Company: Satlyt
Founded: 2024
Headquarters: San Jose, California
Funding: Pre-seed (Antler VC, Slauson & Co, Angels); $1M NASA STTR Phase I grant; San Jose AI Innovation Grant

Satlyt is a rare software-only space startup. Led by Rama Afullo, the "Above-Cloud Service Provider", a fitting description for a company designing the communication fabric of distributed computing on-orbit. They represent an ever growing segment of providers that don't need high capital costs, timelines, or risk. All the benefits of SaaS with the appeal and untapped potential of space.

By building a standardized, software-first protocol for satellites, Satlyt is tackling one of the most persistent challenges in space infrastructure: unreliable communication between assets. Their platform enables satellites to connect, share compute resources, and relay data in real time, effectively turning space into a functional extension of the cloud.

The number of satellites in orbit is growing rapidly (16k in 2025, 100k by 2030), but without a robust networking layer, the full potential of space-based infrastructure remains limited. Satlyt's approach is critical because it provides a scalable solution to latency and data loss issues in satellite communications.

Enabling satellites to directly trade bandwidth, compute, and data could unlock a new era of space-based services, from Earth observation and defense applications to orbital cloud computing. By creating interoperability, Satlyt is positioning itself as a foundational layer of the future space economy. It will be a great, and potentially essential, compliment to the future of space-compute and services. 

Satlyt boasts a strong signal with their early momentum. The startup is one of only 47 companies awarded a $1 million NASA STTR Phase I grant in 2025, and was recently selected as one of just four recipients of San Jose's AI Innovation Grant.

The technical team includes 7 engineers, each with advanced degrees, and they’ve shipped early iterations of their communication protocol.

Two satellites carrying Satlyt's software are scheduled to launch in Q4 2025, giving them an early opportunity to validate their technology on-orbit and accelerate adoption among even more satellite operators.

Satlyt combines a strong technical foundation with early market validation in one of the fastest-growing technology frontiers.

Their leadership includes experience at Starlink,, Google, and Tesla which brings not only credibility, but a contextual understanding of the problem space itself. The company continues to grow its team and expand infrastructure, offering investors a chance to back an enabling technology with clear government and commercial demand.

As satellite constellations multiply, the need for a standardized communication backbone will only grow, along with the opportunity to leverage the networked infrastructure they’re targeting – making Satlyt a potentially indispensable player in space networking.

Learn more at: satlyt.ai

EMAIL US FOR A DIRECT INTRODUCTION TO RAMA →

ID.me, based in Virginia, secured $340 million in Series E funding to expand its digital identity platform and combat AI-driven fraud.

Dozens of U.S. AI startups smashed the $100 million funding milestone in 2025 alone, including EliseAI and Decart, demonstrating broad investor confidence in AI-driven automation for industries like healthcare and legal.

The U.S. and Indian venture firms announced a $1B+ deep tech investment alliance to accelerate technology startup funding, providing capital and market access for U.S.-incorporated and U.S.-backed Indian ventures.

Quantinuum, the U.S./U.K. quantum giant, raised $600 million with investment from Nvidia’s venture arm to drive quantum chip R&D and expand cloud-based quantum computing access.

Houston-based Elemental Advanced Materials landed $20 million in funding to expand its patented, low-emission carbon nanomaterials platform for industrial deep tech applications, leading the charge on U.S. advanced materials innovation.

Quantum computing startup IonQ announced its $1.25 billion acquisition of Oxford Ionics and fresh funding from growth investors, cementing its strategy as the U.S. leader in trapped-ion quantum technology.

Early this year, Massachusetts' MassVentures awarded $4.5 million in grants to 26 early-stage deep tech startups, supporting next-generation hardware, quantum, and industrial tech companies in the state.

Harper Court Ventures Fund I was launched with $25 million to back early-stage deep tech startups coming out of the University of Chicago. Managed by MFV Partners, it aims to build a globally recognized deep-tech hub in the Midwest.

Contact our team at Actuate Ventures for official investment advisory, exclusive deal flow, market insights, and world-class venture building support from us, and our network of experts and repository of resources. Email us at: [email protected] and read more about it on our site.

"Insights from the Cutting Edge" is published by Actuate Ventures. Visit actuateventures.co to learn more.

Disclaimer: This newsletter is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.

For the Advancement of Humanity,