Star Catcher

About Star Catcher

Star Catcher Industries, Inc. is a Jacksonville, Florida-based space technology firm developing a space-based energy grid. Founded in 2024, the company aims to resolve power constraints for spacecraft in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). The founding team consists of Andrew Rush (President & CEO), Michael Snyder (CTO), and Bryan Lyandvert (COO). Rush and Snyder bring extensive experience from the space industry, having previously co-founded Made In Space and held executive positions at Redwire after its acquisition of their former company. Lyandvert contributes a background in venture capital and operations.

The company's core offering is the Star Catcher Network, a constellation of 'Power Node' satellites designed to collect solar energy and beam it to client satellites. This service is intended to provide power on-demand, allowing customer satellites to perform energy-intensive tasks such as remote sensing, on-orbit processing, and telecommunications without being limited by their onboard power generation and storage capabilities. The business operates on a 'power-as-a-service' or pay-as-you-go model, where Star Catcher owns and operates the power-beaming infrastructure. This model is designed to reduce the upfront capital expenditure for satellite operators, who would otherwise need to equip their spacecraft with larger, more expensive solar arrays.

A key feature of the Star Catcher Network is its ability to transmit broad-spectrum energy that is compatible with existing satellite solar arrays, eliminating the need for retrofitting client spacecraft. The network can deliver power at concentrations up to ten times that of the sun, from 100 watts to 100 kilowatts. In July 2024, the company secured $12.25 million in a seed funding round co-led by Initialized Capital and B Capital, with participation from Rogue VC. This capital is being used for ground demonstrations, with an on-orbit demonstration planned for late 2025, followed by the deployment of commercial services. The company has already secured several letters of intent from commercial space companies in sectors including remote sensing, national security, and telecommunications.