What mPower Technology does

mPower Technology, Inc. is a private U.S. aerospace hardware company founded in 2015 as a spin-out from Sandia National Laboratories, headquartered in Albuquerque, New Mexico with a regional office in Carlsbad, California. The company designs and manufactures DragonSCALES (SemiConductor Active Layer Embedded Solar), a flexible mesh of miniature interconnected silicon solar cells originally developed under Sandia's microsystems research with approximately $20M in prior federal R&D investment. DragonSCALES targets space applications where traditional rigid III-V Gallium Arsenide cells are too costly or insufficiently scalable — primarily LEO satellite constellations, lunar surface power (via the LAMPS joint development with Honeybee Robotics for NASA's Artemis VSAT program), space-based solar power beaming concepts, and space logistics/mobility platforms. The company reports 3–5x cost advantage versus GaAs, radiation-recovery design enabling 15–20 year orbital lifetimes, and high-voltage/low-current architecture suited to electric propulsion.

The company's revenue model is direct enterprise sales of space solar modules and photovoltaic assemblies (PVAs) to aerospace prime contractors and constellation operators, priced on a per-contract, multi-year basis. Notable customers include Airbus Defence and Space Netherlands (a landmark Oct 2024 contract for 1.1 MW of modules across 200+ satellites on the MDA AURORA / Telesat Lightspeed program), Firefly Aerospace, Gravitics, Lynk Global, and OneWeb. Manufacturing is executed through two strategic partners — Universal Instruments Corp. (Delta Group) in Conklin, New York for a fully-automated ISO-9001 high-volume line launched in November 2025 with initial 1 MW/year capacity scaling to 2 MW by mid-2026, and GTM Advanced Structures in the Netherlands on an AS-9100 certified line for global PVA fulfillment.

The company has raised approximately $46.76M in total funding across Series A (2019–2020, $4.35M led by Cottonwood Technology Fund) and Series B (2022, $10M; 2025, $21M+ led by Razor's Edge Ventures with Shield Capital and a strategic expansion by Lockheed Martin Ventures). Leadership includes President & CEO Kevin Hell (former CEO of DivX, executive at Gateway/Palm/BCG) and CTO/Founder Dr. Murat Okandan (16-year Sandia veteran). The company has been recognized with an R&D 100 Award (2012), Federal Laboratory Consortium Excellence in Technology Transfer awards (2020 regional, 2021 national), and the 2026 San Diego Hardtech 50 list.

Name

mPower Technology

Legal name

mPower Technology, Inc.

Website

https://mpowertech.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

mPower Technology manufactures DragonSCALES, a flexible silicon solar cell technology for space applications, sold directly to aerospace primes and satellite constellation operators. Founded in 2015 as a Sandia National Labs spin-out, the company supplies modules for LEO constellations, lunar missions, and emerging space-based solar power programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Space Solar Modules

NAICS

Other Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336419), Semiconductor and Related Device Manufacturing (334413)

SIC

Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles & Parts (3760)

akta.pro primary industry

Space Power Systems (Solar Arrays, Batteries, EPS) (IMABACAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Solar PV Module & Cell Manufacturing (Crystalline, Thin-Film) (EUAMAHAA), Solar PV Module Manufacturing (Cells, Modules, Thin-Film) (EUAMABAD)

Keywords

• Flexible solar cells
• Space solar modules
• Satellite power systems
• Lunar solar arrays
• Silicon photovoltaics

Headquarters

HQ city

Albuquerque

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Space Solar Module Sales: mPower generates revenue through the direct sale of DragonSCALES solar modules and photovoltaic assemblies (PVAs) to aerospace customers including satellite constellation operators and space station module manufacturers. Revenue is project-based with contracts for specific satellite programs and constellation deployments.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

mPower Technology designs, manufactures, and sells DragonSCALES™, a flexible mesh of hyperconnected miniature silicon solar cells built using Sandia National Laboratories–origin microfabrication/nanofabrication processes, sold as photovoltaic modules and assemblies to satellite constellation operators, lunar/deep-space programs, space-based solar power developers, and space logistics/mobility providers. The product line is produced via automated high-volume manufacturing in the U.S. and Netherlands and is qualified for LEO and deep-space environments with 15–20 year radiation-tolerant lifetimes at 3–5× lower cost than traditional GaAs solutions.

