Auriga Space

In our latest issue, we spoke to Winnie Lai, Founder and CEO, Auriga Space🚀 Auriga Space is on a mission to build a reusable electricity-powered accelerator that provides a rocket’s initial boost, that will replace the first stage of a traditional rocket. “By replacing part of the rocket with a ground-based, electrically powered system, we can make launches far more efficient, reusable, and ultimately more accessible,” Lai explained. Want to know more? Subscribe to Startups Magazine to get all the insights and inspiration in our next issue! 👉https://bit.ly/3EZLhCJ #StartupsMagazine #StartupStory #NewIssue #MustRead #FemaleFounder #WomeninTech

At Auriga, we’re redefining what’s possible in propulsion. We believe the future of launch doesn’t need to burn chemical propellants. It can be powered by pure electricity. Our electromagnetic launch technology is unlocking a new era for hypersonics, missile defense, and on-demand access to space. Watch as we accelerate projectiles to extreme speeds — without rockets, only with our reusable electrically-powered platform. This is how we make propulsion more affordable, responsive, and limitless. 🔊 Best with sound 🎧

We’re excited to welcome Joshua J. to Auriga as our new Director of Mechanical Engineering! Joshua brings over 20 years of experience leading engineering teams and designing complex aerospace systems across startups and industry leaders. From leading 40+ engineers at Virgin Galactic, to driving electrified aircraft development at Ampaire, he has consistently delivered innovation, technical excellence, and strong leadership. His expertise in composites, metallic structures, rapid prototyping, and aerospace vehicle design will be invaluable as we scale our electromagnetic launch system at Auriga. Welcome to the team, Joshua! 

We were honored to host Congressman Derek Tran (CA-45) at Auriga Space's headquarters last week. Our discussion highlighted the critical need for rapid, responsive space access and how Auriga’s electromagnetic launchers can help meet that challenge, strengthening US leadership in space and defense. During the visit, Congressman Tran toured our facility and saw firsthand the cutting-edge work our team is doing in power electronics, electromagnetics, and precision manufacturing. Because all components are designed and built in-house, we’re able to rapidly iterate and advance our technology. We’re proud to be growing our presence in Garden Grove and continuing to bring innovation and advanced manufacturing to the local community. We appreciate Congressman Tran’s support for companies driving innovation and strengthening America’s technological edge.

Portfolio Company Highlight: Auriga Space 🚀 Portfolio company Auriga Space just closed $6M to revolutionize how we get to orbit. Their secret weapon is electromagnetic launch tracks that shoot rockets at hypersonic speeds before they even ignite. CEO Winnie Lai puts it starkly about the current inefficiency. "Less than 2% of the mass of the rocket is what gets into space." That inefficiency isn't just expensive—it's a fundamental constraint on how often and how affordably we can access orbit. Auriga's answer is electromagnetic launch tracks that accelerate small rockets to hypersonic speeds before they even leave the ground. Think maglev train meets rail gun, launching payloads at over six times the speed of sound. The rocket only fires its engine for the final orbital insertion—dramatically reducing propellant needs while making the entire ground infrastructure rapidly reusable. Here's what excites us most—they're not just building the future of orbital launch. They're commercializing their technology today with hypersonic ground testing infrastructure—addressing a critical gap in our national defense capabilities while building revenue and proving their core technology. ⚡ This is exactly the kind of dual-use innovation that strengthens both economic competitiveness and national security. Bold technical vision, pragmatic go-to-market execution, and a clear path to solving real problems that customers will pay for today. When Winnie says "We call an Uber, and we expect the Uber to show up in a matter of minutes. I think that should be the case for space as well," she's not just describing a product roadmap—she's describing a future where space access becomes as routine as ordering rideshare. 🛰️ That's a future worth building. Congratulations to Winnie and the entire Auriga team on this milestone. 🎉 https://ow.ly/cbuM50WsJMk Jeremy Hitchcock Stephanie Usry Bellistri Don Dodge #NewNorthVentures #SpaceTech #HypersonicTesting #DualUse #ResponsiveLaunch

🚀 We’re excited to announce that Auriga Space has raised an additional $6M in funding! We’re proud to welcome OTB Ventures, a firm committed to transformative and high-impact technologies, as our newest partner. With their support, we’ll be accelerating the commercialization of Prometheus for hypersonic testing as our near-term focus and revenue-generating application. This funding also advances our long-term vision of enabling responsive, on-demand space launches. We’re also deeply grateful to our existing supporters, including Trucks Venture Capital, Seraphim Space, Unlock Venture Partners, New North Ventures, for their continued belief in our mission. Read more in TechCrunch: https://lnkd.in/eFWANkiT

Ever wonder how Auriga accelerates payloads to incredible speeds, without rockets? We use the same core technology that powers maglev trains: a linear electric motor. By converting stored electrical energy directly into kinetic energy, our electromagnetic launcher propels payloads along a track with high precision and speed. This proven technology is now being applied to breakthrough missions in space and defense. From rapid, affordable satellite launches to next-gen national security capabilities, Auriga’s system offers a transformative solution for both commercial and government partners. We’re building the foundation for fast, flexible, and resilient launch infrastructure, powered by electricity, not propellant.

Curious how your flight vehicle performs at high speeds? Auriga’s electrically powered accelerator enables high-speed testing under flight-representative conditions, helping you gather valuable data quickly and cost-effectively. From flow measurements to Schlieren imaging, our platform supports a wide range of diagnostics to help you understand aerodynamic performance, ballistic impacts and system behavior in extreme environments. We’ll be at the 2025 NSMMS & CRASTE Symposium in Norfolk, VA next week! Catch our technical presentation on Wednesday, June 25, and visit us at Booth 510 to learn how Auriga can support your hypersonic testing campaigns. Looking forward to connecting. #schlieren #hypersonic #testing

Curious how your flight vehicle performs at high speeds? Auriga’s electrically powered accelerator enables high-speed testing under flight-representative conditions, helping you gather valuable data quickly and cost-effectively. From flow measurements to Schlieren imaging, our platform supports a wide range of diagnostics to help you understand aerodynamic performance, ballistic impacts and system behavior in extreme environments. We’ll be at the 2025 NSMMS & CRASTE Symposium in Norfolk, VA next week! Catch our technical presentation on Wednesday, June 25, and visit us at Booth 510 to learn how Auriga can support your hypersonic testing campaigns. Looking forward to connecting. #schlieren #hypersonic #testing