Auriga Space

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

I've loved watching Winnie Lai transform an idea into reality at Auriga Space. Their reusable, electrically powered launcher is a disruptor, enabling frequent, cost-effective launches that could transform how we deploy our own satellites at Planet Labs.  I’m excited to support Auriga's team in their journey and can't wait to see how their advancements will drive industry-wide innovation.

Every day, we rely on space-based technologies that power our lives, from GPS navigation and weather forecasting to in-flight wifi. These innovations start with one critical step: getting to space. At Auriga Space, we’re redefining how that happens. Our innovation? A fully reusable, electrically powered launcher that replaces the traditional rocket’s first stage. This game-changing technology slashes launch costs and enables rapid, on-demand access to space for commercial and defense partners. For the past year, our team at our Garden Grove, CA facility has been working tirelessly to turn this vision into reality. As Auriga Space's CEO, Winnie Lai, and Planet’s President & CFO, Ashley Fieglein Johnson, highlight, our ability to launch multiple times a day is a game-changer, opening new possibilities for the space industry. We’re not just building technology, we’re paving the way for a new era of space. Follow our progress and see how we’re making space more accessible than ever. #SpaceTech #NewSpace #AurigaSpace 

CEO Winnie Lai joined Just Another Space Podcast to talk about what we’ve been up to... Check it out and learn more about: - What using electromagnetic systems (ex. maglev tech) is like for launch - What agile hardware really looks like - What it's like working with DoD and in the national security space - What's possible... launching from the Moon back to Earth Thanks to Clayton Swope, Thomas Culligan, and the team for the invite. Always good to cut through the noise and talk real challenges. 🎧 Listen to the episode: https://lnkd.in/gvUt3tct #AurigaSpace #ElectromagneticLaunch #DefenseTech #SpaceHardware #NationalSecuritySpace #JustAnotherSpacePodcast

We are devastated by the sudden loss of our beloved colleague, Dr. Ryan Brody, who passed away this weekend. Ryan joined Auriga last year after earning his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering. He drove across the country to pursue his dream of building a sustainable way to launch payloads into space, and we feel honored that he chose to do that work with us. We are deeply grateful for the significant contributions Ryan made to our team, including developing our electric motor model and designing key systems for the Prometheus electromagnetic accelerator. More than that, he was a kind, thoughtful, and creative teammate whose presence lifted those around him. We remember and honor Ryan by sharing this interview he did with his alma mater, reflecting on what it meant to be working in his dream role: https://lnkd.in/gD4BjiCE He will be profoundly missed.

Space access is critical to national security. Our CEO, Winnie Lai, recently sat down with Rob Desborough and Leah Martin from our investors at Seraphim Space to discuss the vital role of space technology in defense and national security. The electromagnetic launch technology we’re developing at Auriga Space fundamentally shifts how sovereign nations can deploy critical payloads—enabling rapid, on-demand access to space in moments of need. This strategic capability not only enhances resilience but also serves as a powerful deterrent against adversaries seeking to disrupt or disable key assets in orbit.