San Francisco, CA – TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, scheduled for October 27-29 at Moscone West, has announced the full agenda for its dedicated Space Stage. Developed in partnership with The Aerospace Corporation, the track will focus on the expanding commercial space sector, featuring discussions on investment trends, artificial intelligence applications, orbital manufacturing, and the development of new space infrastructure.
The Space Stage program is set to convene founders, investors, and operators actively shaping the business of orbit, encompassing areas from rockets and manufacturing to AI and defense. Event organizers indicated that the presented lineup underscores the commercial space sector's entry into what they describe as "its most ambitious era yet," even amidst current conditions of tightening capital and intensifying competition.
Key sessions slated for the Space Stage include "Investing at the Edge of Space," which will feature Celeste Ford, managing director at Stellar Ventures; Chris Morales, partner at Point72 Ventures; and Morgan Beller, general partner at NFX. This panel plans to address the flow of capital, essential criteria for startups to attract investment, and the evolving funding landscape for space ventures, including new opportunities and risks. Another session, "From Robinhood to Aetherflux: Baiju Bhatt's Next Frontier," will host Robinhood co-founder Baiju Bhatt, who is set to discuss his focus on deep tech with his new company, Aetherflux, and the potential for reshaping access to space.
The role of artificial intelligence in space exploration and operations will be a central theme. The Aerospace Corporation is hosting an "Aerospace Startup Showcase," spotlighting companies such as Little Place Labs, Magma Space, Orbital Robotics, Sandro, and Scout Space, which are developing AI solutions for orbital intelligence, infrastructure, and exploration. Additionally, the "AI at the Edge" session will feature Lucy Hoag, CEO of Violet Labs, and Adam Maher, CEO of Ursa Space Systems, examining how founders are leveraging AI for applications ranging from on-orbit compute to autonomous decision-making in mission management.
Discussions around establishing a new space economy are also prominent. Will Bruey, founder and CEO of Varda Space Industries, will present on "Made in Space: Varda's Plan to Build the Next Great Supply Chain," detailing the transition of manufacturing to orbit. A panel titled "Laying the Groundwork for a New Space Economy" will bring together Even Rogers of True Anomaly, Max Haot of Vast, Bridgit Mendler of Northwood Space, and Kelly Hennig of Stoke Space to share insights on creating the infrastructure and markets projected to define the commercial space era.
