Rendezvous Robotics Raises Pre-Seed Round with Former SpaceX, Blue Origin, Lockheed Martin, and Nokia Team to Build Space Infrastructure

With two orbital demonstrations completed, Rendezvous will advance its 5^th-generation TESSERAE in-space assembly system on the ISS in 2026.

• Co-founded by Dr. Ariel Ekblaw, inventor of TESSERAE at MIT and founder of the Aurelia Institute, together with Phil Frank, an experienced technology executive, and Joe Landon, an experienced space executive.
• Flat-packed, modular systems autonomously assemble scalable infrastructure directly in orbit — solving the bottleneck rockets can't.
• $3M Pre-seed funding supports team expansion and transition from demonstrations to large-scale platforms for national security, commerce and exploration.

GOLDEN, Colo., Sept. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Rendezvous Robotics, a breakthrough space infrastructure company pioneering modular, autonomous in-orbit assembly, today announced the close of its Pre-Seed round and emergence from stealth. Its patented TESSERAE technology was invented at MIT by Dr. Ariel Ekblaw, incubated at the Aurelia Institute, and spun out as Rendezvous co-founded by Ekblaw alongside Phil Frank and Joe Landon. The leadership team brings experience from SpaceX, Blue Origin, Lockheed Martin, and Nokia — spanning aerospace, telecom, and advanced technology — to enable the first-of-its-kind development of large-scale infrastructure built in orbit.

For more than six decades, space infrastructure has been limited by what can be folded up to fit inside rocket fairings. Rendezvous is redefining what's possible by launching modular tiles to assemble systems and infrastructure in space. Its patented flat-packed modular tiles and autonomous swarm robotics assemble directly in orbit using electromagnetic formation flying. The autonomous modules dock, correct mistakes, and can reconfigure over time — creating infrastructure beyond what is currently available: scalable, reconfigurable, and resilient platforms for national security, commerce and exploration.

"The ISS is about the size of a four-bedroom house, costing over $100 billion to build," said Phil Frank, Co-Founder and CEO of Rendezvous. "It's a remarkable achievement, but if we're truly going to scale in space, we need a better way to build."

"It's time to profoundly scale up our ambitions in orbit. We're launching a new paradigm for in-space construction," said Dr. Ariel Ekblaw, Co-Founder of Rendezvous. "This technology makes more room for humanity — space for science, for nations, for life itself."

The system builds on years of research, testing and demonstrations – from parabolic flights to Blue Origin's New Shepard, to two missions aboard the International Space Station (ISS) with NASA support. Having proven performance in orbit, Rendezvous is now advancing toward large-scale systems designed to self-assemble, self-correct, and endure in the harshest space environments.

"No one has done this before — intelligent assembly in orbit, proven in space and now ready to scale," said Joe Landon, Co-Founder and President of Rendezvous. "This is the technology that will enable antennas larger than football fields, reconfigurable systems for defense, orbital solar farms, and even data centers in space. Launch opened access to space; Rendezvous is building what comes next."

Rendezvous has secured $3M in pre-seed funding led by Aurelia Foundry and 8090 Industries, with participation from ATX Venture Partners, Mana Ventures, and a group of other significant angel investors. This initial raise fuels team expansion and accelerates the transition from proven demonstrations to large-scale orbital platforms. The company expects to share additional funding details in the coming weeks.

Looking ahead, Rendezvous will demonstrate its 5th-generation technology on the ISS in early 2026 -- its third orbital demonstration and a milestone toward building large mission-specific systems and infrastructure directly in space.

About Rendezvous Robotics

Rendezvous builds space infrastructure using modular, autonomous systems that assemble in orbit. Its patented TESSERAE technology enables scalable, reconfigurable, and resilient infrastructure in space — serving national security, commercial and civil markets. Flight-tested in orbit, Rendezvous is advancing from demonstrations to large-scale orbital systems. Invented at MIT, incubated at the Aurelia Institute, and validated in orbit, Rendezvous is defining how humanity builds in space.

SOURCE Rendezvous Robotics