Top 6 Venture Capital Firms Fueling Aerospace Startups
Find the right VC for your aerospace startup. Once you're funded, our platform helps you manage and deploy your capital efficiently.
Rho Editorial Team
When you're preparing to raise capital for your aerospace or space tech startup, understanding the investor ecosystem is a critical first step. Finding a VC firm that specializes in deep tech or defense applications can make all the difference in securing a valuable partnership.
To help you with your research, our team has curated this overview of the top venture capital firms active in the aerospace industry. Use it to identify the investors most relevant to your business before you begin your outreach.
Rho provides access to business banking, corporate cards, and bill pay — built for startup teams moving fast.
Key Takeaways
For startups in the aerospace sector, securing venture funding provides the significant capital required for long development cycles and validation from partners with industry experience.
Notable backers of aerospace startups include specialized VCs like Airbus Ventures, Lockheed Martin Ventures, Elefund, and JetBlue Ventures.
Once you secure funding, a financial platform like Rho helps you manage and deploy your capital with integrated business banking, corporate cards, and automated bill pay.
Which VC Firms in Aerospace Are Right for Your Stage?
Knowing the right investors to talk to is important at every point in your company's journey, from the early days to a future exit.
To help, we've put together a quick look at which aerospace VC firms invest at each stage.
Pre-seed and Seed VC Firms in Aerospace
Pre-seed and seed funding are the earliest forms of capital, typically used to develop your initial product and establish market fit. For founders in the aerospace and deep tech sectors, firms like Starbridge VC and Elefund are active at this initial stage, while corporate VCs like JetBlue Ventures also participate in seed rounds.
Early Stage VC Firms in Aerospace
Early-stage funding, which includes Series A and Series B rounds, helps you scale your operations and grow your customer base. Among US venture capital firms in the defense and space tech industries, you might connect with investors like Lockheed Martin Ventures or Starbridge VC.
Once funding is secured, Rho’s integrated financial tools—including business banking, corporate cards, and automated bill pay—help startups manage and deploy capital efficiently.
Late Stage VC Firms in Aerospace
Late-stage rounds provide significant capital for mature companies to expand into new markets or prepare for an exit, such as an IPO or acquisition. While many deep tech VC firms invest across the spectrum, investors like Airbus Ventures and Trajectory Ventures have a track record of participating in later rounds for aerospace startups.
Keep in mind that some of the most active venture capital firms invest across multiple funding stages, from seed to late-stage rounds.
To help you identify the right partners, we've compiled an overview of the top VC firms in the aerospace sector. You'll find key details on their investment stages, geographic focus, and what makes each firm distinct.
1. Airbus Ventures
As the venture capital arm of the global aerospace corporation, Airbus Ventures backs entrepreneurs developing technologies that will shape the future of the industry. The firm invests across all stages, from seed to late-stage rounds, and its portfolio includes deep tech companies like the quantum-computing firm IonQ and the in-space mobility startup Impulse Space.
This focus on foundational technologies with long-term impact indicates their strategic approach. This firm could be a great partner if you are building a company in a complex, technical field related to aerospace and are looking for an investor with deep industry expertise and a global network.
Once funding is secured, Rho’s integrated financial tools—including business banking, corporate cards, and automated bill pay—help startups manage and deploy capital efficiently.
Investment stages: Seed, Early Stage, Late Stage, Convertible Note
Industries of focus: Aerospace, deep tech, finance
Geographical presence: Based in Menlo Park, California
Founded: 2015
Notable portfolio companies: IonQ, AEye, Impulse Space, Quantum Systems
Portfolio size: 98 investments
You can refer to their website here.
2. Lockheed Martin Ventures
Lockheed Martin Ventures is the corporate venture capital arm of the global security and aerospace company, Lockheed Martin. The firm focuses on early-stage investments in companies that are developing technologies with strategic importance to its parent corporation.
The firm's investment portfolio shows a clear preference for deep tech and hardware with applications in national security and space. For example, they backed Terran Orbital, a small-satellite manufacturer that is now publicly traded, and Ayar Labs, a silicon-photonics company.
