Space startups in San Diego

Eric DeMarco (CEO)

San Diego–HQ defense-tech firm; NASDAQ: KTOS, ~4,300 employees. Builds jet-powered tactical drones (Valkyrie XQ-58), high-performance aerial targets, hypersonic vehicles, solid rocket motors and C5ISR/satell...

Mark Dankberg, Mark Miller, Steve Hart

Founded 1986 in Carlsbad; NASDAQ: VSAT. Global satellite-communications leader providing high-throughput satellite broadband, in-flight Wi-Fi (American, JetBlue, United) and secure government/military networ...

** Founded 2004; a space "non-traditional defense contractor" building radiation-tolerant, cyber-secure space avionics — flight computers, software-defined radios, crypto/encryption and data-storage — for sa...

flight computers, software-defined radios, crypto/encryption and data-storage — for satellite buses and payloads. San Diego–based, now backed by PE firm TJC; a core SD space-electronics supplier for national-security smallsats. - **link:** https://innoflight.com - **vertical:** ["Spacetech","Defense"] - **stage:** funded ### 13 -

Founded 2004; a space "non-traditional defense contractor" building radiation-tolerant, cyber-secure space avionics — flight computers, software-defined radios, crypto/encryption and data-storage — for satel...

Eric DeMarco (CEO)" - **venue:** San Diego (Kearny Mesa) - **la:** 32.8236 - **ln:** -117.1517 - **desc:** Publicly traded (NASDAQ: KTOS) San Diego defense company focused on unmanned aerial systems (Valkyrie/XQ-58 tactical drones), hypersonics, satellite/space, target drones, C5ISR and counter-UAS. Received a ~$7M production award for a counter-UAS system to detect, track and classify low-profile drones, cruise missiles and other aerial threats. A key SD anchor in affordable/attritable autonomous aircraft. - **link:** https://www.kratosdefense.com - **vertical:** ["Defense","Spacetech"] - **stage:** public ### 4 -

Publicly traded (NASDAQ: KTOS) San Diego defense company focused on unmanned aerial systems (Valkyrie/XQ-58 tactical drones), hypersonics, satellite/space, target drones, C5ISR and counter-UAS. Received a ~$...

Mark Dankberg (co-founder/Chairman)" - **venue:** Carlsbad - **la:** 33.1581 - **ln:** -117.3506 - **desc:** Founded 1986, publicly traded (NASDAQ: VSAT) satellite-communications company in Carlsbad; provides high-speed satellite broadband plus secure military networking, cybersecurity and ground equipment. Reported record ~$4.5B revenue in FY2025, with a fast-growing Defense & Advanced Technologies segment. Serves government/commercial aircraft including Air Force One and rolled out a UAV-specific network for government clients. - **link:** https://www.viasat.com - **vertical:** ["Spacetech","Defense"] - **stage:** public ### 5 -

Founded 1986, publicly traded (NASDAQ: VSAT) satellite-communications company in Carlsbad; provides high-speed satellite broadband plus secure military networking, cybersecurity and ground equipment. Reporte...