What Actuate Ventures does

Actuate Ventures is a venture capital firm and venture studio that operates an integrated ecosystem for deep-tech and space-tech startups. The firm combines a pre-seed investment fund with physical innovation hubs, The Future Council expert community, and venture-building services positioned as a "co-founder-in-a-box" for founders. Operating from Seattle, Washington to Space Coast, Florida — and expanding globally — Actuate backs startups across space technology, applied AI, materials science, energy innovation, advanced manufacturing, and intelligent robotics, with a disclosed portfolio of 11 companies including Trimagnetix, Ultraview, Charter Space, Longshot, Orbital Composites, Interstellar Lab, Cosmic Shielding, Lonestar, Rogue Space Systems, Lunasonde, and Wave Motion.

The firm's core offering comprises four interlocking components: an Early Stage Fund targeting pre-seed deep-tech and space-tech companies (citing 3.67x TVPI and 27% IRR from 25+ prior investments), Innovation Hubs providing specialized manufacturing equipment (CNC machines, RF chambers, ISO7 clean rooms) across a 22,000+ sq. ft. Seattle facility, The Future Council community of industry experts, and Innovation & Venture Building services supporting corporate spin-outs and internal programs. Supporting offerings include Research & Due Diligence services for institutional investors and an industry events program (Space Symposium, Seattle Space Week, Deep Tech Week, SF Tech Week) with 500+ attendees and an 8,000+ subscriber newsletter. The team of two Managing Partners (Chris Le, Andrew Woodfield), two General Partners (Josh Wagner, Tom Boyer), and a Senior Associate (Zee Schwab) claims $400M+ in prior aerospace capital raised.

The firm's business model generates revenue through venture capital management fees and carried interest on fund returns, supplemented by hub leasing, due diligence consulting, event sponsorship, and venture-building engagements. Customer segments include early-stage deep-tech startups (primary), institutional investors and family offices, strategic corporates seeking innovation access, and industry experts via The Future Council. The firm holds a strategic partnership with Space Foundation as a Mission Partner and has an undisclosed stealth partner pending announcement.

Name

Actuate Ventures

Legal name

Actuate Ventures

Website

https://actuateventures.co

Company type

Private

Founded year

2024

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Actuate Ventures is a venture capital firm and studio that backs pre-seed deep-tech and space-tech startups through an integrated ecosystem combining investment capital, physical innovation hubs, an expert council, and venture-building services for founders and institutional investors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Venture Capital

NAICS

Other Investment Pools and Funds (5259), Other Financial Investment Activities (5239)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Sector-Focused Venture Capital (Vertical Specialists) (FSANAAAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated) (FSANAAAM)

Keywords

• Venture capital investing
• Deep tech investments
• Venture building services
• Innovation hub facilities
• Due diligence research

Headquarters

HQ city

Orlando

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Investment Management: As a venture capital firm, Actuate Ventures generates returns through equity investments in deep-tech and space-tech startups. Revenue comes from management fees on managed funds and carried interest on investment returns (typically 20% of profits above the hurdle rate).

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Actuate Ventures is a venture capital firm and venture studio that supports deep-tech and space-tech startups through a pre-seed fund, physical Innovation Hubs with specialized manufacturing and R&D equipment, and 'co-founder-in-a-box' venture building services. The firm also operates The Future Council, a community of industry experts, and provides Research & Due Diligence services to institutional investors (PE firms, family offices, corporate venture teams). Their team has raised $400M+ for aerospace ventures and tracks a 3.67x TVPI and 27% IRR on prior pre-seed deep-tech and space-tech investments.

Product overview

Actuate Ventures operates a multi-component venture ecosystem for the advancement of humanity through deep-tech and space-tech startups. The core offering consists of an early stage pre-seed fund (3.67x TVPI, 27% IRR), physical Innovation Hubs providing manufacturing and R&D facilities with equipment access, and Innovation & Venture Building services acting as 'co-founder-in-a-box.' These are supported by The Future Council community of industry experts, Research & Due Diligence services for institutional investors, and Industry Events programming. The portfolio includes 10+ companies spanning space technology, applied AI, materials science, energy innovation, advanced manufacturing, and intelligent robotics sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Early Stage Fund Pre-seed investment fund backing deep-tech and space-tech startups. Returns reported at 27% IRR average with 3.67x total TVPI from 25+ prior space-tech investments.
• Innovation Hubs Physical innovation centers providing space, resources, and specialized equipment (CNC machines, RF chambers, ISO7 clean rooms) for deep-tech and space-tech companies. Flexible leases for equity and pay-for-use access to advanced facilities are offered.
• Innovation & Venture Building Co-founder-in-a-box service supporting startups and corporates to identify, create, and commercialize breakthrough technologies, including spin-up of new ventures or internal corporate programs.
• Research & Due Diligence Specialized analysis services for PE firms, family offices, and corporate venture teams including market intelligence, technical/commercial/operational due diligence, and curated deal flow in deep-tech opportunities.

Quantifiable outcome

• 27% IRR average on pre-seed deep-tech & space-tech investments
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and undisclosed.

• Space FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal nonprofit organization advancing space education and commerce. Space Foundation collaborates with Actuate Ventures as a Mission Partner, providing industry integration and ecosystem support for the innovation hub initiative. The partnership supports startups through the Space Commerce Institute.
• Stealth PartnerundisclosedOthersA strategic partner whose identity is not yet publicly disclosed. Expected to be announced soon as part of the Mission Partner ecosystem.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• SpaceFund: SpaceFund is a venture capital firm focused exclusively on the space industry, investing across the stack from launch to downstream applications. Direct competitor for space-tech deal flow with similar pre-seed/seed orientation.
• Lux Capital: Lux Capital is a deep-tech and science-focused venture firm with major space-tech exposure (planet labs, Hadrian, etc.). Competes directly for frontier-tech founders and LP capital in the same thesis.
• Seraphim Space: Seraphim Space runs dedicated space-tech venture funds and accelerator programs, making it one of the most direct competitors for space-only pre-seed and seed deals globally.
• Promus Ventures: Promus Ventures is a space-focused early-stage VC investing in seed and Series A space-tech companies. Directly comparable thesis and stage, focused on deep-tech space commercialization.
• Type One Ventures: Type One Ventures is a leading space-tech-focused early-stage investor, often co-investing with other space VCs. Directly comparable in thesis and stage.
• Stellar Ventures: Stellar Ventures is a space-focused early-stage venture firm that invests in pre-seed and seed deep-tech space startups. Highly comparable in stage and sector focus.
• Cosmic Ventures: Cosmic Ventures is a deep-tech and space-tech focused early-stage venture firm with a similar thesis around frontier technology, advanced manufacturing, and space commercialization.

Broad incumbents

• Founders Fund: Founders Fund is a major generalist VC with significant space-tech exposure (SpaceX, Planet Labs). Competes for the same founders at the same stage but with a much larger fund and broader sector mandate.

Emerging players

• Antler: Antler is a global early-stage VC and founder generator with a 'co-founder-in-a-box' model and accelerator-style programs, comparable to Actuate's venture-studio arm but across broader sectors, not just deep-tech/space.
• Entrepreneur First: Entrepreneur First is a global talent investor and venture builder that helps founders build deep-tech companies from scratch, overlapping with Actuate's co-founder-in-a-box studio model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ActuateVentures

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments1 record

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

Frequently asked questions about Actuate Ventures