From E-Scooters to Space Data Centers: How Orbital Raised $5 Million to Power AI in Space

A Bold Startup Vision for the Future of AI Computing

The rapid growth of artificial intelligence has created an unprecedented demand for computing power. As traditional data centers face challenges related to energy consumption, infrastructure costs, and environmental concerns, startups are exploring innovative solutions. One of the most ambitious ideas comes from Orbital, a new startup aiming to build data centers in space.

The company recently secured $5 million in seed funding and is attracting attention across both the AI and aerospace industries. Its mission is simple yet groundbreaking: deliver AI computing power from orbit.

Meet the Founder Behind Orbital

Orbital was founded by Euwyn Poon, best known as the founder of Spin, the e-scooter company launched in 2017. Spin quickly expanded across major cities and was acquired by Ford just one year later.

After leaving Ford, Poon began exploring new business opportunities. His interest in artificial intelligence and computing infrastructure led him to a surprising conclusion: the future of AI may not be on Earth at all.

With support from Andreessen Horowitz’s Speedrun accelerator program, Poon refined the concept and launched Orbital with a vision to create space-based AI computing infrastructure.

Why Space Data Centers?

AI models require enormous amounts of computing power. Building large-scale data centers on Earth often involves high energy costs, land limitations, and lengthy regulatory approvals.

Space offers several potential advantages:

• Continuous access to solar energy
• Reduced environmental constraints
• Scalability beyond terrestrial limitations
• Support for future AI infrastructure demands

Orbital believes that space-based computing can eventually become a practical solution for meeting global AI demand.

The Starship Factor

A major challenge for any space data center company is launch cost.

Current launch vehicles make the economics difficult, but Orbital is betting on SpaceX’s Starship rocket. The company believes that regular commercial Starship missions could dramatically reduce launch costs and make large-scale space infrastructure financially viable.

According to Orbital, full-scale deployment becomes possible only when next-generation launch systems significantly lower the cost of sending equipment into orbit.

Building the Technology

Orbital is currently working with a team of aerospace and engineering experts from organizations such as Amazon’s Low Earth Orbit programs, SpaceX, and Northrop Grumman.

The company’s first milestone is a demonstration mission that will place an Nvidia Blackwell chip aboard a partner satellite. This mission will test critical technologies, including:

• Radiation shielding
• Thermal management systems
• Space-based AI processing capabilities

If successful, Orbital plans to launch its first dedicated data-processing spacecraft by 2028, powered by Nvidia’s advanced space-ready GPUs.

A Long-Term Vision for AI Infrastructure

Orbital’s ambitions extend far beyond a single satellite.

The startup ultimately aims to deploy a network of 10,000 satellites capable of delivering a distributed gigawatt of computing power. Each satellite would generate approximately 100 kilowatts of power, creating one of the most powerful computing networks ever conceived.

This infrastructure could support large-scale AI inference workloads and potentially transform how organizations access computing resources.

Competition in the Emerging Space Computing Industry

Orbital is not alone in pursuing this opportunity.

Several startups are exploring space-based data centers and orbital computing solutions. Some companies are waiting for next-generation launch systems, while others are developing their own rockets to accelerate deployment.

The growing interest highlights a broader trend: investors and entrepreneurs increasingly view space infrastructure as a viable long-term market.

Why Investors Are Paying Attention

Orbital’s funding round reflects changing attitudes within the venture capital industry.

A decade ago, investors primarily focused on software and mobile applications. Today, many venture firms are willing to support long-term, capital-intensive projects with the potential to create entirely new industries.

Euwyn Poon’s track record of scaling Spin across more than 100 cities also helped build investor confidence. His experience managing complex operations demonstrates the leadership needed to tackle large aerospace projects.

The Future of AI Beyond Earth

The intersection of artificial intelligence and space technology is creating exciting opportunities for innovation. While space-based data centers remain in the early stages, companies like Orbital are pushing the boundaries of what is possible.

If launch costs continue to fall and technology advances as expected, orbital computing could become an important part of the future AI ecosystem.

Orbital’s $5 million funding round marks the beginning of an ambitious journey—one that could redefine how the world generates and accesses computing power in the years ahead.

Final Thoughts

Orbital represents a new generation of startups combining AI, aerospace, and advanced infrastructure to solve future computing challenges. With experienced leadership, strong investor backing, and a bold vision for space-based data centers, the company is positioning itself at the forefront of one of the most fascinating technology trends of the decade.

As AI demand continues to grow, the race to build the next generation of computing infrastructure may extend far beyond Earth—and Orbital intends to be one of the companies leading the way.