Satellite Spotlight | Slingshot Aerospace launches first ever Sovereign Space Object Tracking

An Imagining Forward Newsletter, Edition #20

Author

Imagining Forward
April 29, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 6 minutes

connecting the deep tech ecosystem with a weekly curated newsletter

space brew

// Fascinating topics to discuss this week

deal flow

government

  • House & Senate via a partisan tactic are set to pass $150B additional funding for 11 priority areas including satellites, launch infrastructure, energy, hypersonic test beds, space sensors (SN).

seed

  • Durin raises $3.4M Pre Seed by 8090, A16z, Day One & Lux for critical mineral mining (CC).

series A+

  • Craif raises $22M Series C for miRNA-led early cancer detection (TC).

  • IXI exits stealth with a $36.5M Series A by Amazon Alexa & Plural for dynamic vision correction eyewear (TC).

  • Glacier raises $16M Series A by Ecosystem Ventures, AlleyCorp, Alumni, & Alumni for computer vision driven robotic recycling (TC).

  • Endor raises $93M Series B by DFJ, Salesforce, & Lightspeed for AI-generated code security (TC).

  • Biolinq raises $100M Series C financing by Alphawave for wearable glucose sensor (LT).

  • Photopharmics raises $6M Series B for novel light therapy device for Parkinson’s (LT).

  • Superpower raises $30M Series A by Forerunner, Lightspeed, & Steve Aoki for AI healthcare app (LT).

  • Near Space Labs raises $20M Series B by Bold Capital, Draper, USAA for geospatial intelligence (BW).

m&a & public

  • Spire Global sells maritime tracking unit to Kpler for $221M settling a litigation spat too pay off outstanding debts (SN).

  • Astrotech (LMT subsidiary) wins $77.5M from USSF to scale satellite-processing services & support bottlenecked launch providers (SN).

  • Katalyst buys Atmos Space’s payload transfer capabilities in a push for broader in-space servicing & SDA (SN).

headlines

🚀

  • DoD’s Golden Dome bottlenecked by legacy data architecture seeks innovative agile solution for cyber, RF, & kinetic threat actors (SN).

  • IBM earmarks $150B investment pledging 20% for quantum (TC).

  • EWOR launches $68M founder fellowship fund with focus on 3D printing & biotech (TC).

🤖

  • Kraken Robotics revenue spikes 31% with ocean imaging tech mix & smart LiDAR M&A bets (AR).

  • Xanadu partners with US AFRL on silicon photonic circuits for quantum computing (AT).

🔬

  • US federal budget cuts shutter NASA GISS New York City lab studying climate tech (SC).

community spotlight

today, 04/29

  • AI roundtable x Databricks x Anthropic (NYC).

  • NASA JPL Tour (LA).

  • Security happy hour (SF).

  • Security roundtable (SF).

wednesday, 04/30

  • Hack night x Microsoft (NYC).

  • Orbital Data Centers x Axiom Space x AWS (NYC).

  • Decarbonization, Energy & Design (LA).

  • Hardtech happy hour (LA).

  • Security x AI x Sci Fi (SF).

thursday, 05/01

  • Energy x Climate tech roundtable (NYC).

  • Tech breakfast (LA).

  • Deep Tech in Media (LA).

  • Payload Space happy hour (LA).

upcoming

  • eVTOL tactical mobility for Marines (DC).

  • Our marquee NYTW panel - Commerce in Space (NY).

  • Launching TTW panel - Quantum in Space (TO).

cosmic weekly insights

Bullseye galaxy by @latestingalaxy on X

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📅 2025 Calendar: Must-attend space tech, deep tech events in North America.

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