Andy Lapsa
Andy Lapsa is Co-Founder and CEO at Stoke Space, where he is leading efforts to develop fully reusable rockets. He previously held engineering and director roles at Blue Origin and has expertise in propulsion engineering and reusable space technologies.
Stoke Space CEO Andy Lapsa says he might not have started the rocket company in Washington today, citing politics, schools and tax proposals
Stoke Space CEO Andy Lapsa said he and his co-founder might not choose Washington state if they were starting the fully reusable rocket company today, citing a hostile political climate toward successful founders, insufficient state support for startups, struggling public schools, and proposed wealth taxes. He made the remarks during a keynote at a Seattle Space Week event urging Washington to do more to retain and attract next-generation founders.
Stoke Space raises $1B Series E at $10B valuation to fund Nova Pathfinder and larger Nova Block 2
Stoke Space raised $1 billion in a Series E led by Point72 Ventures and Spark Capital at a roughly $10 billion valuation to accelerate development of its Nova Pathfinder reusable rocket and a larger Nova Block 2. Pathfinder is slated to debut in 2027; Block 2, using 14 Zenith engines and able to carry up to 15 metric tons reusable (23 expendable), aims for a first flight in 2029.
Stoke Space raises $1 billion Series E to fund Nova Block 2 and prep early‑2027 launches; total funding $2.3B
Kent-based reusable rocket startup Stoke Space raised $1 billion in a Series E round led by investors including Point72 Ventures and Spark Capital, bringing its total funding to $2.3 billion as it readies launches and develops its Nova Block 2 rocket for early 2027.
Stoke Space closes $1B Series E, total funding $2.3B; unveils 15-ton Nova Block 2 and readies Nova Pathfinder for early‑2027 launch
Stoke Space closed an initial $1 billion Series E round, taking total funding to $2.3 billion, as it prepares the Nova Pathfinder for a targeted early-2027 orbital launch. The company also unveiled the larger 15-ton Nova Block 2 vehicle, aiming for a 2029 first flight and rapid production ramp.
Stoke Space raises $1B Series E, eyes Nova Pathfinder debut launch in early 2027 and Nova Block 2 in 2029
Stoke Space raised $1 billion in a Series E, bringing total funding to $2.3 billion to fund the Nova Pathfinder debut launch in early 2027 and accelerate development of the larger Nova Block 2 aimed for 2029. Both vehicles are being developed for full and rapid reusability and the funds will also expand production capacity.
Stoke Space raises $1B in Series E, reaching ~$10B valuation to fund reusable Nova rockets
Stoke Space, a Kent, Washington startup founded by former Blue Origin engineers, raised $1 billion in a Series E that values the company at about $10 billion to accelerate its reusable Nova Pathfinder rocket and fund a larger Nova Block 2 slated for 2029.
Chris Morales announces Point72 Ventures co-led Series E as Stoke Space prepares Nova reusable medium‑lift rocket for first launch
Point72 Ventures co-led Stoke Space’s Series E after the company scaled from ~20 people in 2021 to ~400 today, building four facilities including a Cape Canaveral launch site. Stoke is testing Nova, a 100% rapidly reusable medium-lift rocket aimed at flexible "any orbit, any time" access amid growing commercial and national security space demand.
Stoke Space raises $1 billion in Series E, totals $2.3B, targets early 2027 first launch of fully reusable Nova Pathfinder
Stoke Space announced a $1 billion Series E raise (bringing total funding to $2.3 billion) to develop its fully reusable Nova Pathfinder and a more powerful Nova Block 2 capable of delivering up to 15 tons to LEO, targeting the first launch in early 2027. The Kent, Washington company says the Pathfinder is its first orbital vehicle and that the investment will scale development and production to meet customer needs.
Stoke Space Technologies raises $1B in Series E, total funding reaches $2.3B to accelerate fully reusable launch plans
Stoke Space Technologies completed an initial closing of a billion-dollar Series E on Sept 8, 2026, bringing total capital raised to $2.3 billion to support its first orbital launch, expand production and launch capacity, and accelerate development of the Nova Block 2 reusable launcher.
