MP Space, an Australian space power technology startup, has announced raising A$23 million (about $16 million) in a seed funding round anchored by venture capital firm Blackbird.
The Sydney-based company, which aims to scale manufacturing and supply power systems for the global space industry, said Seraphim Space, Systemiq Capital, Speedinvest, and MFV Partners also backed the round.
The investment marks Seraphim Space’s first investment in an Australian company, per the announcement.
Founded in January 2024 by former Tesla engineers Jay Manley and Sam Paterson, MP Space develops hardware and software for spacecraft power generation, storage, and management.
The company said its technology has been designed into systems covering more than 500 spacecraft, with its hardware in orbit on multiple spacecraft as of October 2026.
The funding will support expanded manufacturing capacity in Australia, a broader range of power-system platforms and additional engineering hires, the company said.
“Our thesis is simple: the next generation of spacecraft will need a lot more power, and the space industry needs better ways to generate, store and manage it,” Manley, MP Space’s chief executive and co-founder, said in a statement.
The company is adapting advances in power electronics, software and energy storage developed in industries such as electric vehicles and grid-scale energy systems for spacecraft applications, Manley said.
“Over the next 12 months, our focus is expanding manufacturing capacity, scaling the team and delivering power systems for the next generation of spacecraft and constellations,” he added.
MP Space is based at Cicada Innovations’ Defence and Aerospace Hub in New South Wales, which supports companies developing advanced technologies.
Blackbird Partner Samantha Wong said the founders’ experience developing battery systems at Tesla was a key factor behind the investment.
“Jay and Sam have gone from solar racecar clubs at uni to industry-leading capability in scalable battery system design, having built Tesla’s Powerwall from electrons to a $10 billion business line,” Wong said.
