When the Colorado Springs startup True Anomaly launched to the public early this month, it had a new factory, 57 employees and $30 million in raised capital — as well as the formidable goal of preparing the U.S. military for space warfare.
The space tech startup, founded by four U.S. Air Force and Space Force veterans, is building software and spacecraft that aim to fortify the country's security in space and keep commercial and military assets safe from attacks.
Even Rogers, True Anomaly's CEO and co-founder, argued that the U.S. has fallen behind with its space capabilities over the past 20 years as the military and its allies have focused primarily on counterinsurgency operations. If the military doesn't bolster its security in space, the U.S. could experience attacks against its spacecraft that might lead to "potentially catastrophic debris-generating outcomes," Rogers said.
“Space-based technologies have played a pivotal role in enabling the U.S. to employ instruments of national power, and it’s imperative that we invest in upgrading and protecting those technologies,” co-founder and CEO Even Rogers said in a statement. “If we don’t act quickly and with a sense of urgency, our nation and its allies will be at an increased risk of geopolitical conflict and escalation of conflict that extends into space."
True Anomaly emerged from stealth on April 6 with a $17 million Series A raise, bringing its total venture capital to $30 million since its founding in 2022. Eclipse Ventures led the round. Riot Ventures, Champion Hill Ventures, Space.VC and Narya also participated.
The startup plans to use the funding to scale the production of its Jackal Autonomous Orbital Vehicle, which was designed to study space objects at close range. The spacecraft collects photos, videos and data about any space objects in orbit, and it's operated by humans with the assistance of artificial intelligence pilots.
True Anomaly opened a 35,000-square-foot factory in Centennial, where the Jackal will be produced, the startup said. Since its founding, it's hired 57 employees and is currently hiring a spacecraft technician and engineers, among other roles.
In addition to producing Jackal, True Anomaly developed a software platform that can take spacecraft pilots with the U.S. Space Force through wargaming and training.
According to a 2022 report from the Defense Intelligence Agency, China and Russia’s space-based capabilities continue to improve. The report states that those countries could seek out methods to exploit the reliance the U.S. has on space-based systems, including the use of space-based communication and navigation services that aids troops who are engaged in conflicts.
Seth Winterroth, a partner at Eclipse, thinks the country's advantage in space is waning but that the team at True Anomaly has the expertise to make improvements.
Before co-founding True Anomaly, Rogers served as an officer in the Air Force for about 10 years, leading teams of space operators, scientists, and engineers to develop systems that were designed to protect U.S. and allied assets in orbit.
Co-founder and CTO Dan Brunski also served in the Air Force as a space operations officer, and co-founder and CPO Tom Nichols served in the U.S. Space Command, where he oversaw initiatives designed to bolster space defense. Lastly, co-founder and chief engineer Kyle Zakrzewski was the chief of training for orbital warfare in the Air Force, where he gained a deep understanding of the Space Force's capabilities and needs, according to the startup.
"True Anomaly is the purpose-built team with the tactical, technological and defense procurement expertise to develop the necessary capabilities to regain our military advantages in space and ultimately, bolster national security," Winterroth said.
