Top 6 Venture Capital Firms Fueling Aerospace Startups

For founders in the aerospace and space tech sectors, preparing to raise capital means finding investors who truly understand the field. Identifying the right venture capital firms—those with deep tech expertise and a history of backing ambitious projects—is a critical first step toward a successful partnership.

To help you with your research, our team at Rho has curated this guide to some of the top VC firms investing in aerospace. We've focused on a mix of early-stage and late-stage venture capital firms to give you a clear starting point for your fundraising efforts.

Actively raising? You can now access non-dilutive funding options like venture debt and credit lines through Rho Capital. Rho provides access to business banking, corporate cards, and bill pay — built for startup teams moving fast.

Key Takeaways

• For aerospace startups, securing venture funding provides the capital to scale operations, advance research, and bring new technologies to market.
• Venture firms like Airbus Ventures, Lockheed Martin Ventures, Elefund, and JetBlue Ventures are notable backers of startups and small businesses in the aerospace industry.
• If you are a startup leader raising capital or have just closed a round, Rho helps you manage your funds with fast business banking, corporate cards, and bill pay.

Which VC Firms in Aerospace Are Right for Your Stage?

Whether you're an early-stage company or closer to an exit, it helps to know who to talk to. Here is a quick overview of which VC firms in the aerospace sector invest at each stage.

Pre-seed and Seed VC Firms in Aerospace

Pre-seed and seed funding is the initial capital raised to validate a concept and build a minimum viable product. For founders in the space tech sector, firms like Starbridge Venture Capital and Elefund are known for their seed-stage investments.

Early Stage VC Firms in Aerospace

Early-stage funding, typically Series A and B, helps you scale your team and operations once you have established market traction. Some notable early-stage venture capital firms in this area include Lockheed Martin Ventures and JetBlue Ventures.

Once your funding is secured, Rho’s integrated financial platform—with business banking, corporate cards, and automated bill pay—helps you 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. Deep tech VC firms like Airbus Ventures and Trajectory Ventures often participate in these later rounds.

Keep in mind that many venture capital firms invest across multiple funding stages. If you are looking for non-dilutive financing to complement an equity round, Rho Capital helps you access options like venture debt and credit lines through a fast, guided process.

To help you identify the right investors, we've compiled information on leading VC firms in the aerospace sector. Below, you'll find details on their preferred investment stages, locations of focus, and specific strengths that may align with your company's goals.

1. Airbus Ventures

As the corporate venture capital arm of Airbus, Airbus Ventures backs entrepreneurs building the future of aerospace and adjacent industries. The firm is based in Menlo Park and has been investing since 2015.

The firm invests across multiple stages, from seed to late-stage, with a clear focus on deep tech and companies with ambitious goals. Its portfolio includes pioneers in quantum computing, LiDAR for autonomous vehicles, and in-space mobility.

Airbus Ventures is a strong potential partner for founders with capital-intensive, technically complex ideas who need an investor with deep industry connections. If you're also exploring non-dilutive financing, Rho Capital can connect you with venture debt and other options to complement your equity round.

• Investment stages: Seed to late-stage venture
• Industries of focus: Aerospace, deep tech
• Geographical presence: Menlo Park, California
• Founded: 2015
• Notable investments: The portfolio includes deep tech companies such as IonQ (quantum computing), AEye (LiDAR vision), and Impulse Space (in-space mobility).
• Portfolio size: 98 investments

You can refer to their website here.

2. Lockheed Martin Ventures

As the venture capital arm of Lockheed Martin Corporation, this firm has been investing since 2007. Based in Bethesda, Maryland, it focuses on companies that align with the parent corporation's strategic interests in national security and technology.

Lockheed Martin Ventures concentrates on early-stage investments in deep tech, particularly in aerospace, security, and hardware. Its backing of companies like Terran Orbital, a small-satellite manufacturer, signals a clear focus on technologies with dual-use applications.

This firm is an ideal partner for founders whose technology has clear applications in the defense or security sectors and who can benefit from a strategic corporate partner. Once you secure funding, Rho’s integrated platform helps you manage your new capital with business banking, corporate cards, and automated bill pay.

• Investment stages: Early Stage Venture
• Industries of focus: Aerospace, national security, hardware, space travel
• Geographical presence: Bethesda, Maryland
• Founded: 2007
• Notable investments: The portfolio includes Terran Orbital (small-satellites), Ayar Labs (silicon photonics), and DUST Identity (hardware authentication), as detailed on Golden.
• Portfolio size: 91 investments

You can refer to their website here.

3. Elefund

Elefund is a thesis-driven micro-VC firm based in Mountain View, California, that invests in early-stage technology companies. Since its founding in 2015, the firm has built a reputation for backing ambitious founders across several high-growth sectors.

The firm's portfolio shows a strong focus on consumer technology and fintech, with standout investments in unicorn companies like Robinhood, Calm, and Carta. This track record suggests a product-centric approach and an ability to identify companies with the potential for widespread adoption.

Elefund is a great potential partner for founders building tech-forward companies in sectors like fintech, wellness, and insurance, especially at the seed stage. If you're also considering non-dilutive financing, Rho Capital can help you find venture debt options to extend your runway.

• Investment stages: Seed and early-stage venture
• Industries of focus: Aerospace, FinTech, Mobile Apps, Wellness, Insurance
• Geographical presence: Mountain View, California
• Founded: 2015
• Notable investments: 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, this firm invests in seed-stage startups focused on improving the future of travel and hospitality. Operating out of San Carlos, California, since 2016, they partner with companies that align with their parent corporation's strategic interests.

