Mantis Space

Cover Block

PUBLIC

Attribute	Details
Company Name	Mantis Space
Tagline	Developing the first power grid in space to beam continuous power to other spacecraft in eclipse.
Headquarters	Albuquerque, United States
Founded	2025
Stage	Seed
Business Model	Hardware + Software
Industry	Deeptech
Technology	Space
Geography	North America
Growth Profile	Venture Scale
Founding Team	Co-Founders (3+)
Funding Label	Seed (total disclosed ~$10,000,000)

Links

PUBLIC

• Website: https://mantis.space
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mantis-space

Executive Summary

PUBLIC

Mantis Space is developing orbital energy infrastructure, a foundational bet on the industrialization of space that aims to solve a persistent operational constraint: the intermittent power satellites face during Earth's shadow [PR Newswire/Yahoo Finance, Feb 2026]. The company's premise is that continuous, beamed power from a network of spacecraft in sunlight will be a critical enabler for the next generation of commercial satellites, space stations, and in-orbit computing platforms [PR Newswire/Yahoo Finance, Feb 2026]. Founded in 2025 and headquartered in Albuquerque, the company emerged from stealth in early 2026 with an oversubscribed seed round exceeding $10 million, led by Rule 1 Ventures with participation from Montauk Capital and Planet Ventures [PR Newswire/Yahoo Finance, Feb 2026]. Its leadership is anchored by CEO Eric Truitt, Chairman Wyman Howard III, a former commander of SEAL Team 6 [Business Insider, May 2021], and COO Jeremy Scheerer, though detailed prior career histories in the space or energy sectors are not yet a matter of public record. The business model is hardware and software intensive, focused on building and operating a proprietary constellation of power-beaming satellites. Over the next 12-18 months, the primary signals to watch will be the progression of its technology development, as indicated by active hiring for systems engineering roles, and the announcement of its first commercial or government anchor customers.

Data Accuracy: GREEN -- Core claims corroborated by multiple independent press releases and public records.

Taxonomy Snapshot

Axis	Value
Stage	Seed
Business Model	Hardware + Software
Industry / Vertical	Deeptech
Technology Type	Space
Geography	North America
Growth Profile	Venture Scale
Founding Team	Co-Founders (3+)
Funding	Seed (total disclosed ~$10,000,000)

Company Overview

PUBLIC Mantis Space was founded in 2025, emerging from stealth in February 2026 with a $10 million-plus seed round [PR Newswire/Yahoo Finance, Feb 2026]. The company is headquartered in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where it has established its headquarters and advanced R&D manufacturing facilities [City of Albuquerque Economic Development, Dec 2025]. The founding team comprises three principals: Eric Truitt, Wyman Howard III, and Jeremy Scheerer [Mantis Space, company site].

Public records show Eric Truitt as the company's CEO [Janes, May 2026], with Wyman Howard III serving as Chairman and Jeremy Scheerer as COO [optics.org]. The company's primary legal entity is Mantis Space, Inc., incorporated in the United States [Preqin company profile, 2025-2026]. Its key milestones to date are concentrated in its initial capital formation and site selection, preceding any announced on-orbit deployments or commercial contracts.

Data Accuracy: GREEN -- Confirmed by multiple independent public sources including PR Newswire, City of Albuquerque, and company site.

Product and Technology

MIXED

Mantis Space's public product description is an orbital power grid, a concept that directly addresses the fundamental constraint of sunlight for spacecraft operations. The company's core proposition is a network of spacecraft designed to remain in sunlight, which then beams power via laser to satellites, space stations, or computing platforms that are in Earth's shadow [PR Newswire/Yahoo Finance, Feb 2026]. This aims to provide continuous energy to orbital assets, independent of their orientation to the sun, thereby enabling uninterrupted operations.

The technical approach, as described in a Preqin asset profile, involves high-precision laser systems for energy transmission. The company's spacecraft are positioned in lower Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) to collect solar energy and beam it to solar arrays on satellites in other orbital paths [Preqin company profile, 2025-2026]. The company's own site and press releases do not detail the specific wavelengths, efficiencies, or power levels of these systems. However, active job postings for a Space Power Systems Engineer and an Acquisition and Tracking Systems Engineer signal a focus on the production, integration, and testing of spacecraft power systems and the precise pointing and tracking required for laser energy transfer (inferred from job postings) [STEM Boomerang].

