Tom Feldman
Tom Feldman is currently Co-Founder at STOKE Space Technologies, a startup he helped found in 2021 and where he remains active. He has prior experience as a propulsion design engineer and test engineer at BLUE ORIGIN and ATA Engineering.
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 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 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 Series E, bringing total funding to $2.3B to fund Nova Block 2 and launches
Kent-based reusable-rocket startup Stoke Space raised $1 billion in a Series E round, bringing total funding to $2.3 billion to support upcoming launches and development of its Nova Block 2 rocket. The company is targeting early 2027 for the first orbital launch of its Nova Pathfinder vehicle and is expanding manufacturing and test facilities.
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.
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 adds $350M to Series D, taking October round to $860M to speed Nova production and launch-pad activation
Kent-based reusable rocket startup Stoke Space added $350 million to its October Series D, bringing that round to $860 million to accelerate production of its reusable Nova rocket and activate Launch Complex 14; the company has raised over $1.1 billion since January last 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 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.
Stoke Space Technologies raises $9.1 million seed round to build reusable upper-stage rockets
Stoke Space Technologies, founded by former Blue Origin engineers in Renton, Wash., raised $9.1 million in seed funding to develop a reusable upper-stage rocket aimed at making full-stage reusability commonplace. CEO Andy Lapsa says extending reusability to upper stages is the next industry milestone and will better serve the commercial satellite market.
Organizations
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Stoke Space Executive Officer, Director 2021–present, Co-Founder 2019–present · current
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Blue Origin Senior Propulsion Design Engineer: Responsible Engineer, BE-4 Oxidizer Boost Pump 2017–2019, Propulsion Design Engineer: Lead Designer and RE, BE-4 Thrust Chamber 2014–2017, New Graduate Rotation Engineer 2013–2014 · past
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Purdue University Graduate Research Assistant - Combustion Instability 2011–2013, Project Manager and Lead Technical Designer - Purdue LOX/Methane Thrust Chamber 2010–2013, Research Technician - Gelled Hypegol 2010, Laboratory Assistant - Pulse Jet Engine 2009 · past
Education
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Y Combinator 2021
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Purdue University Master’s Degree, Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering · 2011–2013
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Purdue University Bachelor’s Degree, Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering · 2006–2011
