now sits at $5.6B, ranking it among the highest-valued space businesses in the world after SpaceX. AST SpaceMobile Stock Surges, Hits $5.6B Market Cap - Payload (payloadspace.com)

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The 'picks and shovels' era of aerospace, defense, and space tech is upon us. Both private equity and venture capital are taking notice per PitchBook. It's not just about rockets and jet fighters - it is about materials, technology, supply chain, components. Historically, private market investors have been challenged by the high upfront capital expenses, long sales cycles, and customer concentration that tend to come with companies in these sectors. However, supply chain, components, materials - those are areas that private market investors know well, and are comfortable underwriting. These business model patterns are easier to recognize and replicate. Endeavor Colorado Zeb King Tegan Stanbach Kathryn Dickson #privateequity #venturecapital #innovation #entrepreneurship #founders #startups #investing https://lnkd.in/gURZ_i7B

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🛰 The Seraphim Space Index Q1 2024 is live 🛰 🌌 Since 2017, we have been producing the Seraphim Space quarterly VC investment Index , which allows us to share our unique access to knowledge and data about investing in space technology. This data is now available in an easy-to-use interactive format, allowing you to look back and track growth and trends from 2017 to today. View dashboard: https://lnkd.in/exvPuBkY Some highlights from the last quarter: 🤑 In Q1 2024, the space sector maintained its upward trajectory, with a notable $2.4 billion invested, marking a steady increase from Q4 2023’s $2.1 billion. This is part of a larger trend of $7.2 billion invested over the trailing twelve months to Q1 2024, compared to $6.6 billion in the preceding period. 🌕 Lunar Landers: Three attempts were made, with two successful landings! JAXA: Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's SLIM made Japan the fifth country to land on the moon. NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration's CLPS-funded missions by Astrobotic and Intuitive Machines. Despite some tipping over post-landing, these missions mark significant progress. 🚀 SpaceX Starship Launch: March's launch showcased remarkable progress. With all 33 Raptor engines firing, "hot staging" completed, and the upper stage reaching suborbital orbit, SpaceX and NASA hailed it a success. Though the landing burn was unsuccessful, it is paving the way for future achievements. 📡 Direct-to-Cell: SpaceX initiated text messaging via Starlink satellites in January, but expansion faces challenges due to FCC spectrum denial. Meanwhile, AST received a strategic investment, and Skylo raised $37m, demonstrating growing interest in broadband coverage. 🛰️ Varda Earth Return: Varda Space Industries's successful capsule return in February, in collaboration with Rocket Lab, marked a significant milestone. Additionally, Varda's space crystallisation results of Ritanovir hold promise for drug research. 🇨🇳 China's Rising Influence: China's space endeavours continue to expand, with notable advancements in both public and private sectors. Landspace's successful rocket return and Shanghai Spacecom's massive funding highlight China's growing significance. 🛡️ Starshield: SpaceX's $1.8bn contract with the NRO for Earth Observation satellites signifies a shift in focus towards EO capabilities, leveraging the Starlink platform for enhanced satellite capabilities. 🛰️ SPAC Troubles: Astra and Momentus face financial challenges, with Astra opting for a private takeover. Terran Orbital Corporation received a take-private offer from a major shareholder, Lockheed Martin. Momentus warned shareholders it was running out of money but subsequently announced a registered direct offering (RDO) of $4m from an institutional investor.

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