Rocket Lab joined the Unicorn Club after raising multiple rounds, including a $140M Series E in Nov 2018, a $355M post-IPO round in Feb 2024, and a $120M post-IPO round in Feb 2024, totaling $288M in disclosed funding. Headquartered in Long Beach, United States, Rocket Lab provides dedicated small-payload launch vehicles, reusable rockets, satellite buses, and mission services for commercial and government clients. Funding supported Electron launcher development, global launch infrastructure, satellite manufacturing, reusability R&D, and operational scale.
Keep reading to see how Rocket Lab advances small satellite launches and space systems with integrated technologies.
What Is Rocket Lab and What Does It Do?
Founded in 2006 by Peter Beck, Rocket Lab is a Long Beach–based (United States) space-tech company. The firm employs approximately 1,650 people and builds dedicated small-sat launch vehicles, reusable rockets, satellite buses, and provides mission services.
Rocket Lab’s platform enables rapid, cost-efficient access to orbit for small satellites and rideshare clients. Its vertically integrated approach, combining propulsion, composites, avionics, and satellite subsystems reduces schedule risk and accelerates deployments for commercial and government customers.
How Much Funding Has Rocket Lab Raised?
1. Post IPO
- Amount Raised: $120M
- Date: Feb 20, 2024
- Lead Investors: Trinity Capital
- Purpose: Fund growth in launch cadence, mission services, and operational scale
2. Post IPO
- Amount Raised: $355M
- Date: Feb 07, 2024
- Lead Investors: Not disclosed
- Purpose: Expand production, reusability R&D, and satellite manufacturing capability
3. Series E
- Amount Raised: $140M
- Date: Nov 15, 2018
- Lead Investors: Future Fund, Bessemer Venture Partners, Khosla Ventures, DCVC, Promus Ventures
- Purpose: Advance Electron launcher development and global launch infrastructure
Total Funding Raised: $288M Latest Funding Date: Feb 2024 Current Valuation: Public market valuation varies
Key Investors
- Bessemer Venture Partners
- Details: Global VC focused on enterprise, cloud, and deep tech
- Focus Areas: Space, enterprise SaaS, infrastructure
- Notable Investments: LinkedIn, Twilio, Rocket Lab, PagerDuty, Shopify
- Khosla Ventures
- Details: Early backer of hard-tech and frontier technologies
- Focus Areas: Deep tech, robotics, space, climate tech
- Notable Investments: Square, Impossible Foods, Rocket Lab, DoorDash, Guardant Health
- DCVC (Data Collective)
- Details: VC investing in deep tech and science-driven startups
- Focus Areas: Space, robotics, AI, biotech
- Notable Investments: Rocket Lab, Planet Labs, Zymergen, SoundHound, Clarium
- Promus Ventures
- Details: Early-stage investor in frontier hardware and space startups
- Focus Areas: Aerospace, hardware, industrial tech
- Notable Investments: Rocket Lab, Relativity Space, Altium
- Future Fund
- Details: Sovereign-style growth investor backing strategic tech companies
- Focus Areas: Advanced manufacturing, aerospace, defense
- Notable Investments: Select strategic technology firms
Where Is Rocket Lab’s Headquarters?
Rocket Lab is headquartered in Long Beach, California, United States, near aerospace supply chains and U.S. west coast launch infrastructure.
What’s Next for Rocket Lab?
Rocket Lab will focus on increasing launch frequency, maturing reusable first-stage technology, scaling satellite manufacturing, and expanding mission services, including rideshare and on-orbit capabilities.
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