Product overview

mPower Technology offers DragonSCALES™, a core silicon-based flexible solar cell technology for space applications. The product portfolio includes DragonSCALES as the primary solar module technology, supplemented by application-specific solutions for Satellite Constellations, Lunar & Deep Space missions, Space Logistics & Mobility, and Space-Based Solar Power. DragonSCALES consists of small, highly interconnected photovoltaic cells in a flexible mesh architecture, providing advantages in weight, cost, flexibility, and radiation tolerance compared to traditional gallium arsenide solutions. The technology is produced through automated manufacturing partnerships with Universal Instruments Corp. and GTM Advanced Structures.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• DragonSCALES: World's most advanced ultra-light, ultra-adaptable silicon solar cell solution developed for space applications. Features flexible, interconnected mesh of miniature solar cells with unprecedented improvements in system cost, weight, flexibility, resilience, and ease of installation.

Products and services

• DragonSCALES™ (SemiConductor Active Layer Embedded Solar) The core flagship silicon-based flexible solar cell technology: small (~width of a human hair), highly interconnected photovoltaic cells woven into a flexible mesh that can be formed to any shape. Designed for space applications including satellite constellations, lunar missions, and space-based solar power. Provides radiation tolerance, 15–20 year operational lifetime, shade tolerance, high-voltage/low-current architecture, and 3–5× lower cost versus GaAs.
• Satellite Constellation Solar Modules DragonSCALES-based solar modules purpose-built for LEO communications and Earth-observation satellite mega-constellations. Delivered as qualified photovoltaic modules and assemblies to prime contractors (Airbus Sparkwing) and constellation operators (Lynk Global, OneWeb), providing lightweight, flexible, scalable and cost-effective power for hundreds of satellites per program.
• Lunar & Deep Space Power Solutions DragonSCALES-powered portable, deployable solar arrays for lunar surface operations (NASA Artemis) and deep-space missions. Delivered as rugged, flexible, cold-tolerant solar systems that fold into small volumes for launch and deploy on the Moon or other planetary bodies to power rovers, habitats, electrical equipment, and lunar charging stations.
• Space-Based Solar Power (SBSP) Solutions DragonSCALES-powered solutions for gigawatt-scale orbital power generation and wireless beaming (optical laser or microwave transmission) targeting emerging space-based solar power (SBSP) applications. Provides the low-cost, lightweight, radiation-tolerant solar infrastructure required for utility-scale SBSP constellations transmitting energy to Earth or other spacecraft.
• Space Logistics & Mobility Power Solutions Custom flexible DragonSCALES solar power solutions for space logistics, mobility, manufacturing, and habitation use cases. Engineered with high-voltage/low-current architecture for solar electric propulsion, integrated into space station modules (Gravitics StarMax), orbital transfer vehicles (Momentus Vigoride), in-space manufacturing platforms, and space habitats.
• Lunar Array Mast and Power System (LAMPS) Vertically deployable lunar solar array co-developed by mPower and Honeybee Robotics under NASA VSAT/Artemis. Integrates DragonSCALES photovoltaic modules into a portable, deployable mast designed to provide surface power for lunar charging stations, rovers, habitats, and other Artemis-era lunar assets.

