Bianca Cefalo, frustrated by the corporate space sector, opted to establish her own space company and launch objects into orbit.
Cefalo founded Space DOTs in 2022 with the mission to identify space threats. The company developed SKY-I, a software platform designed for space technology manufacturers and operators, enabling them to detect, interpret, and attribute orbital threats, whether natural or human-made.
Cefalo possesses decades of experience in the space industry, contributing to projects involving lunar objects and satellite launches. Her roles included thermofluid dynamic analyst for the NASA Insight Mission to Mars and product manager for telecommunication satellites at Airbus Defence and Space.
However, she observed that industry politics and corporate bureaucracy often hindered progress. She expressed a weariness with these systemic challenges.
Cefalo recounted facing resistance when presenting new ideas to her previous employer. The consistent reply was that unproven technologies would not be utilized on satellites. Despite being encouraged to innovate, the adoption of anything unproven was rejected, creating a paradox for her role as an ‘innovator’ within a large corporation.
Consequently, she decided to redefine the approach.
According to Cefalo, approximately 15% of spacecraft encounter anomalies or failures, often stemming from manufacturers’ and operators’ insufficient understanding of the actual space environment.
Ground simulations have limitations, as the actual space environment is far more intricate, with each orbital regime presenting unique characteristics.
For instance, solutions effective in low orbit may not be suitable for deep space. Radiation alone can trigger numerous malfunctions leading to spacecraft failure. Other incidents in space are often attributed to glitches or ‘space weather’ due to a lack of sufficient data to explain their true nature.
Space DOTs addresses this challenge by generating proprietary in-orbit environmental data, which is then combined with external sources. This process enables real-time attribution, nowcasting, and forecasting, providing spacecraft with critical intelligence for survival and success in challenging orbital environments.
Space DOTs is currently collecting data from its orbital payload and intends to expand data acquisition through future launches. The company recently announced a $1.5 million seed funding round, led by Female Founders Fund, bringing its total funding to $3.2 million.
Cefalo characterized the fundraising process as arduous. She connected with her lead investors at Female Founders Fund through their online cold outreach form. Additionally, she sought a warm introduction to the FFF team from her investors at Sie Ventures.
Ultimately, both approaches proved successful: the application was noticed via the form, and Sie facilitated a direct connection with Anu. This combined strategy yielded positive results.
Additional investors participating in the round include Feel Ventures and General Electric Company.
Cefalo noted that the space industry is experiencing a second revolution, driven by significant investments from billionaires aimed at commercializing space travel. Competitors in this sector include companies such as Ensemble Space Labs and Mission Space.
Cefalo highlighted Space DOTs’ distinctiveness, citing its ownership of both hardware and software. The company’s focus extends beyond mere forecasting to include commercial, defense, and threat attribution. Furthermore, its decentralized software architecture is described as more resilient and scalable for future cislunar and multi-orbit operations.
Space DOTs views other space weather entities not as zero-sum competitors, but as potential collaborators. This field benefits from cooperation, where intelligence can integrate with and enhance other services, and vice versa.
Cefalo plans to utilize the seed funding to expand her teams in London and the U.S., and to prepare the company’s technology for future space missions. Her vision for the future involves open access to space knowledge, rather than restricted power.
A deeper understanding of the space environment is crucial for safeguarding terrestrial assets, including national infrastructure, civil safety, navigation, and defense.
This knowledge should not remain confined within agencies or corporations; instead, it must evolve into shared understanding, widespread access, and a sense of planetary belonging.
