Starris
Starris is a privately held space technology spin-off of Optimax Systems that designs and manufactures monolithic telescope-based EO/IR optical payloads for proliferated small-satellite constellations, serving defense and space-domain-awareness customers under a licensed LLNL patent.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2024
- HeadquartersOntario, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Starris does
Starris: Optimax Space Systems is a privately held space technology company established in July 2024 as a spinoff of Optimax Systems Inc., a precision-optics manufacturer based in Ontario, New York. The company designs and builds space-qualified electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) optical payloads for small satellite constellations, with its flagship being the Starris SDA-85 monolithic telescope platform. Core technology is built around Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory's patented monolithic telescope design (US Patent 9,720,223), licensed to Starris under a CRADA and commercialization partnership, in which a single piece of fused silica carries primary and secondary optical surfaces on opposite sides, enabling athermal, diffraction-limited imaging in UV, visible, and IR bands within a compact, low-mass form factor.
The product portfolio centers on the SDA-85 monolithic telescope and a modular EO/IR sensor platform with configurable multispectral and polarimetric modalities, targeting proliferated small-satellite constellations for space domain awareness, persistent surveillance, missile tracking, in-space operations, and rendezvous proximity operations. The company augments its optics with co-developed sensor and processing capabilities through strategic partnerships with Teledyne Space Imaging (sensors), Eoptic (multispectral processing for hypersonic missile tracking), and TRL11 (full-motion video for RPO).
Starris operates a B2B enterprise field sales model, engaging satellite operators, defense agencies, and commercial space companies directly through its sales team. Revenue is generated primarily through hardware sales of custom-engineered optical payloads and systems, supplemented by licensing arrangements tied to the LLNL patent. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed, which is consistent with mission-specific space hardware. The company is privately held by parent Optimax with no disclosed external equity funding to date.
Starris firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Starris
- Legal name
- Starris: Optimax Space Systems
- Website
- https://starris.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2024
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Starris is a privately held space technology spin-off of Optimax Systems that designs and manufactures monolithic telescope-based EO/IR optical payloads for proliferated small-satellite constellations, serving defense and space-domain-awareness customers under a licensed LLNL patent.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Starris industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Space Optical Payloads
- NAICS
- Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing (336414), Other Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336419)
- SIC
- Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827), Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles & Parts (3760)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Space Payloads & Instruments (Sensors, Comms, EO/IR) (IMABACAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Spacecraft & Satellites (Civil/Commercial) (IMABACAB), Optoelectronics & Photonics (LED/Laser/Optical ICs) (HDAHAAAH)
Keywords
Where Starris is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Ontario
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Starris business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Optical Payloads and Systems: Sale of space-qualified optical payloads including the Starris SDA-85 monolithic telescope, modular EO/IR sensor platforms, and associated systems for small satellite applications.
- Custom System Integration: Pre-engineered modular approach combining optics, sensors, and electronics for space-qualified optical payloads tailored to specific mission requirements with robust testing and manufacturing support.
- Technology Licensing: Licensing of patented monolithic telescope technology from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (US Patent 9,720,223) for space-based optical applications.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels3 records
Starris product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Starris designs, manufactures, and supplies space-qualified optical imaging payloads and instruments for small satellite constellations, anchored by the Starris SDA-85 monolithic telescope platform. It offers a modular EO/IR sensor system supporting configurable multispectral and polarimetric modalities, with rapid-deployment manufacturing for defense, intelligence, and commercial space missions. The company also licenses patented monolithic telescope technology from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory for space-based optical applications.
Product overview
Starris: Optimax Space Systems, the space systems unit of precision-optics leader Optimax, offers a modular approach for space-qualified optical payloads combining optics, sensors, and electronics. The core product is the Starris SDA-85 monolithic telescope, a rugged compact optical system available in UV, Visible, and IR configurations. This flagship product serves as the foundation for applications including In-Space Operations (RPO, platform monitoring, context video), Space Domain Awareness (object detection, tracking, monitoring), and Proliferated ISR (persistent surveillance, resilient architectures). All products leverage patented monolithic telescope technology developed by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, enabling deployment of affordable, reliable, and storage-stable proliferated small satellite constellations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Starris SDA-85: A monolithic telescope product platform for detecting, monitoring, and characterizing the space domain with high-resolution optics for small satellites in UV, Visible, and IR configurations.
Products and services
- Starris SDA-85 A rugged, monolithic telescope platform for small satellites enabling detection, monitoring, and characterization of the space domain. Available in UV, Visible, and IR configurations with patented design licensed from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (US Patent 9,720,223). Sold to satellite operators, defense agencies, and integrators building SDA, missile tracking, and proliferated ISR missions.
- Starris Modular EO/IR Sensor Platform A modular electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) sensor platform designed for integration into proliferated small-satellite constellations. Supports configurable multispectral and polarimetric modalities, enabling tailored mission-specific payloads. Products are shelf-stable, mass-manufacturable, and ready for rapid deployment. Sold to commercial satellite operators and integrators building scalable imaging and ISR constellations.