Stoke Space raises $1B Series E to fund Nova Pathfinder launch in early 2027, co-led by Point72Ventures and Spark Capital
Stoke Space raised $1 billion in a Series E round co-led by Point72Ventures and Spark Capital to fund the first launch of its Nova Pathfinder rocket in early 2027 and continued development of a larger Nova Block 2. The company, based near Seattle, has now raised $2.3 billion total and plans Nova Block 2 to lift 15 metric tons to LEO with a first launch targeted for 2029.
Stoke Space completes initial $1B Series E (total $2.3B raised) to fund Nova Pathfinder and Nova Block 2
Stoke Space Technologies completed an initial closing of a $1 billion Series E (bringing total raised to $2.3 billion) to accelerate development and testing of its fully reusable Nova Pathfinder rocket and scale toward a larger Nova Block 2, targeting a 2027 debut for Pathfinder. Reports vary on whether the $1B round is fully closed; Reuters values the company at about $10 billion.
Stoke Space Raises $1B Series E Tranche to Fund First Orbital Launch and Second-Generation Fully Reusable Rocket
Stoke Space Technologies raised the first tranche of a $1 billion Series E to scale manufacturing, prepare for its first orbital launch, and develop a second-generation fully reusable rocket. The round, led by Point72 Ventures and Spark Capital, brings Stoke’s total funding to $2.3 billion as it advances an active cooling system using supercooled liquid hydrogen for second-stage reentry.
Stoke Space announces $1B Series E initial close, total funding $2.3B while still pre-flight
Stoke Space raised a $1 billion Series E — bringing its total funding to $2.3 billion — despite not having flown an orbital mission yet; Point72 Ventures and Spark Capital co-led the round. The company says it has completed an initial closing of the round and plans to build a fully reusable Nova launch vehicle with first flight targeted for 2027.
Stoke Space raises roughly $1B in Series E to fund Nova rocket scale-up, Pathfinder launch targeted for early 2027
Stoke Space raised about $1 billion in a Series E round led by Point72 Ventures and Spark Capital to prepare for the first launch of its fully reusable Nova rocket and to scale up the vehicle and test facilities. The Seattle-area startup aims for a Pathfinder flight in early 2027 and plans a larger Nova Block 2 debut in 2029 as it expands capacity amid rising launch demand.
Former OpenAI VP Kevin Weil Joins $1.34 Billion-Funded Space Startup Stoke Space Competing with SpaceX in 2026
Former OpenAI VP Kevin Weil joined the board of Stoke Space, a Seattle-based space startup competing with SpaceX, which has raised $1.34 billion to date. His departure from OpenAI coincides with major leadership changes at the AI company in 2026.
OpenAI’s Kevin Weil Joins Stoke Space Board as Company Prepares First Launch of Fully Reusable Nova Rocket
OpenAI chief product officer Kevin Weil has joined the board of reusable rocket startup Stoke Space as it prepares for the launch of its fully reusable Nova rocket. Weil's expertise in scaling tech and AI products is expected to help guide Stoke from development to commercial operations.
Stoke Space Raises $350M More in Series D, Totals $860M to Ready Reusable Nova Rocket for First 2024 Launch
Stoke Space Technologies has raised an additional $350 million in its Series D round, totaling $860 million, to support completion of its Florida launch complex and production of its reusable Nova rocket. The medium-lift Nova vehicle is expected to launch for the first time from Cape Canaveral later this year.
Stoke Space Raises $510M Series D and $100M Debt to Accelerate Reusable Nova Rocket Development
Stoke Space Technologies raised $510 million in a Series D funding round led by Thomas Tull's US Innovative Technology Fund, alongside a $100 million debt facility, to accelerate development of its fully reusable Nova rocket. The company aims to complete development and demonstrate the rocket's first flight by next year, targeting reusability of both rocket stages to reduce launch costs.
