Auriga USA, LLC
- Founded: 2022
- Country:
- Industry:
- Headquarters: San Francisco, California, USA
Description: Auriga Space, Inc. is a U.S.-based aerospace startup headquartered in San Francisco, California. It is pioneering an electromagnetic launch system designed to enable high-frequency, low-cost, clean satellite access to low Earth orbit using maglev-like ground acceleration rather than traditional first-stage rockets.
Vision:
To be a leading broker-dealer offering innovative fixed income trading solutions and superior service to institutional clients.
Mission:
To deliver comprehensive institutional brokerage services focused on fixed income markets and client-oriented investment solutions.
Contact:
- Website: https://www.aurigaspace.com/
- Social Media:
References:
- Auriga Space official website – product descriptions, test architecture, vision.
- TechCrunch – funding and technology overview (Jul 2025)
- Payload Space exclusive – seed round and founding background (Oct 2023).
- SpaceInsider / SpaceImpuse – initial $5M round and investor list (Oct 2023).
- CB Insights / Craft – financials, team size, HQ location
- Universe Magazine / VisegradPost article – technological context and market positioning.
Funding:
- Pre-Seed Funding: Aug 3, 2023, $: US Dollar5 million
- Seed Funding: Jan 1, 2025, $: US Dollar4.6 million
Total Funding: €9.6 million
Key Milestones:
- 2022: Founded by Winnie Lai (ex–SpinLaunch VP) in Southern California; emerged from stealth with $5M seed funding to prototype accelerator tracks and expand facilities
- 2023: Awarded SBIR Phase II contracts via SpaceWERX/AFWERX totaling ~$1.4M to develop Prometheus and Thor test tracks.
- Jul 2025: Announced raising $6M in VC funding; total capital raised ~$12.2M including DoD grants and VC participation.
Sector:
Products & Services:
- Prometheus: Lab-scale hypersonic testbed for subsystem and payload testing at speeds up to Mach 6; recoverable and reusable.
- Thor: Outdoor full-scale hypersonic accelerator track aimed for suborbital testing and eventual orbital capability.
- Zeus: Planned full orbital launch infrastructure using electromagnetic acceleration to slingshot launch vehicles into space efficiently.