Austin and El Segundo-based Slingshot Aerospace was created from the understanding that despite the vast quantities of data gathered by observation technologies – from satellites to aircraft and drones – converting this information into useful, timely insights often presented a significant challenge. Frequently, critical information that could have aided Air Force pilots during a mission, for example, would only be available after the mission had concluded. Founded three years ago, Slingshot Aerospace aims to transform Earth and space-based observation data into readily accessible intelligence, and the company has now secured $8 million in Series A funding to facilitate team expansion and broaden its industry focus beyond its current aerospace and defense clientele.

I discussed Slingshot Aerospace’s recent funding – bringing the company’s total funding to $17.1 million – with co-founders David Godwin and Melanie Stricklan. The startup is already experiencing substantial revenue generation, having secured early contracts with organizations such as NASA, the U.S. Air Force, Northrop Grumman, Boeing, and, most recently, the U.S. Space Force for its upcoming Slingshot Orbital Laboratory simulated training environment.

Godwin, Slingshot’s CEO, noted that the company’s initial focus has been primarily on the aerospace and defense sectors, which accounts for its impressive roster of early customers. This emphasis stems in part from the backgrounds of Stricklan, the company’s chief strategy officer, and co-founder Thomas Ashman, both of whom served for many years in the Air Force before establishing the company.

“Over the last two to three years, we haven’t encountered a shortage of opportunities within the aerospace and government sectors,” Godwin explained. “This has naturally commanded much of our attention. However, in the past year, we’ve begun exploring other potential markets, defining our approach to these areas, and identifying viable opportunities. We’ve identified considerable potential, and are currently developing a strategic plan to determine which direction to prioritize.”

Demand for Slingshot’s capabilities is expected to remain strong. As previously mentioned, the startup is unlocking valuable insights from data that was previously difficult to utilize due to the lengthy processing times required for data center round-trips and off-site analysis. While technological advancements have created the potential for more timely data processing, existing systems have not fully kept pace.

“During my 21 years in the Air Force, I operated a surveillance aircraft equipped with a synthetic aperture radar,” Stricklan explained. “This radar could penetrate rain, clouds, and darkness, unlike many Earth observation optical systems, and it offered a broad and extensive range. This data set was exceptionally rich and held significant potential. The aircraft I flew on, known as JSTARS, functioned as a battle management platform, integrating data feeds from various sources – satellites, ground intelligence, and other aircraft like AWACS [Airborne Warning and Control System]. A key challenge was delivering real-time information to warfighters or enabling real-time decision-making onboard the aircraft from a battle management standpoint.”

Stricklan stated that the only real-time intelligence available during her time on JSTARS was moving target indicators, simply showing the presence of moving objects on the ground. More comprehensive and valuable insights derived from analyzing the combined data often took hours, days, weeks, or even months to become available. Slingshot utilizes Godwin’s extensive experience in data analytics to deliver “the right data, at the right time, all in one place,” facilitating “faster, better-informed decision-making.”

This capability is clearly valuable to organizations like the U.S. Space Force, which is focused on establishing security within a new domain of warfare, but it also benefits private companies and commercial operators. A promising area for growth for Slingshot is in the operation of commercial satellite constellations, where the increasing launch frequency from private companies makes situational awareness increasingly critical.

Slingshot Aerospace is expanding its team, currently numbering nearly 30 employees, with plans to hire additional engineers using the new funding. The Series A round was led by ATX Venture Partners, along with Steve Case’s Rise of the Rest Seed fund, Techstars, and Okapi Venture Capital. Angel investors, including the co-founders of Semetric, which was acquired by Apple, also participated.