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The eSpace Incubator
The eSpace incubator is a resource unique in the nation for the creation and evolution of entrepreneurial space companies. We provide an environment for the aerospace entrepreneur that maximizes the probability of business success by providing a suite of resources to overcome the barriers to entry for space technology companies. These resources include
[+] Physical space,[+] Financial grants,
[+] Access to successful entrepreneurs as mentors,
[+] Access to investment capital, and
[+] Access to aerospace infrastructure, relationships and manufacturing facilities.
We Are a High-Yield Incubator
The companies invited to join eSpace are projected to have a high probability of success when supported by the incubator. A Board of Advisors made up of experienced industry, entrepreneurial and academic veterans evaluates proposals submitted by prospective companies. Candidate ventures that (1) will be well-served by the incubator's capabilities, and (2) have a high probability of success when partnered with eSpace are presented with an offer of support. Each of these offers is unique in what eSpace provides to the entrepreneur and in the compensation received for resources provided. These are agreements that establish the relationship of eSpace to the entrepreneur till the venture reaches break-even and beyond.
6DOF
ACTA Technologies
Blue Canyon Technologies
KYG Systems
Net-Centric Design Professionals
Next Giant Leap
Space Awareness Services
Zybek Advanced Products
Apply to the eSpace Incubator
The Entrepreneurial Space Environment
The aerospace industry is fertile ground for the creation and development of aerospace companies. The unique requirements of spaceflight make the entrepreneurial environment unlike that of any other industry. Click on the tabs on the right for details.
The eSpace incubator is co-located with Sierra Nevada Corporation’s Space Systems Group, one of the nation's leading entrepreneurial space companies,in Louisville, Colorado. Although independent from SNC, co-location allows our entrepreneurs to rub shoulders with an established entrepreneurial space company. More importantly, it provides access to SNC’s developed aerospace infrastructure on a for-cost, non-interference basis.
Resources Provided by the eSpace Incubator Can Include:
[+] Grants of $20,000 per venture for initial start-up expenses[+] Partnership with an established aerospace business leader as a venture mentor
[+] Physical space and resources at the eSpace incubator location including desks, reception, IT backbone, phones, cubicles, meeting rooms, etc.
[+] Access to aerospace infrastructure on an at-cost, non-interference basis including quality systems, manufacturing systems, clean rooms and test facilities
[+] CU Aerospace undergraduate and graduate students as a low or no-cost research and design workforce.
[+] Access to an established network of aerospace angel and equity financing sources
What is the Return to the Center for Providing this Support?
Our vision is to create a thriving community of entrepreneurial space companies, powered by a diverse and passionate workforce, which contributes mightily to our nation’s utilization of space and commercialization of technologies that derive from space. As such a primary reward for the Center is the successful creation of these companies and the workforce that supports them.
But beyond that, as with any entrepreneurial company, we believe that the best measure of our organization’s success is its ability to thrive as a self-sustaining entity. As such, it is important that our mission is accomplished in a way that allows eSpace to thrive and broaden its impact. As eSpace catalyzes the success of participating companies, we expect that a portion of the value created will be "paid forward" through a contribution to eSpace thereby allowing eSpace to continue and broaden its ability to support future ventures.
As a not-for-profit organization, eSpace does not contractually require the ventures we support to provide payment for our support. We do, however, work closely with the venture to identify the appreciation in venture value as a result of eSpace incubator participation, with a recommendation that 5% of the value increase be contributed to eSpace to enable support of future ventures. In addition, if a venture mentor is engaged, the relationship is grounded in a monthly retainer that is paid by the venture directly to the mentor to support accountability within the mentor-venture relationship.
Elements of the partnership are carefully crafted on a case-by-case basis for each venture that is invited to be a participant in the eSpace incubator.
CLICK HERE to apply to the eSpace Incubator.