The funding round was co-led by Initialized Capital and Root Ventures

WASHINGTON — Kayhan Space, a startup based in Boulder, Colorado, announced Dec. 14 it has closed a $3.7 million seed funding round. The company developed a cloud-based collision-avoidance software service for low Earth orbit satellite operators.

The funding round was co-led by Initialized Capital and Root Ventures, with participation from Overline venture capital and Jacob Helberg, a senior adviser at the Stanford University Center on Geopolitics and Technology.

The company’s space situational awareness and collision avoidance system, called Kayhan Pathfinder, is offered as a subscription-based software as a service. The analytics platform ingests data from U.S. Space Command’s public space catalog, commercial data providers and satellite operators’ own GPS positioning signals, and uses artificial intelligence algorithms to simulate scenarios and generate maneuver plans for operators so they can avoid collisions.

Kayhan’s CEO and co-founder Siamak Hesar previously was a space situational awareness specialist for NASA missions. In an interview, he said the company’s collision-avoidance system is entering the market at a crucial time when space is becoming congested and satellite operators need precise information and timely alerts to avoid collisions.

There are systems available today to monitor space traffic but they use manual processes prone to human error, Hesar said. Commercial satellite operators are growing fast and need better technologies to ensure safety of flight, he said.

Today most conjunctions — or potential collision events — happen between operational satellites and debris objects simply because there are many more debris objects than live satellites, Hesar noted. But with companies projected to deploy megaconstellations of thousands of satellites, “you’re going to have a lot of scenarios where you have operational satellite events. That requires an automated capability to manage and coordinate maneuvers.”

“All the work that we’re doing is dual use,” said Kayhan co-founder Araz Feyzi. “We have decided to focus on both commercial and government business equally going forward.”

Many satellite operators have their own in-house monitoring capability but are now considering using outside services due to increased congestion, said Hesar. 

“It’s a very unique time in the space industry,” he said. “You have a lot of new companies that don’t necessarily have all the resources. They do the math and they realize that maybe they should consider purchasing a third-party capability that is focused in this area.”

“We believe that we are going to keep seeing that shift the more congested space becomes,” he said. 

Hesar said the company currently has four commercial customers but he could not disclose the names. On the government side, the company has won a Small Business Innovation Research contract from the U.S. Air Force to model the impact of drag on the accuracy of collision risk assessments. 

Drag has a significant impact on spacecraft in low Earth orbit, he said. “It’s basically the largest source of error in terms of how well you can predict your objects.”

Kayhan also won an SBIR contract to support U.S. Space Force object tracking.  

The recent Russian missile test that blew up a satellite in orbit “clearly showed that we need a better way of tracking the newly generated objects and being able to catalog them as fast as possible,” Hesar said. The space community needs better data, he added. “We’re flying blind.”

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Space traffic analytics startup Kayhan Space raises $3.7 million in seed funding

Recognized space commerce expert welcomed to space situational awareness startup to guide company through future growth

BOULDER, Colo. and ATLANTA, Ga., Aug. 17, 2021 — Kayhan Space announced today that Kevin O'Connell, former Director of Office of Space Commerce at the U.S. Department of Commerce, and Founder and CEO of Space Rising LLC, will join its board of advisors. Kayhan Space's mission is to make spaceflight safer with its autonomous collision avoidance system. Kayhan's autonomy and integrations remove human errors and delays from the critical path of response to catastrophic collision events. This system helps ensure mission safety for satellite operators as space becomes more congested.

Dr. Siamak Hesar, Kayhan Space Co-Founder and CEO, commented, "We are delighted and incredibly fortunate to welcome Kevin to the Kayhan Space team. Kevin is a noted space industry visionary. He brings decades of experience and expertise in space commercialization and is exceptionally qualified to help lead us through our next stage of growth."

>Improved awareness of the space environment and new tools like autonomy will be key to ensuring that space remains safe and sustainable for the anticipated scientific and commercial benefits of the space economy.

Kevin O'Connell is a leading expert in the space industry, the global space economy, U.S. national security, and international intelligence. Mr. O'Connell focused on space commercialization and technological competitiveness and how to advance them in global markets for nearly four decades and will bring this knowledge to Kayhan Space's Board of Advisors.

Mr. O'Connell said, "I have been extremely impressed with the way that Kayhan Space has established itself as a key player in the growing commercial space ecosystem. Improved awareness of the space environment and new tools like autonomy will be key to ensuring that space remains safe and sustainable for the anticipated scientific and commercial benefits of the space economy. I look forward to working with the Kayhan team and the board to leverage the company's solid foundation and accelerate awareness of the company's space technology in both the commercial and government sectors."

#### About Kayhan Space
Kayhan Space is a Techstars portfolio company with expertise in autonomous satellite collision assessment and avoidance, satellite navigation and tracking, and satellite operations. We provide trust and transparency to satellite operators with actionable and timely collision assessment alerts and avoidance courses of action. Our vision is to build trusted and resilient autonomous systems for the space industry. Our team consists of spaceflight experts with many years of experience in satellite operations supporting NASA and Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) missions, combined with engineers with extensive experience in product development and high-performance computing. The Kayhan team brings together the perfect set of skills that is needed to take on the challenging problems within the space industry and solve them.

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Kayhan Space Announces Kevin O'Connell to Join Board of Advisors

Renowned leaders from the United States Air Force, CIA, and prominent startup advisors to serve as Kayhan Space's Board of Advisors

BOULDER, Colo. and ATLANTA, April 14, 2021 — Kayhan Space is passionate about making spaceflight safer for satellite operators by providing them with a complete space situational awareness solution. The company announced today its Board of Advisors to include Retired Major General Robert Wheeler, Michael Hurley, Carie Lemack, Amy Zimmerman, Dr. Jonathan Fentzke and Dustin Boyer. Kayhan Space's Board of Advisors will help navigate the Kayhan team by providing guidance, counsel and leadership for the entirety of the business's needs.

