Fortastra
About
About Fortastra
Fortastra develops spacecraft that maneuver around orbital assets to monitor activity and support defensive rendezvous and proximity operations. Its engineering combines guidance, navigation and control, propulsion, relative navigation and onboard perception. Founded in 2025 by former SpaceX engineer and Hermeus co-founder Mike Smayda, the company is headquartered in Torrance, California.
The company has launched its Watchdog V0 spacecraft and secured initial government contracts. Its next development phase combines autonomy engineering with a modular spacecraft bus intended for high-rate production. A $30 million Series A announced in October 2026 supports engineering, operations and manufacturing expansion, following seed financing of over $8 million. Fortastra is also working with Hadrian under a manufacturing memorandum of understanding.
Funding
- 2026-10-08 - Series A - $30M - Fortastra closes $30 million Series A for autonomous orbital spacecraft
First In led the round, with Upfront Ventures, Space Capital, Rsquared, Side Door Ventures, ATX Ventures and existing investors participating. - source: prnewswire.com
- 2025-12-11 - Seed - Fortastra discloses over $8M seed financing at public launch
The Torrance spacecraft developer emerged from stealth with Upfront Ventures-led financing for maneuverable orbital-security systems. - source: fortastra.com
Investors
- Upfront Ventures - Lead - VC - 2 funding events - repeat backer - first seen 2025-12-11 - latest 2026-10-08
- ATX Ventures - Participant - VC - 1 funding event - first seen 2026-10-08
- Bloomberg Beta - Participant - VC - 1 funding event - strategic/corporate - first seen 2025-12-11
- First In - Lead - VC - 1 funding event - first seen 2026-10-08
- Forward Deployed VC - Participant - Unknown - 1 funding event - first seen 2025-12-11
- Generational Partners - Participant - VC - 1 funding event - first seen 2025-12-11
- Rsquared - Participant - Unknown - 1 funding event - first seen 2026-10-08
- Side Door Ventures - Participant - VC - 1 funding event - first seen 2026-10-08
- Space Capital - Participant - VC - 1 funding event - first seen 2026-10-08
- Wave Function Ventures - Participant - VC - 1 funding event - first seen 2025-12-11
Team
- Scott Klempner - Director of Product, National Security - Connects national-security mission modelling and customer requirements with Fortastra spacecraft product strategy.
- Mike Smayda - Founder and Chief Executive Officer
- Josh Jetter - Chief Technology Officer - Leads Fortastra's engineering organization across spacecraft design, manufacturing, integration and operations.
- Sahil Desai - Vice President of Product - Leads Fortastra's product strategy and growth for defence and commercial missions.
- Arnold Nowinski - Vice President of People
Timeline
Events
- 2026-10-08 - Funding - Fortastra closes $30 million Series A for autonomous orbital spacecraft
Capital will expand spacecraft development and testing and advance autonomous rendezvous and proximity operations. The financing follows the Watchdog V0 launch and a manufacturing memorandum with Hadrian for national-security spacecraft.
Source - 2026-08-13 - Executive Hire - Fortastra appoints Scott Klempner to lead national-security product strategy
The retired colonel was Deputy Program Executive Officer for Space Combat Power at Space Systems Command, guiding more than 30 programmes. His earlier roles included Deputy Director of the NRO's Survivability Assurance Office and satellite, payload and ISR acquisition work.
Source - 2026-04-02 - Executive Hire - Fortastra appoints engineering, product and people leaders
Jetter previously led avionics engineering and manufacturing at Relativity Space and engineering at Impossible Aerospace. Desai brings programme leadership from Hermeus and Divergent; Nowinski led Astrion's Space Launch and Sciences business and a team of over 250 engineers and scientists.
Source - 2025-12-11 - Funding - Fortastra discloses over $8M seed financing at public launch
Generational Partners, Wave Function Ventures, Bloomberg Beta and Forward Deployed VC participated in the seed financing. Proceeds support spacecraft development, engineering recruitment and testing and analysis capabilities in Southern California.
Source