From Disney Star to Space CEO: Bridgit Mendler Secures $100M for Satellite Antennas

Bridgit Mendler, former Disney Channel actress and singer, has raised $100 million for her space startup Northwood Space, which builds advanced ground infrastructure and phased array antennas to improve satellite connectivity. The Series B round was co-led by Washington Harbour Partners and Andreessen Horowitz.

Founded in 2023, by Bridgit Mendler, Shaurya Luthra, and Griffin Cleverly, Northwood Space is positioning itself as the “ground infrastructure backbone” for the new space economy, aiming to solve one of the least glamorous but most essential problems in satellite operations: how data gets back to Earth efficiently.

The California–based startup builds next‑generation ground infrastructure—specifically phased array antennas and mobile ground stations—to improve satellite‑to‑Earth connectivity. It has already raised more than $136 million in funding, including a $100 million Series B announced now hip?  

Key Highlights

• CEO & Co-Founder: Bridgit Mendler, known for her Disney Channel career and music, now leads Northwood Space.
• Funding Round: $100 million Series B, announced
  January 27, 2026.
• Investors: Washington Harbour Partners and Andreessen Horowitz jointly led the round.
• Company Focus:
  • Builds phased array antennas and mobile ground infrastructure.
  • Enhances satellite-to-Earth connectivity for telecom, defense, and climate monitoring.
  • Addresses the problem of aging and obsolete satellite ground systems.
• Location: Based in
  Southern California.
• Use of Funds: Expansion of manufacturing and production capacity to support time-sensitive space missions.

Why It Matters

• Satellite Boom: Thousands of satellites are being launched for communications, defense, and Earth observation.
• Bottleneck: While rockets and satellites are advancing,
  ground infrastructure lags behind, limiting data transfer efficiency.
• Northwood’s Solution: Modern, mobile ground stations that can be deployed quickly to meet mission needs.

Northwood Space's first phased array ground station

Rendering of Northwood Antenna

Comparison: Traditional vs. Northwood Approach

Feature	Traditional Ground Systems	Northwood Space
Technology	Fixed parabolic antennas	Phased array antennas
Mobility	Stationary, large facilities	Mobile, deployable units
Scalability	Slow to expand	Rapid manufacturing & deployment
Connectivity	Limited bandwidth	Enhanced, flexible connectivity
Target Users	Government-heavy	Commercial + defense + climate

Risks & Challenges

• Competition: Other startups and established aerospace firms are also modernizing ground systems.
• Capital Intensity: Manufacturing antennas and infrastructure requires significant upfront investment.
• Regulatory Hurdles: Satellite communications involve complex international regulations.
• Execution Risk: Scaling production while maintaining reliability is critical.

Takeaway

Bridgit Mendler’s transition from entertainment to aerospace highlights a growing trend of cross-industry leadership in tech startups. With $100 million in fresh capital, Northwood Space is positioned to play a pivotal role in modernizing satellite ground infrastructure, a sector often overlooked compared to rocket launches but essential for the future of global connectivity.

Micron Appoints Robert Swan, Partner at Andreessen Horowitz, To Its Board of Directors

Micron Technology, Inc. (Nasdaq: MU), an industry leader in innovative memory and storage solutions, on Monday, announced the appointment of Robert (Bob) Swan to its board of directors. Swan is currently an operating partner at Andreessen Horowitz (also known as a16z), a venture-capital firm. He will also serve on both the Audit and Finance Committees.

Swan’s extensive background includes his tenure as CFO and later CEO of Intel Corporation, where he oversaw 110,000 employees and $78B in annual sales. Prior to joining Intel, as CFO of eBay, Swan played a significant role in driving the company’s global expansion strategy. Swan also held notable roles as CFO at Electronic Data Systems Corp., TRW Inc., and Webvan Group, Inc., where he additionally served as COO and CEO.

“Bob’s track record in driving growth and operational excellence at some of the world’s leading technology companies will be invaluable to Micron as we continue to scale our business and solidify our position at the forefront of the memory and storage industry,” said Micron President and CEO Sanjay Mehrotra. “We are thrilled to welcome Bob to our board and look forward to his contributions to our strategic direction and long-term success.”

In addition to his new position at Micron, Swan is on the boards of several organizations, including the board of directors for Nike, Inc., Flexport and the board of commissioners of GoTo Group. He previously served on the board of directors for eBay, Applied Materials, Intel and Skype.

“Bob’s proven ability to navigate complex market dynamics and foster innovation will be pivotal for Micron as we advance our strategic objectives and uphold our commitment to delivering state-of-the-art memory and storage solutions,” said Robert E. Switz, chairman of the board at Micron. “We are eager to collaborate with Bob and benefit from his vision, financial acumen and leadership experience.”

Swan began his career at General Electric, where he spent 15 years in numerous senior finance roles, including divisional CFO for GE Transportation Systems, GE Healthcare Europe, and GE Lighting. Swan received his B.S. from the University at Buffalo and his M.B.A. from the State University of New York at Binghamton. He received his honorary doctorate from Binghamton in 2022.

About Micron Technology, Inc.

We are an industry leader in innovative memory and storage solutions transforming how the world uses information to enrich life for all. With a relentless focus on our customers, technology leadership, and manufacturing and operational excellence, Micron delivers a rich portfolio of high-performance DRAM, NAND and NOR memory and storage products through our Micron® and Crucial® brands. Every day, the innovations that our people create fuel the data economy, enabling advances in artificial intelligence and 5G applications that unleash opportunities — from the data center to the intelligent edge and across the client and mobile user experience. To learn more about Micron Technology, Inc. (Nasdaq: MU), visit micron.com.