Masterson Industries is a technology company.
Masterson Industries has raised $2.5M across 2 funding rounds.
Masterson Industries has raised $2.5M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Masterson Industries is a technology company specializing in the commercial production of Microgravity Enabled Materials (MEMs), advanced materials produced in microgravity environments with applications in defense and other sectors[1][2][5]. Formed in 2012, it focuses on bringing these unique materials to market, solving challenges in material properties that are difficult or impossible to replicate on Earth[1][2][5]. The company serves industries requiring high-performance materials, such as defense, by providing superior strength, purity, or other attributes enabled by microgravity manufacturing[5].
Unlike traditional materials firms, Masterson Industries leverages space-based production to address specific performance gaps in existing applications, positioning it at the intersection of aerospace and advanced manufacturing[1][2]. Growth details are limited in available data, but early investment from Pangaea Ventures in 2013 signals initial traction in the space tech ecosystem[2].
Masterson Industries was founded in 2012 with a focus on commercializing microgravity enabled materials (MEMs)[2]. Specific founders are not detailed in available sources, but the company's emergence aligns with growing interest in space manufacturing post the early 2010s private space race[1][2][5]. A pivotal early moment was securing investment from Pangaea Ventures, a corporate venturing arm, which "gravitated" to the firm's potential in MEMs for industrial applications[2]. This funding likely supported initial R&D and prototyping, marking its entry into the startup ecosystem amid NASA's commercialization efforts for the International Space Station.
(Note: Separate from this space-tech firm is Masterson Industries, Inc., a family-owned hard chrome plating business founded by Bill Masterson in the late 1970s/early 1990s in Texas, now run with his children Will and Emily; it serves industrial clients but lacks technology overlap[3][7].)
Masterson Industries rides the space economy boom, particularly the trend of in-space manufacturing enabled by falling launch costs from companies like SpaceX and reusable rockets[1][2]. Timing is ideal as of the mid-2010s investments, coinciding with NASA's push for commercial ISS utilization and private ventures in microgravity R&D[2]. Market forces favoring it include rising demand for advanced materials in defense (e.g., lighter, stronger components) and dual-use tech amid geopolitical tensions and supply chain shifts[5]. It influences the ecosystem by pioneering scalable MEMs production, potentially lowering barriers for other firms to adopt space-derived materials and accelerating materials science innovation.
Masterson Industries is poised to capitalize on expanding orbital infrastructure, such as commercial space stations post-ISS, enabling larger-scale MEMs production. Trends like AI-optimized material design and hypersonic applications will shape its path, with defense contracts likely driving revenue. Its influence may grow by partnering with primes like Lockheed or Boeing, evolving from niche producer to key supplier in the $500B+ space economy—echoing its core mission to commercialize microgravity's untapped potential[1][2][5].
Masterson Industries has raised $2.5M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Masterson Industries's investors include Cottonwood Technology Fund.
Masterson Industries has raised $2.5M across 2 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $550K Series A in February 2015.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 1, 2015 | $550K Series A | Cottonwood Technology Fund | |
| Aug 1, 2013 | $2.0M Series A | Cottonwood Technology Fund |