Stoke Space Raises $260M to Advance Fully Reusable Nova Rocket and Build Florida Launch Site
Stoke Space has raised $260 million in a Series C funding round to advance the development of its fully reusable Nova rocket and build a launch complex in Florida, bringing total funding to $480 million. The company recently completed a key test firing of its Zenith rocket engine and aims for a first orbital test flight of the Nova rocket this year.
Insights from Uncommon Thinkers: How these innovators found novel approaches in their fields
This week on the GeekWire Podcast, we sit down with some of the Seattle region’s “Uncommon Thinkers” — inventors, scientists, technologists and entrepreneurs transforming industries and driving positive change in the world. We recorded the episode on location, backstage at the GeekWire Gala, where we recognized five Uncommon Thinkers through this annual awards program, presented in partnership with Greater Seattle Partners. Speaking on the episode are: Uri Shumlak, co-founder and chief scientist at Zap Energy, a physicist leading a team in pursuit of fusion energy, taking a different approach from others in the field. Read the profile. Ingrid Swanson Pultz…
Stoke Space Hotfires 100,000-Pound Thrust Full-Flow Staged Combustion Rocket Engine on New Vertical Test Stand
Stoke Space successfully hotfired its first-stage full-flow staged combustion rocket engine on a new vertical test stand in Moses Lake, Washington, marking a significant milestone for the startup. The company, founded by former Blue Origin employees, aims to develop fully reusable rockets operating with aircraft-like frequency.
Bill Gates’ Breakthrough Energy Hosts 2022 Climate Tech Summit in Seattle Showcasing $2B+ in Decarbonization Investments
The 2022 Breakthrough Energy Summit in Seattle, hosted by Bill Gates’ Breakthrough Energy, brought together 700 climate tech innovators and investors to showcase and support technologies like plant-based dairy proteins and carbon-negative cement. Breakthrough Energy has raised over $2 billion to invest in decarbonization startups and provided an additional $1 billion in grants, aiming to accelerate climate solutions amid global challenges like war and economic recession.
Breakthrough Energy Ventures (Bill Gates) leads $65M funding for Stoke Space’s fully reusable-rocket program
Bill Gates’ Breakthrough Energy Ventures is leading a $65 million investment in Stoke Space to support development of fully reusable rockets aimed at cutting launch costs and enabling faster, lower-cost access to satellites for climate-monitoring applications.
Stoke Space builds Moses Lake test site, completes full-scale second-stage demo and hot-fire 'three-pack' in six months
Stoke Space Technologies rapidly built a 2.3-acre liquid-hydrogen/liquid-oxygen test facility in Moses Lake, Washington, and completed a full-scale manufacturing demonstration and hot-fire tests of a second-stage engine ‘three-pack’ in six months. CEO Andy Lapsa says the two-year-old startup is pursuing full second-stage reusability to lower launch costs, taking a different technical approach than SpaceX and Blue Origin.
Five Seattle Startups Graduate from Y Combinator’s Remote Winter 2021 Batch; Demo Day Held March 23
Five Seattle-area startups graduated from Y Combinator’s remote winter 2021 accelerator, pitching ideas from structured note-taking and software containers to reusable rockets and hybrid workplace tools during YC’s virtual Demo Day on March 23. YC expanded reach with a record 350 companies, increased mentor office hours by 50%, and continues to attract investor funding despite remote format.
Organizations
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Stoke Space Executive Officer, Director 2021–present, Co-Founder, CEO 2019–present, Founder · current
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Blue Origin Director, BE-3 and BE-3U Engines 2017–2019, Propulsion Engineer, BE-4 2011–2017, Propulsion Engineer, R&D 2009–2011 · past
Education
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Y Combinator 2021
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University of Michigan Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering · 2004–2009
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Cornell University Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Mechanical Engineering · 2000–2004