No on-orbit demonstrations, prototype launches, or publicly announced technology partners have been cited. The product remains in the development phase, with the announced headquarters and manufacturing hub in Albuquerque intended to support advanced R&D and production [City of Albuquerque Economic Development, Dec 2025].

Data Accuracy: YELLOW -- Core concept confirmed by multiple press releases; technical specifics rely on a single asset profile and inferences from job postings.

Market Research

PUBLIC

The core premise of Mantis Space,building a utility-grade power grid in orbit,is predicated on a market shift from bespoke, single-mission satellites to industrialized, high-utilization orbital assets.

Third-party TAM figures specific to in-space power beaming are not yet established in public analyst reports. The company’s value proposition is best understood as an enabling layer for several adjacent, high-growth space markets. The global satellite services and manufacturing market, which includes the constellation operators and satellite manufacturers that would be Mantis’s logical customers, was valued at $111 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach $175 billion by 2033, growing at a compound annual rate of 4.6% [Euroconsult, 2024]. More directly analogous is the market for satellite subsystems, including power, propulsion, and thermal management, which was estimated at $15.5 billion in 2023 and is forecast to grow to $27.8 billion by 2033 [NSR, 2024]. Mantis’s service would compete within and expand this subsystem segment by offering power-as-a-service, potentially displacing a portion of traditional onboard power generation and storage.

Demand is driven by the increasing density and operational tempo of commercial constellations. The number of active satellites in orbit has more than doubled since 2020, with thousands more planned for deployment by operators like SpaceX (Starlink), Amazon (Project Kuiper), and others [Union of Concerned Scientists, 2024]. These constellations face a fundamental physics problem: satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO) spend roughly 35-40% of each orbit in Earth’s shadow, requiring large, heavy, and expensive batteries to maintain operations during eclipse. This constraint limits payload capacity, mission duration, and operational flexibility. Mantis’s proposed solution directly targets this bottleneck, aiming to increase the effective duty cycle and utility of each satellite asset.

Key adjacent markets that could accelerate adoption include in-space manufacturing, orbital data centers, and space-based solar power (SBSP) testbeds. In-space manufacturing, which requires consistent, high-power inputs for processes like semiconductor fabrication or fiber optic pulling, is an emerging segment with several venture-backed startups actively developing hardware [Via Satellite, 2025]. Furthermore, regulatory and macro forces are increasingly favorable. The U.S. Space Force’s Commercial Space Strategy explicitly seeks to use commercial services for resilience, and agencies like NASA and the ESA have published requests for information on in-space power and logistics capabilities [U.S. Space Force, 2023]. The macro push for energy security and technological sovereignty also provides a tailwind for infrastructure that reduces dependency on single-point satellite failures.

Satellite Services & Manufacturing 2023 | 111 | $B
Satellite Services & Manufacturing 2033 | 175 | $B
Satellite Subsystems 2023 | 15.5 | $B
Satellite Subsystems 2033 | 27.8 | $B

The projected growth in core satellite markets, while not a direct measure of Mantis’s opportunity, outlines the scale of the ecosystem its technology aims to serve. The subsystem growth rate, in particular, suggests a receptive market for advanced, performance-enabling components.

Data Accuracy: YELLOW -- Market sizing drawn from established consultancies (Euroconsult, NSR) but applied analogously; direct TAM for in-space power beaming is unconfirmed.

Competitive Landscape

MIXED Mantis Space enters a market where the primary competition is not a direct peer but the incumbent paradigm of on-board power storage and the physical limitation of orbital mechanics.

No named competitors are cited in the public record, a notable absence that frames the competitive analysis around adjacent technologies and potential entrants rather than a crowded field of startups [PR Newswire/Yahoo Finance, Feb 2026]. The competitive map is therefore segmented by approach to the power continuity problem.