"We are pleased to announce our advisory board members and to work with industry experts whose knowledge and engagement will guide our company forward as we continue to grow," said Siamak Hesar, Co-founder and CEO of Kayhan Space. "We are thrilled to welcome these individuals to the Kayhan Space team as we work together to support satellite operators and make spaceflight safer."

Retired Major General Robert E. Wheeler, United States Air Force

Retired Major General Robert E. Wheeler brings more than 20 years of senior leadership expertise, having directed large organizations including serving as the Deputy Chief Information Officer for the Secretary of Defense. Major General Wheeler has spent a majority of his life serving the United States and protecting what it stands for throughout the world. His experience encompasses all facets of combat flying operations, cyber, electronic warfare, nuclear operations, command and control, communications as well as international negotiations. Commissioned in the United States Air Force in 1984 and retired in 2016 after 32 years of service, Major General Wheeler continues serving his country by advising various senior advisory panels and advocating on issues of national importance.

Michael Hurley, President of Team 3i, Veteran CIA Case Officer

Michael Hurley is President of Team 3i LLC, a national security and international business strategy company. A veteran retired CIA case officer, Hurley served for 25 years in high-profile foreign countries. Following the 9/11 attacks on the United States, Mr. Hurley deployed for 18 months to Afghanistan where he led Agency personnel and U.S. Special Forces in Operation Anaconda, the biggest campaign of the Afghan conflict. In that role, Mr. Hurley was a leader in the hunt for Osama bin Laden. As a renowned national security expert, he currently advises both the co-chairmen of the 9/11 Commission and their Homeland Security Project at the Bipartisan Policy Center as well as multiple innovative technology companies.

Carie Lemack, CEO & Co-Founder of DreamUp and Techstars Mentors

Carie Lemack is an experienced innovator with more than two decades of experience in entrepreneurial endeavors, organizational management, product development, advocacy and security policy. Skilled in conceiving and building ideas and products into globally-recognized entities, Ms. Lemack brings her skills to the aerospace industry by serving as an investor, mentor and advisor to startups including the Techstars Starburst Space Accelerator and Techstars Allied Space programs. She is a co-founder and board member of the Zed Factor Fellowship program, which helps allow for a more diverse and innovative aerospace industry by engaging with students from underrepresented backgrounds through hands-on experience, leadership training & community service. Ms. Lemack is the co-founder and served as CEO of DreamUp, where she spearheaded programs, products and partnerships to inspire the next generation of innovators and explorers. Before that, Ms. Lemack co-founded Global Survivors Network, an organization for victims of terror to speak out against terrorism and radicalization.

Amy Zimmerman, Advisor; Cofounder of PeopleCo. & Chief People Officer at Relay Payments

Amy Zimmerman is a strategic partner for founders and investors and a growth catalyst for companies on the rise. Central to her work, is the development and nurturing of a company's culture. She is currently the Chief People Officer of Relay Payments, a mission-driven, venture-backed startup, building a contactless payment network in the transportation and logistics industry, and Co-founder of PeopleCo., a firm that helps leaders develop high-performance, fully-engaged, culture-first companies. Previously, Ms. Zimmerman was Chief People Officer for global fintech leader, Kabbage, Inc, where she scaled the company from under 20 employees in one city to close to 650 across the US and India.

Dr. Jonathan Fentzke, Managing Director at Techstars

Dr. Jonathan Fentzke is the Managing Director at Techstars for the Starburst Space Accelerator Program. He is a scientist by training with a Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering Sciences and is an experienced entrepreneur and investor. Prior to joining Techstars, he served as CEO of FKM Group asset management. Previously, Dr. Fentzke was a co-founder, executive and Board Director at OmniEarth – a geospatial analytics business exited in 2017 by Vista Private Equity. After a career as a space scientist working on various space missions and funded research programs, Dr. Fentzke worked with Shell TechVentures building Shell TechWorks in Boston and InSpace while in Washington, DC. After multiple successful exits, he now mentors founders and works with investors in venture capital and private equity. Dr. Fentzke is an angel investor and an advisor to several startups and organizations.

Dustin Boyer, Commercialization Manager at DARPA

Dustin Boyer is a Commercialization Manager on contract at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency where he works with a portfolio of 200 DARPA backed small businesses and startups. The agency has a mandate to create breakthrough technologies and capabilities for national security. Mr. Boyer lives in Los Angeles, CA where he also advises a venture fund focused on emerging space technology and volunteers as a mentor at the Techstars Space Program.

About Kayhan Space
Kayhan Space is a Techstars portfolio company with expertise in satellite collision assessment and avoidance, satellite navigation and tracking, and satellite operations. We provide trust and transparency to satellite operators with actionable and timely collision assessment alerts and avoidance courses of action. Our vision is to build trusted and resilient autonomous systems for the space industry. Our team consists of spaceflight experts with many years of experience in satellite operations supporting NASA and Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) missions, combined with engineers with extensive experience in product development and high-performance cloud computing. The Kayhan team brings together the perfect set of skills that is needed to take on the challenging problems within the space industry and solve them.

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Space traffic analytics startup Kayhan Space raises $3.7 million in seed funding

Kayhan Space Announces Kevin O'Connell to Join Board of Advisors

Kayhan Space Announces Board of Advisors