19 best aerospace startups revolutionizing the aerospace industry

What are aerospace startups?

Aerospace startups are new companies that make space-related technologies and services. They include a wide range of companies, from new space startups like SpaceX to companies that act as sub-subcontractors to the larger aerospace contractors.

Aerospace startups are known to be high-flying technologies, although they’re supported by more of a proof-of-concept than a working prototype. Even as they’re getting their enterprises off the ground and out into the stratosphere, investors need to hold onto their seats and strap themselves in.

The most innovative aerospace startups in 2022

Aerospace startups are keeping being open to many innovations in materials, propulsion mechanisms, and other technologies that can be implemented for aerospace use. Fascinated by their dedication and work we have analyzed the market and compiled a list of the 19 most promising aerospace startups this year.

Isar Aerospace

Isar Aerospace is one of the most innovative aerospace startups that develop next-generation rockets for sustainable access to space for small and medium satellites and satellite constellations. By offering flexible, sustainable, and cost-effective access to space, they are shaping the future of space flight.

Knowing that space flight will shape how humans will live, work and travel tomorrow, with their innovations Isar Aerospace contributes to humanity’s progress and our planet’s sustainable technological and economic development.

Accion Systems

Satellites are not the only thing that needs innovations to achieve bigger aerospace goals. Propulsion has to change too, therefore, Accion Systems created a more efficient ion thruster: the Tiled Ionic Liquid Electrospray (TILE) engine and reinvented propulsion for New Space.

Their innovative propulsion system is suitable for small satellites, constellations, and other mission-critical spacecraft. That means you can extend your mission lifetime without sacrificing the mission, and get more value from every satellite in your fleet.

ClearSpace

Next on the list of the most promising aerospace startups is ClearSpace. This startup develops in-orbit service missions to enable a vibrant, resilient, and sustainable space industry. The mission of their team is to remove debris from Earth orbit and for that purpose they are building a technology to make those missions affordable.

In the past, abandoned and damaged satellites in orbit have been manually captured and repaired through astronaut-led missions using the space shuttle, but with ClearSpace shaping the future of the aerospace industry, that will no longer be the case.

AgniKul Cosmos

By designing, manufacturing, testing, and launching orbital-class rockets for micro and nanosatellites, AgniKul Cosmos is bringing space within everyone’s reach. Their product Agnibaan is a highly customizable, 2 stage launch vehicle that is capable of taking up to 100 kg to orbits around 700 km high.

This vehicle doesn’t fly with the same number of engines all the time but the satellite and the launch port itself would decide how many engines will go on the first stage. Moreover, Agnibaan can access both low and high inclination orbits, is designed for accessing more than 10 launch ports, and is completely mobile.

LeoLabs

LeoLabs addresses a new generation of risks and opportunities to preserve Low Earth Orbit (LEO) for future generations. Newly-formed space agencies, as well as commercial space ventures, compete for their place in the emerging LEO economy, thus, this aerospace startup is committed to making transformative leaps in space safety, transparency, analytics, and radar technology.

With a focus on providing unparalleled support for industries that rely on satellite services, and with their network of ground-based, phased array radars, LeoLabs produces high-resolution data on objects in LEO. They are already shaping the aerospace industry because what once took tracking objects in LEO meant decades and billions of dollars to stand up the required radars, computing infrastructure, and staffing, today is handled by the LeoLabs team.

ABL Space Systems

ABL Space Systems is designing launch vehicles that will provide low-cost options for customers that want to launch small satellites. RS1 is engineered and manufactured in the USA and is capable of launching 1,350kg of payload on demand.

ABL Space Systems’s team of engineers and builders comes from the world’s leading aerospace and defense companies and their goal is to prove that reaching space can be simple, efficient, and routine. On the whole, this revolutionary aerospace startup changes what it means to launch rockets in the modern space age, in less time than thought possible.

CesiumAstro

CesiumAstro is one of the top aerospace startups that are recognized for developing communications solutions for different aviation and aeronautics products. Their systems are specifically designed for UAVs, launch systems, satellites, and other space vehicles.

Their software-defined communication systems are with full environmental testing, ready to install and fly. All you need to do is define your payload requirements and CesiumAstro will configure a mission-ready solution customized to your application utilizing their full-stack modular product line.

SCOUT

SCOUT is offering in-space observation data and services and that way they are making space transparent and safer. Founded by two passionate individuals with a diverse background in start-ups and innovation research and development, this aerospace startup built space programs and impressive teams across academia, government, and industry.

They’ve developed a SCOUT-Vision payload system, that gives spacecraft eyes and enables better navigation and avoiding threats. Moreover, their computer vision and guidance software packages allow a new era of complex autonomy.

Kawa Space

Kawa Space is organizing the world’s satellite data and making it universally queryable, accessible, and instantly useful. This innovative aerospace startup developed the GEOINT platform that enables teams of all sizes to decode their area of interest simply by using an API call.

With a mission to democratize space for all, Kawa Space is building roads so our future generations can go explore the ever-expanding universe. Hence, this is one of the aerospace startups that are forever changing the future of the aerospace industry by harnessing the power of satellites orbiting our planet.

Kayhan Space

Kayhan Space developed integrated spaceflight operations tools that allow satellite operators to focus on their core mission, wherever their journey takes them. It’s fascinating because this innovative tool is capable of screening launch vehicle trajectories against the entire space object catalog to compute probabilities of collision and identify possible close approaches.

