Raven Space Systems
Physical AI
Automated composite manufacturing cells that print and microwave-cure aerospace and defence composite parts.
Raven builds automated production systems for critical composite structures: the Microwave Assisted Deposition (MAD) platform, in which a robot deposits composite material and cures it with microwave energy in the same pass, removing hard tooling, hand layup and autoclave queues. Parts addressed include solid rocket motor nozzles, throats and ablative insulation, hypersonic leading edges and control surfaces, missile-defence interceptor structures and radomes, munitions airframes and reentry heat shields. Closed-loop thermal metrology with AI process control keeps the build on geometry in-process, and geometry changes become software changes instead of new tooling programmes. Raven holds NASA and AFRL research agreements, is standing up a Broomfield, Colorado headquarters, and raised a $2M pre-seed led by Backswing Ventures in November 2024 alongside non-dilutive contracts.
Research mapping
Physical AI / Manufacturing, EMS & Industrial Automation (L4) / Pre-Seed
Evidence boundary
Original analysis and independent corroboration remain under development. Commercial scale and durable technical advantage remain under review.
What makes it defensible
Hard-tooling removal: when geometry is a software change and cure happens during deposition, capacity scales by adding cells instead of moulds and certified touch labour.
Position in the stack: Manufacturing-process supplier into the defence and aerospace composite supply chain (SRMs, hypersonics, missile defence, reentry) - a position gated by qualified chemistries and process control, which is why the automated materials lab matters.
Who buys it
Founding team
Blake Herren — Co-founder & CEO — Co-founded Raven Space Systems in 2020 while studying engineering at the University of Oklahoma; leads the company's mission to transform how composite materials are made.
Ryan Cowdrey — Co-founder — Co-founded Raven Space Systems in 2020 with Blake Herren while studying engineering at the University of Oklahoma.
SourceFinancing detail
- Last round
- Pre-Seed
Investors: Backswing Ventures; Cape Fear Ventures; 46 Capital
Mapped funds and investors
Direct relationships supported by published evidence.
Reported holdings as-of
No sourced relationships mapped yet.
Disclosed investment history
No sourced relationships mapped yet.
Showing up to four relationships in each group. ETF weights describe the fund’s portfolio, not ownership of this company. Private investment history does not establish current ownership.
Evidence & media
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Raven Space Systems reveals NASA and AFRL research agreements
What this source supports: SpaceNews reports Raven Space Systems disclosed NASA and AFRL research agreements.
What it does not establish: Research agreements are not production contracts or revenue.
Source -
Raven Space Systems
What this source supports: Forbes company profile page for Raven Space Systems.
What it does not establish: Profile aggregation; no verified financials.
Source -
ACMI Names Winners of $3 Million Inaugural Horizon Manufacturing Cup Held at Indiana University
What this source supports: ACMI release (BLOOMINGTON, Ind., Oct. 22, 2026): Raven Space Systems named grand-prize winner of the inaugural Horizon Manufacturing Cup, awarded $1M of $3M in non-dilutive funds across five startups, with a path to scale at ACMI's National Security Industrial Hub.
What it does not establish: Non-dilutive prize money: not equity, not added to total_disclosed_funding. No customer, contract or capacity commitment from the award.
Source