# Fortastra: space robotics company

Canonical ID: `c7a48bad-affd-4ead-8044-e450ca520876`

## Key facts

- **Funding:** [$8M Seed](/investors.md) ([see investors](/investors.md))
- **Focus:** Orbital defense satellites

- **Slug:** fortastra
- **Founded:** 2025
- **HQ:** Los Angeles, California, USA
- **Funding total (USD):** 8000000
- **Category:** [Space](/space)

## Models

- [Orbital Defense Satellite](/models/fortastra-defense-sat.md) (space) (id: `9120d722-7a00-48dc-86ee-0723b2618711`)

## Current leadership (1)

- [Mike Smayda](/people/mike-smayda.md) CEO & Founder (secondary-verified)

## Supplies to

_No verified supply relationships on file. Supply-chain coverage is being added across the registry; check back as the seed populates this company's outbound edges._

_Outbound supply edges. Each appears when verified with at least two strong sources. Sources are append-only; corrections add new sources rather than rewrite history._

## Common questions

### What is Fortastra?

Los Angeles-based space defense startup building autonomous escort satellites to defend critical orbital assets. Founded by SpaceX veteran and Hermeus co-founder Mike Smayda in 2025. Closed USD 8M seed round led by Upfront Ventures with participation from Bloomberg Beta, Generational Partners, Forward Deployed VC, and Wave Function Ventures. Developing maneuverable satellites with high delta-v propulsion for orbital security.

### What does Fortastra make?

Fortastra has 1 robot model on the DEPLOY registry: Orbital Defense Satellite (Fortastra builds physical robots).

### Where is Fortastra headquartered?

Fortastra is headquartered in Los Angeles, California, USA.

### How much funding has Fortastra raised?

Fortastra has raised approximately $8M in disclosed funding on record in the DEPLOY registry.

### Where does Fortastra operate robots?

Fortastra is a robot manufacturer and does not directly operate deployments on the DEPLOY registry. Its products are deployed by customer operators; see the company page for the verified deployment record.

### When was Fortastra founded?

Fortastra was founded in 2025.


## Sources (1)

1. https://payloadspace.com/fortastra-lands-8m-seed-to-develop-orbital-defense-sats/

## The verified answers

- [Which companies have the most robots deployed](/which-companies-have-the-most-robots-deployed.md)
- [Which operators run the most robots](/which-operators-run-the-most-robots.md)
- [Which robot operators cover the most countries](/which-robot-operators-cover-the-most-countries.md)

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