Firefly, Nscale, Cirrus: $2B+ Drives Space, Defense & Blindness Tech

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PSA We are hosting an in-orbit manufacturing panel at LA Tech Week. Dm if you know a founder who should join as a panelist.

space brew

deal flow

government

• MT&S wins $972M IDIQ contract by USAF for training & simulation systems (AT).

• Thales Alenia Space wins $58M contract by ESA for quantum cryptography QKD (VS).

• Sidus Space wins $21M IDIQ contract by US Army for parts & components in TYAD operations (VS).

• ExLabs wins $1.9M tactical funding by USSF for autonomous spacecrafts (EL).

• Cubic Defense wins cost plus fixed fee contract by USAF AFRL for high through put satcom antennas (AT).

seed

• Cirrus Therapeutics raises $11M Seed for gene therapy for blindness (LT).

• SafeHill raises $2.6M Pre Seed by Mucker, Chingona, Techstars for continuous threat exposure management CTEM (FG).

• Terra Robotics raises $2.1M Seed by Uni.Fund, Genesis, Helidoni for precision agriculture laser weeding (IG).

• Akashalabdhi raises $1.2M Pre Seed for expandable orbital infrastructure modules (ET).

series A+

• Nscale raises $1.1B Series B to roll out AI data centers globally (SW).

• Oneleet raises $33M Series A by Dawn Capital, YC for security compliance (TC).

• Commcrete raises $21M Series A by Greenfield, Redseed to scale tactical satcom (PR).

m&a

• Firefly to acquire SciTec for $855M cash-stock split to vertically integrate analytics into defense systems (RT).

• Vitesse Systems acquires Spacetime Engtineering to expand RF link closure across space, air, & ground (VS).

headlines

• EchoStar secures highest priority NGSO spectrum in win for Starlink D2D service (VS).

• Karrier One & Iridium Communication partner to scale decentralized D2D telecom globally for ISR (VS).

• Fleet Space Technologies builds hyperfactory producing sensors for mining exploration (VS).

• SpaceX & United Launch Alliance win 2026 national security launches with a 70-30 split as Blue Origin awaits certification (VS).

• Sierra Space achieves TRL to deliver 18 satellites with infrared sensors under $740M space defense contract (AT).

community spotlight

It’s SF Tech Week!

today, 10/06

• Space Data Gold Rush Panel x Dennis Wingo (SpaceBilt), Ghonhee Lee (Katalyst), Justin Schalkwyk (Azora) (SF). 🚀

• Physical AI breakfast (SF).

• AI in healthcare (SF).

• Sustainable AI (SF).

• Grid innovation happy hour (SF).

• Women in AI (NYC).

• Microplastics tour (LA).

tuesday, 10/07

• Deep tech breakfast (SF).

• Asimov x Robotics (SF).

• Construction tech (SF).

wednesday, 10/08

• Renewable energy x taxes (NYC).

• Silicon AI builders breakfast (NYC).

• Deep tech nexus (SF).

• Deep tech investor breakfast (SF).

thursday, 10/09

• Pioneer startup speakeasy (NYC).

• Quantum x IBM (SF).

• Quantum x algorithmic trading (SF).

• Robotics happy hour (SF).

• Hardware happy hour (SF).

friday, 10/10

• NASA tour : SoCal Deep Tech Week (LA).

upcoming

• Building in Space x Imagining Forward (LA).

• Space Civilization Builders (LA).

View full calendar of industry events.

cosmic weekly insights

Company Highlight

Taram simplifies global trade and logistics. Exporters and importers can track deals, book logistics, send remittances, clear customs, and access financing with an agentic AI Whatsapp assistant. Contact Manoj Krishnamaraja @ [email protected] for queries.

Framework Films creates captivating video content for deep tech demos and prototypes. Check out their high fidelity film for Series A, electric air mobility VÆRIDION. Contact Mike Lindle @ [email protected] for queries.

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