NewSpace Nexus

What NewSpace Nexus does

NewSpace Nexus is a 501(c)(3) non-profit space industry accelerator headquartered in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Founded in 2019 as NewSpace New Mexico and rebranded in May 2023, the organization operates an integrated portfolio of programs designed to grow the U.S. commercial space industrial base. Core offerings include: (1) the NewSpace Alliance, a free national membership network of 240+ space companies, government agencies, educational institutions, and economic development organizations; (2) NewSpace Ignitor, a cohort-based incubator program co-run with the Air Force Research Laboratory to accelerate space startups from R&D through commercialization; (3) NewSpace Launchpad, an 8,000 square foot co-innovation facility in Albuquerque providing shared workspaces, prototyping labs, and specialized testing equipment including a LACO Thermal Vacuum Chamber meeting NASA GSFC-STD-7000; (4) Pathways to the Stars, a K-12 to early career workforce development pipeline partnered with the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions; (5) the NewSpace Sadler Report, a weekly intelligence newsletter on space policy and Washington developments; and (6) the annual State of the Space Industrial Base (SSIB) conference, which has drawn 250+ space industry leaders annually since 2020.

The organization serves four primary customer segments: space companies seeking ecosystem access and partnerships, government space organizations (U.S. Space Force, AFRL, DIU) working on industrial base strengthening, students and early-career professionals accessing workforce pathways, and educational/economic development institutions supporting regional space sector growth. Revenue is generated through tiered annual corporate sponsorships (Gold: Peacock Law, BlueHalo, Virgin Galactic, GDIT, ASRC Federal, Verus Research, Goodman Technologies; Silver: 13+ additional sponsors including Lockheed Martin and Redwire), conference registration fees ($800 in-person general, $650 government, $100 virtual), non-dilutive grants (SBA Growth Accelerator Fund Competition awards totaling $200K in 2024), and philanthropic donations including a $2 million pledge from Rocket Lab in 2024.

The business model is event-driven and community-led: free membership and incubator participation drive ecosystem breadth, while corporate sponsorships, conference fees, and government grants provide operating revenue. Distribution combines digital channels (LinkedIn, Twitter/X, Facebook, Instagram, weekly newsletter), hybrid event delivery (in-person and virtual SSIB), and physical facility access (Launchpad workspace and Equipment Connector network of 80+ equipment pieces primarily in the Albuquerque metro area). Key strategic alliances include Air Force Research Laboratory, Rocket Lab, Spaceport America, MathWorks, Boston Analytics, FUSE Makerspace, Higher Orbits, and the Space Industrial Leadership Council consortium. The CEO is Casey Anglada DeRaad.

Name

NewSpace Nexus

Legal name

NewSpace Nexus

Website

https://newspacenexus.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

NewSpace Nexus is a 501(c)(3) non-profit space industry accelerator operating Alliance membership, Ignitor incubator, Launchpad workspace, workforce development, and the annual SSIB conference to grow the U.S. space industrial base from Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Space Industry Accelerator Services

NAICS

Public Relations Agencies (541820)

SIC

Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744)

akta.pro primary industry

Virtual, Hybrid & Livestream Event Coordination (HSACAAAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Meeting & Event Space Services (Setup/Teardown) (BPABAFAL), Media Relations & Press Office Services (MPAAADAI), News Agencies & Wire Services (General & Specialized) (MPAJADAE)

Keywords

• Space industry accelerator
• Space incubator programs
• Workforce development services
• Space ecosystem networking
• Conference event services