This firm is an excellent potential partner if your startup is building technology in areas like security, advanced hardware, or space travel. A partnership could provide not just capital, but also deep industry alignment and potential collaboration with Lockheed Martin itself.
Once funding is secured, Rho’s integrated financial tools—including business banking, corporate cards, and automated bill pay—help startups manage and deploy capital efficiently.
Investment stages: Early Stage Venture
Industries of focus: Aerospace, national security, space travel, hardware
Geographical presence: Based in Bethesda, Maryland
Founded: 2007
Notable portfolio companies: Terran Orbital, Ayar Labs, DUST Identity, Mythic
Portfolio size: 91 investments
You can refer to their website here.
3. Elefund
Elefund is a thesis-driven, micro-VC firm that concentrates on early-stage technology companies. Based in Mountain View, California, the firm primarily makes seed and early-stage venture investments, often through convertible notes.
While the firm lists aerospace as an industry of interest, its portfolio is distinguished by major successes in consumer technology and fintech. They were early backers of now-household names like the trading platform Robinhood, the meditation app Calm, and the equity management platform Carta.
This track record suggests Elefund is an ideal partner for founders building companies with the potential for massive consumer adoption. If you're an early-stage founder in fintech or consumer apps, their experience scaling unicorns could be invaluable.
Once funding is secured, Rho’s integrated financial tools—including business banking, corporate cards, and automated bill pay—help startups manage and deploy capital efficiently.
Investment stages: Seed, Early Stage Venture, Convertible Note
Industries of focus: Aerospace, FinTech, Mobile Apps, Wellness, Insurance
Geographical presence: Based in Mountain View, California
Founded: 2015
Notable portfolio companies: Robinhood, Calm, Carta, Hotel Engine
Portfolio size: 57 investments
You can refer to their website here.
4. JetBlue Ventures
As the corporate venture capital arm of JetBlue, JetBlue Ventures invests in seed-stage startups that are improving the future of travel and hospitality. Their goal is to partner with companies that can enhance the entire travel experience, from booking to arrival.
The firm’s portfolio reflects a broad interest in the travel ecosystem, backing companies like the weather-tech platform Tomorrow.io and sustainable fuel developer Aether Fuels. A notable success includes their investment in Joby Aviation, an eVTOL aircraft developer that became a publicly traded company.
JetBlue Ventures is an ideal partner for founders building technology with direct applications in the travel and hospitality industries. A relationship with them could offer not only capital but also deep strategic alignment with a major airline.
Once funding is secured, Rho’s integrated financial tools—including business banking, corporate cards, and automated bill pay—help startups manage and deploy capital efficiently.
Investment stages: Seed, Early Stage Venture, Late Stage Venture
Industries of focus: Travel, Hospitality, Aerospace, Sustainability
Geographical presence: Based in San Carlos, California
Founded: 2016
Notable portfolio companies: Joby Aviation, Tomorrow.io, Aether Fuels, Shape Security
Portfolio size: 58 investments
You can refer to their website here.
5. Starbridge Venture Capital
Starbridge Venture Capital provides capital to founders working on frontier technologies that aim to open new markets and transform existing ones. The firm focuses on early-stage companies, primarily at the seed and venture stages.
Their portfolio is a collection of some of the most ambitious names in deep tech, including the human spaceflight provider Axiom Space and the fusion-energy unicorn Commonwealth Fusion Systems. This signals a clear focus on capital-intensive, high-impact ventures with the potential to define new industries.
Starbridge could be a strong partner if you are a founder with a visionary, long-term plan in the space, energy, or telecommunications sectors. Their track record suggests they are comfortable backing foundational technologies and complex hardware.
Once funding is secured, Rho’s integrated financial tools—including business banking, corporate cards, and automated bill pay—help startups manage and deploy capital efficiently.
Investment stages: Seed, Early Stage Venture
Industries of focus: Aerospace, Satellite Communication, Space Travel, Telecommunications
Geographical presence: Based in Washington, D.C.