The firm's portfolio highlights a commitment to the entire travel ecosystem, backing companies like Aether Fuels for sustainable aviation and Tomorrow.io for weather intelligence. Their successful exit with Joby Aviation, which became publicly traded, shows their experience in guiding companies to significant milestones.

JetBlue Ventures is an excellent match for founders of early-stage travel tech companies who would benefit from a strategic partnership with a major airline. Once you secure funding, Rho’s integrated platform helps you manage your new capital with business banking, corporate cards, and automated bill pay.

• Investment stages: Seed to late-stage venture
• Industries of focus: Travel, Hospitality, Aerospace, Sustainability
• Geographical presence: San Carlos, California
• Founded: 2016
• Notable investments: The firm's portfolio includes Joby Aviation (eVTOL aircraft), Tomorrow.io (weather intelligence), and Aether Fuels (sustainable e-fuels).
• Portfolio size: 58 investments

You can refer to their website here.

5. Starbridge Venture Capital

Based in Washington, D.C., Starbridge Venture Capital was founded in 2017 to fund founders working on transformative technologies. The firm backs companies that are opening new frontiers or fundamentally changing existing industries.

Starbridge has a clear focus on ambitious, capital-intensive companies in the space and deep tech sectors. Its portfolio features some of the most significant names in the industry, including SpaceX and Axiom Space, signaling a strong network and an appetite for high-impact ventures.

This firm is an excellent potential partner for founders with technically complex ideas who need an investor with a proven track record in the space economy. If you are raising a significant round, Rho Capital can also help you access non-dilutive financing like venture debt to complement your equity raise.

• Investment stages: Seed, Early Stage Venture
• Industries of focus: Aerospace, Satellite Communication, Space Travel, Telecommunications
• Geographical presence: Washington, D.C.
• Founded: 2017
• Notable investments: The firm's portfolio includes SpaceX, Axiom Space, Commonwealth Fusion Systems, and Lynk Global.
• Portfolio size: 25 investments

You can refer to their website here.

6. Trajectory Ventures

Based in New York, Trajectory Ventures was founded in 2012 to back companies driving significant digital change. The firm invests across the full company lifecycle, from initial seed rounds to late-stage private equity.

The firm's portfolio shows a broad interest in technically complex fields, with investments in AI hardware, space technology, and developer tools. Notable companies include AI-chip maker Groq, reusable rocket developer Stoke Space, and the market intelligence platform AlphaSense.

Trajectory Ventures is a good fit for founders building capital-intensive businesses who need a long-term financial partner. If you are raising a significant round, Rho Capital can also help you access non-dilutive financing like venture debt to complement your equity raise.

• Investment stages: Seed, early-stage, late-stage venture, and private equity
• Industries of focus: Aerospace, AI, Developer Tools, E-Commerce, Electric Vehicles
• Geographical presence: New York, New York
• Founded: 2012
• Notable investments: The portfolio includes Groq (AI chips), Stoke Space (reusable rockets), AlphaSense (market intelligence), and Monarch Tractor (electric tractors).
• Portfolio size: 115 investments

You can refer to their website here.

What This Tells Us About The VC Scene for Aerospace Companies

The venture capital firms on this list show a well-balanced funding environment for aerospace companies. You'll find investors focused on every stage, from seed rounds for early concepts to late-stage capital for scaling operations. The mix of corporate venture arms and traditional VCs also gives you options, whether you are looking for a strategic industry partner or a purely financial one.

Geographically, investors are not concentrated in one area. While there is a strong presence in California, you will also find key firms in major East Coast hubs like New York and Washington, D.C. This diversity provides more opportunities for founders to connect with the right partners.

As you prepare for your next steps, remember that managing your capital is as important as raising it. Once your funding is secured, Rho’s integrated financial tools—including business banking, corporate cards, and automated bill pay—help you manage and deploy capital efficiently.

Raise Confidently with Rho

Raising capital requires significant focus, and knowing which investors to approach is a critical advantage. We hope this list helps you direct your energy toward the conversations that matter most.

If you’re seeking funding, Rho Capital connects you to non-dilutive funding options like venture debt and credit lines through a fast, guided process. We help you access financing suited to your business model without chasing lenders.

Once your capital is secured, Rho provides integrated tools to help you manage and deploy funds efficiently. Our platform includes business banking, corporate cards, and automated bill pay to support your growth.

FAQs about Venture Capital Firms Focused on Aerospace

Are there aerospace venture capital firms outside the US?

Yes, while the US has a strong concentration of aerospace investors, Europe and Asia also have active firms. Look for VCs in hubs like London, Berlin, and Singapore that specialize in deep tech or industrial technologies.

How do I find seed-stage venture capital firms for my aerospace startup?

Focus on firms that explicitly state a seed-stage interest in deep tech or frontier technology. Many early-stage investors, like Starbridge Venture Capital and Elefund from our list, are open to funding promising concepts before significant traction is established.

What is the difference between corporate and traditional VCs in aerospace?

Corporate VCs, like Airbus Ventures, are arms of larger corporations and often seek strategic alignment. Traditional VCs are purely financial partners focused on returns. Your choice depends on whether you value industry connections or financial independence more.

What do deep tech VC firms look for in an aerospace company?

Investors look for a strong technical team, a clear and defensible technological advantage, and a large addressable market. They want to see a credible plan for navigating long development cycles and complex regulatory hurdles.

What if I need funding but am not ready for equity financing?

You can explore non-dilutive options. Rho Capital helps you access venture debt and credit lines through a guided process, providing capital that complements your fundraising strategy without giving up equity before you are ready.

How can Rho help after I close my funding round?

Once funded, our integrated platform helps you manage your new capital with business banking, corporate cards, and automated bill pay. Rho provides the financial tools to support your company’s growth.