What is Astranis?
Builder and operator of small high-orbit satellites for sovereign, commercial, and government connectivity.
- Category
- Space technology
- Headquarters
- San Francisco, CA
- Founded
- 2015
- Employees
- 500 engineers and entrepreneurs
- Total funding
- More than $1.2B
- Valuation
- Reported about $2.8B post-money in 2026 Series E
What is Astranis?
Astranis designs, builds, and operates compact GEO and high-orbit spacecraft for broadband, government science, PNT, and communications missions. In May 2026 it said it had raised more than $1.2B and employed 500 people.
Astranis is a vertically integrated satellite company focused on smaller, lower-cost spacecraft for high orbits. Its MicroGEO and advanced high-orbit platforms are sold to commercial operators, governments, and national-security customers that want dedicated capacity without waiting for legacy large satellites.
The company says it designs, builds, and operates satellites from a 153,000 sq. ft. Northern California headquarters. Its public materials cite contracts with Space Force, NASA, and other government partners, and its 2026 financing was raised to increase production for commercial and U.S. government programs.
What does Astranis offer?
Astranis offers MicroGEO satellites, advanced high-orbit spacecraft, sovereign connectivity programs, hosted/government missions, and operations support.
- MicroGEO satellites· Spacecraft
- Omega / advanced high-orbit spacecraft· Spacecraft
- Sovereign connectivity· Commercial
- Government communications· Government
- Science missions· Government
- PNT support· Government
- Satellite operations· Services
How does Astranis make money?
Astranis makes money by selling spacecraft capacity, satellite programs, and related services to telecom, enterprise, sovereign, and government customers.
Astranis does not publish standard software-like pricing because each program is a satellite, launch, operations, and service contract. Public positioning emphasizes lower-cost dedicated GEO broadband and high-orbit spacecraft compared with legacy geostationary satellite programs.
Growth is driven by backlog, production capacity, government programs of record, and commercial customers that need dedicated sovereign or regional connectivity. The 2026 raise explicitly funds production scale-up and government demand, so vendors should expect capital equipment, supply-chain, manufacturing, security, and mission-assurance buying motions.
Who leads Astranis?
Astranis is founder-led by CEO John Gedmark and CTO Ryan McLinko, with senior advisory support including retired General John Hyten.
- John GedmarkCo-founder and CEOCo-founder since 2015Former Commercial Spaceflight Federation leader; owns strategy and customer growth.
- Ryan McLinkoCo-founder and CTOCo-founder since 2015Former Planet Labs engineering leader; owns satellite technology.
- Kati DahmMedia contactPublic contact in 2026 releasesHandles press inquiries for Astranis.
- Gen. John E. Hyten (Ret.)Chairman, Strategic Advisory BoardJoined 2026Former vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs; advises defense and government strategy.
How do you contact Astranis's leadership?
Astranis publishes press and general contact aliases; verified personal executive emails are not public.
Personal executive format not verified; use press@astranis.com or contact@astranis.comHow much funding has Astranis raised?
Astranis has raised more than $1.2B, including a May 2026 financing package with a $300M Series E and up to $155M in credit.
Astranis came out of stealth with a $13.5M Series A in 2018 led by Andreessen Horowitz. It raised a 2020 Series B package of $90M, including $40M of equity led by Venrock and a $50M TriplePoint debt facility.
In 2021, Astranis raised a $250M Series C led by BlackRock at a $1.4B valuation. In 2024, it raised a $200M Series D led by a16z Growth and co-led by BAM Elevate, bringing total capital to $750M. In May 2026, it announced $450M in new capital: a $300M Series E co-led by Snowpoint Ventures and Franklin Templeton plus a delayed-draw Trinity Capital credit facility, bringing total raised above $1.2B.
How did Astranis get here?
Astranis moved from a small GEO satellite thesis to a scaled high-orbit spacecraft prime.
- 2015FoundedJohn Gedmark and Ryan McLinko founded Astranis.
- 2018Series A and stealth exitAnnounced $13.5M Series A led by a16z.
- 2021Unicorn roundRaised $250M Series C at $1.4B valuation.
- 2024Omega fundedRaised $200M Series D to fund Omega development.
- 2026Series E scale-upRaised $450M in new capital and cited 500 employees.
Who are Astranis's competitors?
Astranis competes with satellite operators, GEO manufacturers, and broadband constellation providers.
- ViasatLarge GEO and multi-orbit satellite communications operator.
- SESGlobal satellite operator with GEO and MEO networks.
- Eutelsat OneWebMulti-orbit satellite communications and LEO broadband network.
- SpaceX StarlinkLEO broadband constellation with consumer, enterprise, and government offerings.
- Hughes Network SystemsSatellite broadband equipment and managed services provider.
Astranis — frequently asked questions
