10 Startups Compete in Startup Space 2026 Pitch Contest

Emerging space and satellite tech companies from four continents vie for investment and business development support

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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The annual Startup Space entrepreneur pitch contest will showcase 10 carefully selected finalists from around the world competing for a grand prize that includes guaranteed investor meetings and business development assistance. The 2026 competition will be held on March 24 during SATShow Week, featuring startups working on innovations ranging from space debris mitigation to hyperspectral Earth observation, decentralized space computing, and more.

Why it matters

The Startup Space competition has a track record of highlighting promising early-stage space and satellite technology companies, with past winners like Phemotron Systems, TrustPoint, and Vyoma going on to further growth and success. This year's finalists represent the cutting edge of the industry, showcasing solutions that could have a major impact on the future of space exploration, Earth observation, and space-based services.

The details

The 10 startups competing in Startup Space 2026 are: BULL, a Japanese company developing a device to mitigate space debris; Esper Satellite Imagery, which specializes in hyperspectral Earth observation; GoKnown, a cybersecurity firm working on decentralized computing for space; Mithril Technologies, developing advanced satellite antennas; Ocean Solution Technology, providing software for sustainable fisheries; OrbitArch, with a quantum radar system to track orbital debris; Planetary Utilities, offering digital transformation services for space missions; SatEnlight, working on optical inter-satellite communications; Satlyt, building a decentralized space-based data center; and Space Solar, aiming to beam solar power from space to Earth.

  • The Startup Space 2026 competition will be held on March 24 during SATShow Week.
  • Last year, the 2025 competition was won by Phemotron Systems.
  • Previous Startup Space winners include TrustPoint and Vyoma.

The players

Startup Space

An annual entrepreneur pitch contest that showcases emerging space and satellite technology to investors during SATShow Week.

BULL

A Japanese company developing a device to coat satellites with a thin-film membrane at the end of their missions, creating drag to reduce orbital lifetime and prevent space debris.

Esper Satellite Imagery

A company specializing in hyperspectral Earth observation, using near-infrared satellites to capture detailed imagery with hundreds of color bands.

GoKnown

A cybersecurity firm developing a decentralized, secure computing platform for data processing and storage in low-Earth orbit.

Mithril Technologies

A company working on the next generation of reconfigurable satellite antennas using electrostatically-activated mesh reflectors.

Ocean Solution Technology

A Japanese company providing software to help fisheries more efficiently and sustainably manage marine resources using Earth observation data.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

The takeaway

The Startup Space 2026 competition showcases the cutting edge of space and satellite technology, with finalists working on innovations that could have a major impact on the future of the industry. From space debris mitigation to hyperspectral Earth observation and decentralized space computing, these startups represent the next generation of space-based solutions.