Headquarters

HQ city

Albuquerque

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Annual Sponsorships: Gold and Silver tier corporate sponsors support the organization with logo placement on website, events, and reports. Gold sponsors include Peacock Law, BlueHalo/AV, Goodman Technologies, Virgin Galactic, ASRC Federal, Verus Research, and GDIT. Silver sponsors include Omni Federal, Davidson, SPA, Black Sky, Lockheed Martin, BRPH, Astroscale, Ideas-Tek, K2 Space, Redwire, Proof Labs, RAND, and Antaris.
2. Conference Registration: Annual State of the Space Industrial Base conference with in-person registration ($800 general, $650 government) and virtual attendance ($100). Conference includes exhibitor and sponsor opportunities.
3. NewSpace Sadler Report Sponsorship: Weekly intelligence newsletter covering space, policy, and Washington developments. Sponsors receive prominent logo placement and featured content opportunities.
4. Donations and Grants: As a 501(c)(3) non-profit, organization receives donations. Notable support includes Rocket Lab's $2 million pledge.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

NewSpace Nexus is a 501(c)(3) non-profit space industry accelerator that operates a portfolio of programs connecting space companies, government, academia, and students. Its core offerings include the free NewSpace Alliance membership network (240+ organizations), the NewSpace Ignitor cohort-based incubator partnered with the Air Force Research Laboratory, the NewSpace Launchpad 8,000 sq ft co-innovation workspace with shared prototyping and testing equipment, the Pathways to the Stars workforce development program, the weekly NewSpace Sadler Report intelligence newsletter, the NewSpace Equipment Connector service, and the annual State of the Space Industrial Base (SSIB) conference.

Product overview

NewSpace Nexus is a 501(c)(3) non-profit space industry accelerator organization that offers a portfolio of interconnected programs and services designed to grow the national space industry from New Mexico. The core offerings include the NewSpace Alliance membership network (free membership with 240+ organizations), the NewSpace Ignitor incubator program (free accelerator partnered with AFRL), the NewSpace Launchpad physical co-innovation workspace facility (8,000 sq ft with equipment access), the Pathways to the Stars workforce development program (K-12 to early career pipeline), the NewSpace Sadler Report weekly intelligence newsletter, and the annual State of the Space Industrial Base (SSIB) conference. The organization also operates the NewSpace Equipment Connector service. Together, these programs provide community services, navigation/advisory services, and co-innovation services to accelerate space industry growth.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• NewSpace Alliance: A national network of over 240 organizations in the space industry offering monthly tech talks, webinars, networking events, forums, workshops and conferences.
• NewSpace Ignitor
• NewSpace Launchpad
• Pathways to the Stars
• NewSpace Sadler Report
• State of the Space Industrial Base (SSIB)

Products and services

• NewSpace Alliance Free national membership program connecting 240+ space industry, government, academic, and economic development organizations through monthly tech talks, industry webinars, networking events, forums, workshops, and conference access.
• NewSpace Ignitor First-of-its-kind cohort-based incubator program for early growth to mid-sized US-based space companies, providing tech-to-market business services, navigation plans, facility access, and investor/customer showcases. Offered free in partnership with Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL).
• NewSpace Launchpad 8,000 square foot co-innovation workspace facility in Albuquerque, NM providing space companies with shared work areas, private offices, meeting rooms, prototyping labs, event space, and specialized equipment including a LACO thermal vacuum chamber (NASA GSFC-STD-7000 compliant), 3D printers, and soldering stations.
• Pathways to the Stars Comprehensive K-12 to early-career talent pipeline program for the space industry featuring three gateways: Discovery Gateway (awareness and exposure), Skills Gateway (paid training and skill validation), and Opportunity Gateway (internships, jobs, mentorship). Includes programs like National Space Day, Intern Day, and Gateway Scholars.
• NewSpace Sadler Report Weekly intelligence brief covering commercial space industry, policy, and Washington developments. Curated and analyzed by Scott Sadler, covering technological advancements, market trends, policy updates, investment insights, emerging opportunities, and company profiles.
• State of the Space Industrial Base (SSIB) Conference Annual nationally recognized conference bringing together suppliers, buyers, and supporters of space solutions to co-innovate and accelerate progress. Features working groups, keynotes from government and industry leaders, and panels on space policy, power, propulsion, sensing, ISAM, workforce, and STEM education. In-person ($800 general / $650 government) and virtual ($100) registration.
• NewSpace Equipment Connector Program rapidly connecting space companies to over 80 pieces of equipment needed for design, prototyping, and testing of hardware and software. Equipment network is primarily located in the Albuquerque metro area.
• SSIB Conference Reports Annual reports documenting State of the Space Industrial Base conference outcomes, including critical actions, recommendations, and learnings from working group sessions. Reports available from 2020 through 2025.

