WASHINGTON — Space Perspective, a startup planning to offer tourists trips to the edge of space in a high-altitude balloon, has raised $7 million in a seed round that will allow the company to test its technologies.
Space Perspective announced Dec. 2 it closed the seed round, led by funds Prime Movers Lab and Base Ventures. Others participating in the round included Kirenaga Partners’ Central Florida Tech Fund, 1517 Fund, Schox, E2MC Ventures and SpaceFund Venture Capital, as well as entrepreneur and author Tony Robbins.
The company, with about 15 employees currently, will use the funding to continue development of Spaceship Neptune, a stratospheric balloon system designed to carry people to an altitude of 30 kilometers. Such flights would give people an experience similar to some aspects of spaceflight, notably the view.
With no concrete end in sight to this pandemic (thanks anti-maskers), we’re forced to think about what the future of travel may hold. And by the time we’re actually able to leave the country and explore our beautiful world, there may be an even wilder option for the adventure seekers out there—space travel.
That’s right, in the next few years, multiple companies are gearing up to take you to space. You’ll be able to float in zero gravity, marvel at our beautiful blue ball from afar (flat earthers be damned), and see more stars than you could ever imagine. This isn’t a giant hoax (like the idea that masks don’t work), this is a real thing that you’ll really be able to do—that is, if you have the money.
So, here’s to hoping that locking ourselves in our homes for a year or two will be rewarded with the ultimate travel adventure of leaving Earth behind.
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Space Perspective
Teaming up with Exclusive Resorts (a members-only vacation club), Space Perspective is planning to send travel explorers up to the edge of space via a balloon dubbed Spaceship Neptune. Exclusive Resorts members will get priority flights as eight people will soar to over 100,000 feet on a six-hour journey to see the curvature of the earth up close and personal. Flights are planned for 2024 and probably won’t be cheap. Memberships to Exclusive Resorts has initiation fees in the six figures and per-day vacation costs over $1,000. Still, you’re almost in space!
Posted on: December 2nd, 2020 by Kirenaga Partners
Kaiser Aluminum’s Trentwood facility is in the early phases of testing new technology that destroys over 90 percent of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) contamination in water at their facility in the Spokane Valley.
The Trentwood facility has produced specialized aluminum products for more than 75 years and, like many facilities around the country, used PCB-containing oils in an effort to safely and efficiently operate some industrial equipment. Over the years, some of the PCB oil leaked, contaminating groundwater under the aluminum-casting building near the Spokane River.
Kaiser has been researching and implementing technologies to address the contaminated groundwater, and is now examining two processes to see which will more effectively reduce the threat posed by the PCBs.
Posted on: December 2nd, 2020 by Kirenaga Partners
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. – Space Perspective today announced it has closed a $7 million series seed financing for the development and early flights of Spaceship Neptune to the edge of space. The infusion of capital advances the human space flight company another step closer to fundamentally changing the way people have access to space for research and tourism.
“We are delighted to welcome our new investors to the Space Perspective team. We selected them because they are the cutting edge of venture capital. Their active approach to supporting founders is a critical component of executing on our mission to give people the life-changing experience of seeing our planet in space,” said Space Perspective Founder and Co-CEO Jane Poynter, who made the announcement today at the Web Summit 2020.
“Our ability to make space accessible in unprecedented ways carries immense importance,” added Taber MacCallum, also Founder and Co-CEO. “We are grateful that this premier group of investors recognizes that space tourism has arrived and is a significant driver in the future growth of commercial spaceflight.”
The financing was led by Prime Movers Lab, the lead investor in Momentus who recently announced its SPAC merger, and Base Ventures who is a leading Silicon Valley tech fund. The investor group also includes world-renowned entrepreneur, author and business strategist Tony Robbins, and venture capital firms Kirenaga Partners’ Central Florida Tech Fund, 1517 Fund, Schox, E2MC Ventures and SpaceFund Venture Capital. Anton Brevde of Prime Movers and Kirby Harris of Base Ventures serve on the Space Perspective Board of Directors. David Scalzo of Kirenaga is an advisor.
Kirenaga Partners is pleased to announce it completed a Series A investment in Violet Defense Group, a technology leader in providing ultraviolet lighting solutions for germ disinfection, as well as agricultural lighting solutions for indoor growing.
Orlando-based Violet Defense utilizes its patented ultraviolet lighting technology to provide full-spectrum germ-killing. Violet Defense’s Surface and Air Germ Elimination (S.A.G.E.) devices can be used in mobile deployments or permanently installed, and their products are currently used in operating rooms, hotels, schools, ambulances, food processing, and athletic facilities. Violet Defense has previously announced collaborations with Siemens and the Orlando Magic, and most recently, is working with Koch Industries in a design collaboration to address PPE and mask issues associated with the COVID-19 crisis.
The investment, led by Kirenaga with participation from existing investor Northwestern University, comes at a time when demand for virus-killing solutions is increasing due to COVID-19. Violet Defense has raised more than $10 million in venture funding, with the vast majority provided by Kirenaga.
Violet Defense expects to use the proceeds to expand its management team, invest in next generation products for both the domestic and international marketplace, and rapidly ramp up manufacturing capacity to meet increased customer demand.
Posted on: November 5th, 2019 by Kirenaga Partners
A new report from Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) leaves little doubt that Florida’s Space Coast is driving the space industry upwards — and stands to benefit from the sector’s continued growth.
Human exploration of space can be a catalyst to grow the industry through increased public and investor awareness, according to an Oct. 29 report by the New York-based investment bank. Morgan Stanley projects the global space industry will be worth $1 trillion by 2040, a leap from the $350 billion the firm values the industry at today.
Posted on: February 1st, 2019 by Kirenaga Partners
Former AOL Chairman and CEO is bringing the Rise of the Rest VC investment tour to Orlando! This means that Orlando based startups will have the opportunity to compete in a high-profile case competition with notable VC investors for substantial publicity in addition to a $100k investment for the winner. The Orlando Sentinel even tapped our own Terry Berland for comment on the development.
We at Kirenaga are excited for the additional attention this will bring for local startups. Also, we look forward to seeing how our own darlings perform in the case competition.
Finally, if you would like to learn more about Rise of the Rest, please see the Orlando Sentinel article at the link below.
