Catapult Ventures I

Anello Photonics, based in Silicon Valley, specializes in developing advanced sensors that deliver optical gyroscope performance at an affordable price. Founded by experts in silicon photonics and inertial navigation, the company has created a patented technology known as the Anello SiPhOG gyroscope. This innovative sensor leverages an integrated photonic system-on-chip that utilizes a proprietary waveguide process, which simulates the characteristics of optical fiber within a compact chip. Anello's technology aims to redefine navigation systems with next-generation capabilities, positioning the company as a leader in the mass-market sensor industry. The company has garnered support from prominent venture capital firms to propel its growth and technological advancements.

Advanced Farm Technologies Inc. is a robotics company based in Davis, California, specializing in advanced farming solutions. Founded in 2017, the company focuses on strawberry harvesting services in the Oxnard, Santa Maria, and Watsonville regions. Its robotic harvesting systems are designed to gently handle strawberries, minimizing bruising and damage to the fruit. By providing innovative harvesting technology, Advanced Farm Technologies aims to modernize agricultural practices and enhance efficiency for farmers.

Urban Sky is developing the first-ever reusable 'micro-sat' version of a near-space balloon, armed with sensors that collect high-value Earth observation data over entire cities, serving a multi-billion dollar imagery market and making daily and weekly aerial imagery collection a cost-effective reality. Leveraging advances in component miniaturization, first-of-its-kind balloon reusability, and the high vantage point of the stratosphere, the Microballoon drastically reduces the cost of high-resolution remote sensing and weather-related data capture over broad areas, leading to more impactful data over more areas than ever before. With a new wealth of data from the stratosphere - this completely untapped layer of Earth’s atmosphere - we can fundamentally change the collective human understanding of the surface of our planet and urban centers.

Elroy Air, Inc. is an aerospace and logistics company based in San Francisco, California, founded in 2016. The company develops autonomous aircraft systems capable of delivering goods, focusing on logistics, robotics, and air transportation. Its innovative aerial cargo delivery system features rotor-based vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) capabilities, transitioning to wing-based cruise flight for long-range operations. Elroy Air's delivery drones are designed to transport heavy cargo over long distances, making them suitable for commercial, humanitarian, and military applications. The aircraft can efficiently serve remote areas with challenging infrastructure, providing rapid humanitarian aid and resupply for military operations while minimizing costs and environmental impacts compared to traditional aircraft. This technology enables businesses to enhance their express delivery options, particularly in the middle mile of the logistics chain.

SpinLaunch Inc. is a spaceflight technology development company based in Long Beach, California, founded in 2014. The company is focused on creating an innovative launch system that utilizes a large mass accelerator, or centrifuge, to propel payloads into space without the use of chemical propellants. This kinetic space launch system is designed to enable on-demand launches of small satellites in various weather conditions. By spinning the payload in a vacuum to minimize friction, SpinLaunch aims to achieve speeds of approximately 3,000 miles per hour. This method allows for a more cost-effective and sustainable approach to space travel, as the system can either launch payloads directly into space or assist them with supplemental rockets to exit Earth's atmosphere.

Elroy Air, Inc. is an aerospace and logistics company based in San Francisco, California, founded in 2016. The company develops autonomous aircraft systems capable of delivering goods, focusing on logistics, robotics, and air transportation. Its innovative aerial cargo delivery system features rotor-based vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) capabilities, transitioning to wing-based cruise flight for long-range operations. Elroy Air's delivery drones are designed to transport heavy cargo over long distances, making them suitable for commercial, humanitarian, and military applications. The aircraft can efficiently serve remote areas with challenging infrastructure, providing rapid humanitarian aid and resupply for military operations while minimizing costs and environmental impacts compared to traditional aircraft. This technology enables businesses to enhance their express delivery options, particularly in the middle mile of the logistics chain.