Quantifiable outcome

• 800% market growth projected for space industry to $3 trillion in 20 years
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAFRL partners with NewSpace Nexus on the NewSpace Ignitor incubator program, designed to reduce barriers space companies face moving concepts beyond R&D. The partnership brings government research capabilities and commercial innovation together.
• New Mexico Department of Workforce SolutionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supports Pathways to the Stars workforce development initiative, connecting New Mexicans to space and high-tech careers through training, mentorship, and career connection services.
• Space Industrial Leadership Council (SILC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSILC is a partnership between NewSpace Nexus, Space Florida, Space Northwest, Space Frontier Foundation, Aerospace Industries Association, SmallSat Alliance, Atlantic Council, Satellite Industry Association, and National Defense Industrial Association. Formed to further the Space Industrial Base through collaboration.
• Boston AnalyticssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerIgnitor Partner providing analytical services and expertise to the NewSpace Ignitor incubator program.
• MathWorkssupportingTechnology or IntegrationIgnitor Partner providing MATLAB and Simulink modeling/simulation software access to incubator companies.
• FUSE MakerspacesupportingTechnology or IntegrationIgnitor Partner providing maker space facilities and resources for prototyping and hardware development.
• Higher OrbitssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerGo-For-Launch program partner supporting Pathways to the Stars through experiential learning opportunities for students.
• Spaceport AmericasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpaceport America partners with NewSpace Nexus, offering open house events and supporting workforce development initiatives.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA): Defense industry trade association with strong space-supply-chain focus; overlaps with NewSpace Nexus on SSIB-style industrial base working groups and SILC collaboration, but with much broader defense scope.
• Atlantic Council: International policy think tank with a space program; overlaps with NewSpace Nexus on national space policy convening and SILC membership, but operates at a much broader geopolitical and policy scale.
• Aerospace Industries Association (AIA): Major U.S. aerospace trade association representing primes and suppliers; overlaps with NewSpace Nexus on policy convening and SSIB-style working groups, but operates at a much broader industry-government scale.

Regional players

• Space Florida: Florida's state spaceport authority and economic development organization; comparable space cluster development role but anchored in Cape Canaveral/Kennedy region rather than New Mexico, and co-partners through the Space Industrial Leadership Council.
• Space Northwest: Regional cluster organization for the Pacific Northwest space industry; comparable ecosystem-building role to NewSpace Nexus but anchored in Washington state rather than New Mexico, and SILC co-partner.

Direct peers

• Space Frontier Foundation: Non-profit space advocacy organization focused on expanding the commercial space industry; overlaps with NewSpace Nexus on events, conferences, and policy ecosystem building, and is a co-member of the Space Industrial Leadership Council.
• SmallSat Alliance: Industry alliance promoting smallsat commercial market and policy reform; has overlapping membership with NewSpace Nexus and co-convenes stakeholders through the Space Industrial Leadership Council.
• Satellite Industry Association (SIA): U.S. trade association representing the commercial satellite industry; shares the NewSpace Nexus policy and ecosystem-building persona, and is a co-partner within the Space Industrial Leadership Council.

Emerging players

• Techstars (Industry Programs): Global accelerator network with space-adjacent programs; comparable to NewSpace Ignitor's incubator-style offering for startups, but operates as a for-profit entity with equity-based investment model.
• gener8tor: Mid-stage accelerator network that has run space-focused cohorts; comparable to NewSpace Ignitor's cohort-based program structure, but for-profit and not space-specialized.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/newspace_nexus
• Facebookfacebook.com/NewSpaceNexus
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/newspace-new-mexico
• Instagraminstagram.com/newspacenexus

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about NewSpace Nexus