Founded: 2017
Notable portfolio companies: Axiom Space, Commonwealth Fusion Systems, SpaceX, Lynk Global
Portfolio size: 25 investments
You can refer to their website here.
6. Trajectory Ventures
Trajectory Ventures is a New York-based firm that backs companies advancing technologies that drive digital change. The firm is notable for its flexible investment strategy, participating in rounds from seed to private equity across a wide range of industries.
Their portfolio includes ambitious companies like the reusable rocket builder Stoke Space and the AI-chip startup Groq, showing a focus on technically complex ventures. This makes them a good match if you're a founder at any stage building a capital-intensive business, from deep tech hardware to enterprise AI.
Once funding is secured, Rho’s integrated financial tools—including business banking, corporate cards, and automated bill pay—help startups manage and deploy capital efficiently.
Investment stages: Seed, Early Stage Venture, Late Stage Venture, Convertible Note, Private Equity, Secondary Market
Industries of focus: Aerospace, Machine Learning, Electric Vehicle, E-Commerce Platforms, Developer APIs
Geographical presence: Based in New York, New York
Founded: 2012
Notable portfolio companies: Groq, Stoke Space, AlphaSense, Monarch Tractor
Portfolio size: 115 investments
You can refer to their website here.
What This Tells Us About The VC Scene for Aerospace Companies
This group of investors shows a well-balanced funding environment for the aerospace sector. You can find firms that are active across all funding stages, from early seed rounds to significant late-stage financing. This means that whether you are just starting out or are ready to scale, there are potential partners available for your company.
Another key takeaway is the mix of investor types. The list includes corporate venture arms, which can offer deep industry connections, alongside traditional VCs. Geographically, these firms are not concentrated in one area, with strong presences in California, New York, and the D.C. area. This variety gives you more options as you build your fundraising plan.
Once funding is secured, Rho’s integrated financial tools—including business banking, corporate cards, and automated bill pay—help startups manage and deploy capital efficiently.
Raise Confidently with Rho
Fundraising requires your full attention, so a focused list of relevant investors is one of your most valuable assets. It helps you direct your time and energy toward the partnerships that matter most for your company's growth.
Once you've secured your funding, the work of managing that capital begins. If you’ve just raised, Rho can help you set up your financial stack in minutes.
Our platform gives you the tools to deploy your new capital with confidence. We offer integrated business banking, corporate cards, and automated bill pay, all in one place for your startup.
FAQs about Venture Capital Firms Focused on Aerospace
Are there aerospace venture capital firms outside the US?
Yes, the aerospace investment scene is global. You can find active firms in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region, with notable hubs in London, Germany, and Singapore, in addition to the established US market.
Which US cities are hubs for aerospace venture capital firms?
Key hubs for aerospace VCs include traditional tech centers like Silicon Valley and the Bay Area. You'll also find a strong presence in New York, Boston, and the Washington, D.C. area, which is close to government and defense sectors.
Once funding is secured, Rho’s integrated financial tools — including business banking, corporate cards, and automated bill pay — help startups manage and deploy capital efficiently.
How do corporate VCs differ from traditional VCs in aerospace?
Corporate VCs are investment arms of large corporations and often prioritize strategic alignment with their parent company. They can offer deep industry access in addition to capital, which may differ from the purely financial focus of traditional VCs.
What do Series A venture capital firms look for in aerospace startups?
For a Series A round, investors typically want to see a proven prototype, early market traction, and a clear plan for scaling production. You should be able to demonstrate product-market fit and a strong, experienced team.
Once funding is secured, Rho’s integrated financial tools — including business banking, corporate cards, and automated bill pay — help startups manage and deploy capital efficiently.
Do deep tech VC firms invest in aerospace?
Absolutely. Many deep tech VC firms actively invest in aerospace because the industry relies on foundational technologies like AI and advanced materials. These investors are often comfortable with long development cycles and high technical risk.
What is the first step after closing a funding round?
After securing capital, you need to manage it effectively. A unified financial platform is key. Rho helps you open accounts, issue corporate cards, and set up bill pay to deploy your funds with control.