Quantifiable outcome

• 3-5× lower cost than GaAs solutions
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Universal Instruments Corporation (Delta Group)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 November 2025mPower manufactures DragonSCALES modules in the U.S. through a fully-automated, ISO-9001 production line at Universal Instruments Corp. in Conklin, New York using a dedicated team experienced in advanced semiconductors and electronics. This partnership enabled the world's first automated high-volume space solar production line.
• GTM Advanced StructurescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 February 2023mPower manufactures DragonSCALES photovoltaic assemblies (PVAs) for global space customers using a dedicated production team with aerospace composites and systems experience at GTM Advanced Structures' AS-9100 certified facility in the Netherlands. Partnership announced February 28, 2023.
• Honeybee RoboticscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 August 2022mPower and Honeybee Robotics partnered to develop the Lunar Array Mast and Power System (LAMPS) for NASA's VSAT project under the Artemis program. Awarded a $7M NASA contract in August 2022 to build prototypes and complete environmental testing of a vertically deployable lunar solar array. Honeybee is a subsidiary of Blue Origin.
• Jason Wilson (VP Terrestrial and IoT)minorOthers · 12 February 2022Jason Wilson joined mPower as VP and General Manager of Terrestrial and IoT Applications to oversee business development and growth of remote off-grid portable power segments and renewable energy solutions for IoT.
• Airbus Defence and Space Netherlands B.V. (Sparkwing)coreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 14 October 2020mPower integrated DragonSCALES into Airbus Netherlands' Sparkwing solar array platform — the world's first commercially available off-the-shelf solar array for small satellites. This led to the landmark MDA AURORA contract (2024) for 200+ satellites. Also includes flight heritage evaluation through the Momentus Vigoride demonstrator.
• Sandia National LaboratoriescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017mPower licensed the DragonSCALES technology (originally called 'solar glitter') from Sandia National Laboratories in 2017. The technology was developed at Sandia's Microsystems Engineering, Science and Applications facility. Founder Dr. Murat Okandan left Sandia through the Entrepreneurial Separation to Technology Transfer (ESTT) program. Sandia invested approximately $20M in R&D before the spin-off.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Azur Space Solar Power: Azur Space is a leading European manufacturer of space-grade III-V multi-junction solar cells, supplying most European satellite primes. It is a direct competitor to mPower in the satellite solar cell market and a key alternative to Spectrolab.
• Spectrolab (Boeing): Spectrolab, a Boeing subsidiary, is the incumbent leader in high-efficiency III-V (GaAs) space solar cells with 60+ years of flight heritage and the broadest satellite prime customer base. It is mPower's primary direct competitor being displaced by silicon-based DragonSCALES on cost grounds.
• MicroLink Devices: MicroLink Devices manufactures flexible, lightweight solar sheets for space and aerospace using epitaxial liftoff (ELO) technology. It is a direct competitor in the flexible space solar segment where mPower's DragonSCALES also competes for constellations and UAV applications.
• CESI: CESI is an Italian space solar cell and array manufacturer with multi-junction III-V technology and long heritage on ESA and commercial satellite programs. It is a direct international competitor to mPower in space-grade photovoltaic cells.
• SolAero Technologies (Rocket Lab): SolAero, acquired by Rocket Lab in 2022, produces high-efficiency space solar cells and integrated panels for satellite constellations. It competes directly with mPower in the proliferated LEO constellation market and benefits from Rocket Lab's vertically integrated space hardware stack.

Broad incumbents

• Lockheed Martin: Lockheed Martin is a strategic investor in mPower (via Lockheed Martin Ventures) and a major U.S. defense prime with its own spacecraft manufacturing capabilities. It is both a customer/partner and a broad incumbent whose space programs could anchor DragonSCALES adoption or compete as a prime integrator.
• Northrop Grumman: Northrop Grumman manufactures satellites and spacecraft with integrated solar arrays across civil, defense, and commercial programs. It is a broad incumbent that influences solar cell supplier selection and competes as a potential vertical integrator of space power.
• Redwire Corporation: Redwire is a publicly traded space technology company that designs and manufactures deployable solar arrays and roll-out wings for satellites, competing at the array/integration level rather than the cell level where mPower plays. It overlaps with mPower through its spacecraft power systems portfolio.
• Mitsubishi Electric: Mitsubishi Electric is a major Japanese manufacturer of space-grade solar cells and satellite power systems with a long heritage on Japanese and commercial GEO programs. It competes as a broad incumbent in space solar cells and could partner with or against mPower in Asia-Pacific constellation opportunities.

Emerging players

• Ascent Solar Technologies: Ascent Solar produces flexible CIGS thin-film solar panels targeting space and near-space applications, including a NASA LOFTID demonstration. It competes with DragonSCALES in the lightweight/flexible space solar niche but at a smaller scale and different cell chemistry.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mpower-technology
• Xx.com/mPower_Tec

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors7 records

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about mPower Technology