At the Expo!
Chris is out in the wild! Be sure to keep an eye out and stop him to say hi! We love connecting with you all in person.
We’re also out with one of our portfolio stars: Trimagentix – great opportunity for you to plug into one of the most bleeding edge innovations in chip tech and compute, as early as you’ll hear about it.
Shoot us an email to coordinate, don't miss your chance to connect! [email protected].
Let's make magic happen during this stellar week!
Our Friend Robert Katz and Actuate partner Christopher Le
Some Insights From Day 1
More startups than ever on the floor. Noticeably more early-stage companies this year compared to prior years — the exhibit halls feel younger and more entrepreneurial, a great signal that capital is still flowing into the new space landscape, despite broader market uncertainty.
Drone show was a hit. The post-ceremony drone show at the lake drew real energy. Programmed by students from the Innovation Center of St. Vrain Valley Schools, it set an energetic and optimistic tone for the week, and is kind of a symbol of the next generation entering the space ecosystem.
Jared Isaacman opened the ceremony. As NASA Administrator, Isaacman headlined Day 1 alongside Space Foundation CEO Maj. Gen. Heather Pringle and OSTP Director Michael Kratsios to discuss infrastructure and innovation supporting U.S. space priorities. His framing from prior events has been consistent: success and failure is no longer measured in years, but in months — a signal of a much faster operational tempo for both government and industry.
Incredible optimism, with a SpaceX-shaped shadow. The dominant subtext of Day 1 conversations was a split sentiment: enormous excitement about the new space age — tempered by real anxiety about what a SpaceX IPO at a ~$1.75 Trillion valuation could do to the rest of the industry…
Our Startup Friends & Who We’re Excited to See This Year
Shoutout to a few startups doing incredible some work — be sure to check them out as you're on the floor this week. (Happy to make direct intros as well, just reply to this email)
Trimagnetix: A small but mighty Seattle team rethinking compute from first principles. Their nanomagnetic chips slash energy use, generate almost no heat, and are naturally radiation-resistant – making them a perfect fit for space. Early stage and exactly the kind of deep-tech bet that changes industries.
CisLunar Industries: These folks are building modular metal foundries that recycle orbital debris into fuel and raw materials for in-space manufacturing. DARPA and the Space Force have both taken notice, and they've already validated the tech in microgravity.
Rendezvous Robotics: Born at MIT, tested twice on the ISS, and based right here in Colorado. Their flat-packed modular tiles launch folded up, then autonomously swarm and snap together in orbit using electromagnetics – building structures far larger than any rocket could carry whole. We're talking antennas the size of football fields, orbital solar farms, space data centers. $3M raised and just getting started.
Tomorrow’s Investors at the Cutting Edge Breakfast - 8:30-10:30AM, Wednesday, April 15th
Breakfast for Investors & Allocators | Space Symposium 2026
Actuate Ventures and Strativ Group are hosting an intimate breakfast for VCs, LPs, and GPs investing in cutting-edge technologies.
Join fellow capital allocators, fund managers, and venture studio leaders for candid conversation in a relaxed setting.
Spaces are limited and attendance requires approval.
Apply now → https://luma.com/7qf6oh6o
See you there! 🌟
MEET OUR HOSTS AND SPONSORS:
Actuate Ventures is an innovation ecosystem to fund, found, and scale deep-tech and space-tech startups focused on the advancement of humanity. (Currently raising our early stage venture fund, contact us for more information)
Strativ Group Scale faster, hire smarter. Global talent solutions designed for unlimited growth. We’ve helped over 500 companies just like yours, scale successfully & cost-effectively.
Strativ Group lives for innovation - partnering with ambitious businesses that make the world a better, safer and more sustainable place. Simply put, we help our partners scale by solving the biggest challenge – people. We are experts in people and how to attract, headhunt, retain & develop world class talent
Upcoming events for Q2
Get ready for an epic journey in 2026 as we hit the road for a whirlwind of incredible events! If you're eager to team up and make some magic happen, let's join forces and create unforgettable experiences together!
Olympic Orbits (Space Tank) - April 13th
Web Summit Vancouver - May 11th-14th
New York Tech Week - June 1st - 7th
Seattle Deep Tech Week - June 8th - 13th
HOW CAN WE HELP?
Questions about space-tech or deep-tech investments?
Need expert-led Due Diligence?
Looking for talent for your team?
Want to implement internal venture-building capabilities?
Interested in any of these portfolio company’s next round?
Contact our team at Actuate Ventures for official investment advisory & consulting, 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,