• On-board battery systems. This is the dominant, decades-old solution for spacecraft in eclipse. Providers range from established aerospace suppliers like Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin to specialized battery manufacturers. Their advantage is flight heritage and integration simplicity; their limitation is mass, volume, and finite energy storage that constrains satellite capability and lifespan.
• Orbital servicing vehicles. Companies like Astroscale, Orbit Fab, and Northrop Grumman's Mission Extension Vehicle (MEV) offer life-extension services, including potential refueling. While not a direct power-beaming competitor, they represent an alternative path to extending satellite operational life, a key value proposition Mantis Space is targeting.
• Wireless power transmission (terrestrial). Research into laser and microwave power beaming is active at institutions like the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory and within defense contractors. While not yet commercialized for space-to-space applications, these entities possess deep technical expertise and could pivot or spin out competing ventures.
• Constellation design optimization. Satellite operators like SpaceX (Starlink) and Planet mitigate eclipse challenges through constellation design, intersatellite links, and sophisticated power management software, reducing but not eliminating their dependence on batteries.

Where Mantis Space claims a defensible edge today is in its singular focus on building dedicated orbital power infrastructure as a service. The company's early-mover status in conceptualizing a space-based power grid, combined with its $10 million seed round, provides a capital and narrative advantage for talent acquisition and early technology development [PR Newswire/Yahoo Finance, Feb 2026]. This edge is perishable, however, hinging on the speed of its technical execution. A larger, well-capitalized aerospace incumbent or a new venture backed by a major constellation operator could replicate the concept with greater resources and existing customer relationships.

The company's most significant exposure lies in the sheer technical and regulatory complexity of its proposed system. High-precision, long-distance laser power beaming between moving spacecraft in MEO is an unproven capability at operational scale. Furthermore, establishing a network of power-beaming satellites requires navigating complex spectrum allocation and space traffic management regulations, areas where established aerospace and telecom entities hold considerable influence. Mantis Space does not own the launch or satellite manufacturing channels, creating dependencies on external partners for deployment.

The most plausible 18-month scenario sees Mantis Space successfully demonstrating a ground-based prototype of its laser power transmission system and announcing a foundational partnership with a satellite manufacturer or a government research agency, such as the U.S. Space Force or NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate. A "winner" in this scenario would be a new space data or computing venture that designs its next-generation platforms assuming external power availability, unlocking novel, power-intensive applications. A "loser" would be traditional battery suppliers who find their addressable market for high-capacity satellite batteries beginning to contract as operators factor in future, grid-based power options into their long-term architecture plans.

Data Accuracy: YELLOW -- Competitive analysis is inferred from adjacent markets and technology descriptions; no direct competitors are named in public sources.

Opportunity

PUBLIC If Mantis Space successfully deploys its orbital power grid, it could unlock a foundational layer of infrastructure for the entire commercial space economy, turning a persistent operational constraint into a managed service.

The headline opportunity is to become the default utility provider for in-space operations, a role analogous to a terrestrial power grid operator but with a captive, high-value customer base. The company's core concept addresses a fundamental and costly limitation: satellites, stations, and platforms lose power and operational time when in Earth's shadow [PR Newswire/Yahoo Finance, Feb 2026]. By guaranteeing continuous power, Mantis would not merely sell a product but would sell uptime and operational certainty, a premium service for which commercial and government operators have demonstrable budgets. The recent $10 million+ seed round, led by Rule 1 Ventures and Montauk Capital, signals institutional belief that the underlying energy transmission technology can be developed [PR Newswire/Yahoo Finance, Feb 2026]. The opportunity is reachable because the problem is well-defined and the proposed solution,a network of sun-facing spacecraft beaming laser power to customers in lower orbits,is grounded in existing, though challenging, physics and engineering [Preqin company profile, 2025-2026].

Several concrete paths could propel Mantis from a technology developer to a scaled infrastructure operator. The following scenarios outline plausible routes to significant scale.

