Ex-Child Actors' Space Venture Aims to Secure $30 Million in Financial Backing
Bridgit Mendler Steers Northwood Space Towards Space Future
Got nostalgic vibes from "Good Luck Charlie?" Remember Bridgit Mendler, the bubbly teen who conquered your screens from 2009-2014? She's done with the Disney Channel antics and is now charging ahead with big dreams—as a CEO, no less!
Mendler, bursting with EDEN funding, is now leading Northwood Space, a space startup that intends to put satellites within everyone's reach. With $30 million (€26 million) raised in seed capital, she recently shared the good news on X (ex-Twitter). "We've been cookin," she commented.
Northwood Space, co-founded by Mendler and her husband Griffin Cleverly, plans to churn out affordable ground stations and antennas for satellites in mass production. You might have read it first in CNBC, way back in February. Back then, the news was that they had raised $6.3 million (€5.5 million). Since then, Mendler and Cleverly have nearly quintupled this seed capital.
The funding spree was led by Alpine Space Ventures and Andreessen Horowitz, with additional investments from Capital, Founders Fund, and Stepstone. With these resources, Northwood Space intends to invest in building a 3250 square meter production facility, where they will construct their satellite network's first operational ground station.
A Different Path
Bridgit Mendler fell into the spotlight with a role on the Disney Channel in 2009. She made minor appearances in shows such as "Jonas", "The Wizards of Waverly Place", and "Jessie". Her big break came in 2010, when she took on the lead role in "Good Luck Charlie".
Mendler also had a successful music career. Her hit song "Ready or Not" boasts over 300 million streams on Spotify. Post-"Good Luck Charlie", Mendler made more appearances on film and TV, but gradually moved away from the limelight.
Despite her fame, education never took a backseat. In 2013, Mendler enrolled at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles. Later, she joined MIT Media Lab and started her graduate program in 2018. She earned her first PhD in philosophy in 2020, and a second one in law at Harvard Law School, focusing on space law, in 2021.
It's been five years since Mendler graced a TV set. Lights, camera, entrepreneurship seems to be her new 'action'!
References
[1] Northwood Space, "We're hiring! Join a purpose-driven team to modernize space infrastructure.", Northwood Space (August 24, 2021), https://www.northwood.space/careers[2] Northwood Space, "Revolutionizing satellite ground infrastructure with a phased array network.", Northwood Space (September 30, 2021), https://www.northwood.space/blog/revolutionizing-satellite-ground-infrastructure-with-a-phased-array-network[3] SpaceNews, "California startup Northwood Space secures $30 million to produce satellite ground stations.", SpaceNews (June 6, 2022), spacenews.com[4] TC, "Northwood Space looks to reap the benefits of phased arrays with a thoughtful ground station approach.", TechCrunch (June 30, 2021), techcrunch.com
- What about Bridgit Mendler, the CEO of Northwood Space, who started as a bubbly teen on "Good Luck Charlie"? She's not just steering Northwood Space towards a space future but also planning to make satellites accessible to all.
- While Charlie Harper from "Good Luck Charlie" might not be reaching for the stars, Bridgit Mendler is, as she co-founded Northwood Space and secured $30 million to produce satellite ground stations.
- Satellites, space-and-astronomy, and technology are just a few areas that Bridgit Mendler is now dedicating her success to, thanks to her lead role in Northwood Space, a startup which also dabbles in entertainment with celebrities as their investors.
- From singing hits like "Ready or Not" to starring in shows like "Good Luck Charlie," Bridgit Mendler has covered the entertainment realm. Today, she's using her success in contentpass to drive Northwood Space, a company that's revolutionizing satellite ground infrastructure.
- Science and space hold new challenges for Bridgit Mendler and her team at Northwood Space. With champions like Andreessen Horowitz, Capital, Founders Fund, and Stepstone supporting them, they aim to create a 3250 square meter production facility and construct the first operational ground station for their satellite network.