Quantifiable outcome
- Idea to orbit in one year - enabling rapid deployment for responsive space missions
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Starris
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Starris technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability4 records
Feature4 records
Starris partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.
- TRL11flagshipStrategic partnership to deliver innovative, intelligent full-motion video payloads capable of performing electro-optical Rendezvous Proximity Operations (RPO). Combined system enables SDA object characterization with resolved imagery up to 10km distance and metric observation at 20km and beyond. Reduces identification time for neighboring RSOs from months to minutes.
- Eoptic Inc.flagshipPartnership to build end-to-end satellite imaging payloads combining Eoptic's imaging science and advanced onboard processing with Starris's precision optics and scalable manufacturing. First collaborative system focuses on hypersonic missile detection and tracking, combining Eoptic's Cambrian multispectral technology with the Starris SDA-85 monolithic telescope for compact, deployable UV multispectral payloads.
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL)coreCRADA (Cooperative Research and Development Agreement) expanding production of LLNL's next-generation space domain awareness technology. Starris is the manufacturing partner that can scale to meet needs for proliferated constellations. First collaborative effort is a UV-infrared space-domain awareness system based on LLNL's monolithic telescope technology, with Starris as the commercial licensing partner.
- Teledyne Space ImagingcoreStrategic collaboration to develop space cameras for small satellites and lunar ecosystems. Combines Teledyne's 50+ years of space-rated sensor solutions with Starris's optical payloads for agile-space applications including earth observation, space navigation, in-orbit servicing, and space domain awareness.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Starris competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Lockheed Martin Space: Premier space prime with end-to-end space-domain awareness, missile-warning, and small-sat payload offerings that overlap directly with Starris's mission set.
- Honeywell Aerospace: Supplier of space-qualified optics, sensors, and attitude control subsystems across DoD and civil space; competes in the same space optical payload category.
- L3Harris Technologies: Major supplier of EO/IR space sensors and payloads to DoD/IC and commercial operators; a direct competitor in the proliferated-LEO SDA and missile-tracking payload category.
- Ball Aerospace (BAE Systems Space & Mission Systems): Established prime for space optical payloads and EO/IR sensors across military, civil, and commercial space programs; competes head-to-head with Starris for space-based SDA and ISR payload awards.
- Northrop Grumman Space Systems: Operator of major missile-warning, SDA, and ISR space programs (e.g., SBIRS, Next-Gen OPIR); competes for the same payload and program dollars Starris is targeting.
- Raytheon (RTX) Space Systems: Large defense prime with deep EO/IR space payload, missile-warning, and SDA programs; sets the benchmark against which Starris's compact SDA-85 is benchmarked.
Emerging players
- Slingshot Aerospace: Emerging SDA and space situational awareness provider using optical and RF data; competes in the same proliferated-LEO tracking and characterization market Starris serves.
Direct peers
- Teledyne Technologies (Teledyne Space Imaging): Long-standing supplier of space-rated sensor and camera solutions; both a Starris partner and a comparable provider of optical payloads for small satellites and lunar ecosystems.
- LeoLabs: Commercial provider of space domain awareness and orbital monitoring services; a direct peer in the SDA mission segment where Starris sells EO/IR payloads.
- BlackSky Technology: Operator of a small-sat EO ISR constellation and provider of space-based monitoring services; a near-term downstream customer and competitor in proliferated ISR architectures.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Starris social profiles
Digital presenceStarris financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Starris leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Starris funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Starris M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Starris
What does Starris do?
Starris designs, manufactures, and supplies space-qualified optical imaging payloads and instruments for small satellite constellations, anchored by the Starris SDA-85 monolithic telescope platform. It offers a modular EO/IR sensor system supporting configurable multispectral and polarimetric modalities, with rapid-deployment manufacturing for defense, intelligence, and commercial space missions. The company also licenses patented monolithic telescope technology from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory for space-based optical applications.
Is Starris a public or private company?
Starris is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Starris founded?
Starris was founded in 2024. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Starris based?
Starris is headquartered in Ontario, United States, in the North America region.
How does Starris make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Optical Payloads and Systems are the primary driver. The others are custom System Integration and technology Licensing.
Who are Starris's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Lockheed Martin Space, Honeywell Aerospace, L3Harris Technologies, Ball Aerospace (BAE Systems Space & Mission Systems), Northrop Grumman Space Systems and Raytheon (RTX) Space Systems. Slingshot Aerospace is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are Teledyne Technologies (Teledyne Space Imaging), LeoLabs and BlackSky Technology.
Does Starris have an API?
No public API is recorded for Starris.
What industry is Starris in?
Starris's product category is Space Optical Payloads. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABACAD, Space Payloads & Instruments (Sensors, Comms, EO/IR), with a secondary code of IMABACAB, Spacecraft & Satellites (Civil/Commercial). Its NAICS code is 336414 and its SIC code is 3827.