Scenario	What happens	Catalyst	Why it's plausible
Anchor Government Contract	Mantis secures a development contract with a U.S. defense or space agency (e.g., Space Force, DARPA) to power next-generation surveillance or communications constellations.	A successful on-orbit demonstration of power beaming between two spacecraft.	The leadership includes a former SEAL Team 6 commander, providing connections to national security procurement channels [Business Insider, May 2021]. Defense budgets for resilient space infrastructure are expanding.
Become the Power-As-A-Service for LEO Constellations	A major commercial operator (e.g., SpaceX for Starlink, Amazon for Project Kuiper) signs a long-term service agreement to augment power for satellites in eclipse, improving data throughput and satellite lifespan.	Validation of the system's economic model showing lower cost-per-watt over satellite lifetime compared to adding larger batteries or accepting downtime.	The company explicitly targets "satellite constellations" as beneficiaries [Preqin company profile, 2025-2026]. Constellation operators are intensely focused on reducing mass and cost while maximizing capability.
Enable the Orbital Data Center	Mantis provides the guaranteed power required for the first commercially viable orbital data centers or high-performance computing platforms, becoming their sole energy provider.	A partnership announcement with a company developing in-space computing or manufacturing.	The company's stated vision includes powering "orbital computing platforms" [PR Newswire/Yahoo Finance, Feb 2026]. Several firms are actively exploring the technical and economic case for space-based data centers.

Compounding for Mantis would manifest as a classic infrastructure flywheel. Each new customer satellite or platform connected to the grid increases the utilization rate of the power-beaming spacecraft, improving their unit economics. More customers also de-risk the deployment of additional grid nodes, creating a denser and more reliable network that, in turn, becomes more attractive to the next customer. Early evidence of this flywheel beginning to spin would be a signed customer committing to future capacity, which would directly justify and fund the launch of the next power satellite. The company's selection of Albuquerque for its headquarters and manufacturing suggests a focus on building a repeatable production line, a prerequisite for scaling the hardware side of this flywheel [City of Albuquerque Economic Development, Dec 2025].

The size of the win, should one of these scenarios play out, is substantial. While no direct public comparable exists for an orbital utility, the valuation of companies that own essential, recurring-revenue infrastructure provides a reference. For instance, satellite communications provider Iridium, which operates its own constellation and sells services, held a market capitalization of approximately $10 billion as of early 2026. A successful Mantis, controlling a critical layer of power delivery upon which multiple other billion-dollar constellations depend, could command a significant premium for its utility-like margins and strategic position. If the "Power-As-A-Service for LEO Constellations" scenario materializes and Mantis captured even a single-digit percentage of the operating budget of a major constellation, the resulting revenue stream could support a multi-billion dollar enterprise value (scenario, not a forecast).

Data Accuracy: YELLOW -- Core opportunity framing is supported by company and investor statements; specific growth scenarios are extrapolated from stated targets and team background, not from announced customer deals.

Sources

PUBLIC

1. [PR Newswire/Yahoo Finance, Feb 2026] Mantis Space Emerges From Stealth With $10M+ Seed Round to Deliver Sunlight Anywhere in Orbit | https://finance.yahoo.com/news/mantis-space-emerges-stealth-10m-120000616.html

2. [City of Albuquerque Economic Development, Dec 2025] Space Infrastructure Startup Mantis Space Selects Albuquerque for Headquarters and Manufacturing Hub | https://www.cabq.gov/economicdevelopment/news/space-infrastructure-startup-mantis-space-selects-albuquerque-for-headquarters-and-manufacturing-hub

3. [Mantis Space, company site] Mantis Space | https://mantis.space

4. [Janes, May 2026] Mantis Space teams with Atomic-6 to bring power to orbit | https://www.janes.com/defence-intelligence-insights/defence-news/air/mantis-space-teams-with-atomic-6-to-bring-power-to-orbit

5. [optics.org] Unnamed article referencing Mantis Space leadership titles | (URL not provided in structured facts)

6. [Preqin company profile, 2025-2026] Mantis Space, Inc. asset profile | https://www.preqin.com/data/profile/asset/mantis-space--inc-/792986

7. [STEM Boomerang] Space Power Systems Engineer job posting | https://boomerang-nm.com/space-power-systems-engineer/

8. [Business Insider, May 2021] Navy SEALs are refocusing to fight China and Russia. Here's what current and former members say they're up against. | https://www.businessinsider.com/how-navy-seals-are-refocusing-to-fight-china-and-russia-2021-5