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Founders Karan Kunjur and Neel Kunjur made a contrarian bet four years ago that…

Brief

K2 Space Co founders Karan and Neel Kunjur bet four years ago that larger satellites — offering greater power, aperture and mass — would be needed for key missions. Their Gravitas mission success plus over $1 billion in contracts attracted Kleiner Perkins to co‑lead a Series D as K2 scales production at its Torrance factory.

Why it matters

Founders Karan Kunjur and Neel Kunjur made a contrarian bet four years ago that the most important space missions would need larger satellites with more power, aperture, and mass.

Key details

  • K2 Space Co’s first successful flight, Gravitas, is presented as validation of those engineering breakthroughs and the company has signed more than $1 billion in commercial and government contracts.
  • Venture firm Kleiner Perkins co-led K2’s Series D; Lucas Oliveira visited K2’s Torrance factory as the company prepares to scale production and 'usher in an era of abundance in space.'
Source evidence

While the industry raced toward building smaller satellites, @KaranKunjur and @neelkunjur took a contrarian bet that the future of space was in building bigger. Just four years later, their first successful mission, Gravitas, validates years of engineering breakthroughs, while more than $1B of signed contracts validates the demand. We @kleinerperkins are thrilled to co-lead @K2SpaceCo’s Series D as they usher in an era of abundance in space.

Kleiner Perkins (@kleinerperkins)

Four years ago, @KaranKunjur and @neelkunjur made a contrarian bet: while the satellite industry was building smaller, the most important missions in space would require more power, aperture, and mass.

Since then, @K2SpaceCo has successfully flown Gravitas and signed more than $1 billion in commercial and government contracts. Now, the company is preparing to scale production.

We’re thrilled to co-lead K2’s Series D and continue our partnership with Karan, Neel, and the team.

@LucasLGOliveira visited them at K2’s factory in Torrance to see the operation up close and hear what comes next.

Video

— https://nitter.net/kleinerperkins/status/2082836124901453941#m