The screening process is fast and fully accessible via Kayhan Space’s dashboard as well as APIs. Even though this aerospace startup was launched by a small-but-mighty team thair technological solutions promise rapid growth.

LaunchPoint EPS

LaunchPoint EPS with over a decade of experience in the custom design and engineering of hybrid-electric propulsion systems and electric machines designs and manufactures high specific power electric machines and controller solutions for the aerospace and defense, power generation, thermal management, and Advanced Air Mobility markets.

Because of their dedication to bringing innovative solutions that will revolutionize the aerospace industry and proven results, LaunchPoint EPS found its place on our list of best aerospace startups in 2022. The team of this aerospace startup is a diverse and experienced group of scientists and engineers that are recognized as world experts in electric propulsion technology.

Coflyt

Coflyt is the perfect example of how can digital technology improve every industry. This time it resulted in a solution to provide peace of mind for aircraft owners. To do so, this aerospace startup combines inspections and maintenance tracking, scheduling, and billing into a simple, mobile app. In other words, Coflyt puts your aircraft into the palm of your hand.

With this innovative aviation app, you can keep visibility of mechanical issues and squawks at your fingertips, as well as required VFR/IFR inspection statuses, and monitor service intervals like oil changes, etc. You will also be able to log flights made by partners to analyze usage, map flights, and more, and quickly share aircraft information with your A&P, so you can both save time.

FlightLink

For the first time ever, FlightLink offers an invitation-only air pooling platform that allows like-minded travelers to connect, fly privately and affordably, and travel with ease. All that is managed by your personal aviation concierge that manages the details.

This aerospace startup developed the world’s first vetted air pooling platform, which allows members to self-coordinate shared private flights in compliance with aviation regulations. Furthermore, they offer a powerful suite of proprietary benefits for aircraft owners, charter customers, jet card and fractional members, and even commercial flyers interested in more affordable private aviation.

Aeroflux Braking Systems

Aeroflux Braking Systems is an aerospace startup developing wear-free magnetic aircraft brakes for business, commuter, and commercial aircraft. Knowing that conventional multiple-disc carbon brakes rely on friction to stop an aircraft and the fact that they need constant replacement, Aeroflux developed brakes with the principle of eddy current braking to stop an aircraft without friction, and therefore without wear.

Aeroflux’s proprietary multi-directional electromagnetic array creates a very specific magnetic field distribution across the disc, therefore it offers superior performance to existing eddy current brakes of equal volume and weight.

Dragonfly Aerospace

Dragonfly Aerospace secured the spot in the best aerospace startups list by developing compact high-performance imaging satellites and payloads with a wide range of spectrums. Every team member has worked on every microsatellite space mission since South Africa entered the space race, and this is the latest chapter in a proud history of South African space engineering and space missions.

They create imager products that can be used in modern CubeSat or microsatellite platforms to create compact high-performance satellite solutions, and they manufacture satellite buses to deliver electro-optical and SAR payloads. With excellent vision, agility, and stability, this aerospace startup is significantly improving the aerospace industry.

Deimos-One

Deimos-One is a promising aerospace startup that designs and develops advanced multi-use rockets and tactical ground robotic systems. Their mission is to shape the future by building an interplanetary pathway between earth and space.

By combining artificial intelligence, autonomous robotics, and machine learning, Deimos-One is redefining what it means to be cutting edge. They are motivated by challenges to solve problems never solved before. And to achieve all that, they have leadership comprised of seasoned veterans and experts from the world’s most renowned aerospace, technology, and data science companies.

ienai SPACE

ienai SPACE developed one-of-a-kind propulsion systems for space missions and software tools to plan your satellite’s propulsive maneuvers. This aerospace startup is focusing on the next generation of small satellites, constellations, and space debris mitigation.

Thus, they’ve developed the world’s first fully customizable onboard electric propulsion system, based on electrospray technology. That being the case, their thrusters can be tailored to the requirements and constraints of any mission and platform. The end product is uniquely engineered to meet the challenges of pushing your spacecraft further, for longer.

BlackSky Global

Being aware that speed combined with actionable insights can change everything, BlackSky Global developed an analytics platform – Spectra AI. The platform can give you deep awareness from their satellite constellation, a comprehensive collection of sensors, signals, and other critical data feeds.

This aerospace startup monitors activities and facilities worldwide by harnessing the world’s emerging sensor networks and leveraging its own satellite constellation. Furthermore, BlackSky monitors for pattern-of-life anomalies to produce alerts and enhance situational awareness.

BirdsEyeView Technologies

BirdsEyeView Technologies does a fascinating job harnessing the satellite data to structure parametric solutions for climate change risks. As a digital-first managing general agent (MGA), BirdsEye View Technologies uses space data to design innovative parametric solutions.

The traditional crop insurance doesn’t work on-site loss adjustments and risk assessments are an accurate result in valuation disagreements delays and payout and make cover expensive. Fortunately, BirdsEye View’s solution harnesses high-resolution satellite imagery to accurately monitor global weather conditions.

What all these aerospace startups have in common

Regardless of the type of aerospace startup, all founders are united by a persistent, almost unquenchable thirst for knowledge. Whether procured via trial and error, squirreled away in some technical journal, or sifted through stacks of conference proceedings, the right data at the right time can make all the difference between success and failure.

The best thing any aerospace startup can currently do is focus on a problem that actually needs solving, rather than being a solution without a viable problem to solve. With this in mind, it’s safe to say that these 19 most promising aerospace startups, though they may appear to be at opposite ends of the development continuum, have a lot more in common than one might initially think – from verification techniques to test systems.