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Chris Boshuizen is currently a Partner at the venture capital firm DCVC (Data Collective), based in the San Francisco Bay Area in Northern California. He previously served as the Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer of Planet Labs, where he spent five years scaling the startup into a publicly traded enterprise operating the largest fleet of Earth-observation satellites in history. Before this entrepreneurial venture, he worked as a Space Mission Architect at NASA from 2008 to 2012, following the completion of his doctorate in physics in 2005. In October 2021, he became the third Australian citizen to travel to space as a commercial astronaut aboard Blue Origin's NS-18 mission. Today, his primary investment focus centers on deep tech, aerospace, and computational hardware, backing prominent space industry companies like Rocket Lab to advance new satellite technologies.
Chris Boshuizen stands as a distinguished Partner at DCVC (Data Collective), a leading venture capital firm renowned for its strategic investments in deep technology. At DCVC, Chris Boshuizen plays a pivotal role in identifying and backing visionary founders who are leveraging cutting-edge science and engineering to solve some of the world's most complex challenges. His investment focus spans critical areas such as artificial intelligence, advanced materials, robotics, and particularly space technology, where his expertise is exceptionally profound.
Boshuizen's unique perspective as an investor is deeply rooted in his remarkable career as a technologist and entrepreneur. Before joining DCVC, he co-founded Planet Labs, a pioneering company that revolutionized Earth observation by deploying a constellation of small satellites. This hands-on experience in building and scaling a complex deep tech venture from the ground up provides him with invaluable insights into the operational hurdles and technological breakthroughs required for success in frontier industries. His time at Planet Labs saw him instrumental in designing and launching the first Dove satellites, demonstrating a rare blend of scientific acumen and practical execution.
Prior to his entrepreneurial journey, Chris Boshuizen held significant roles at some of the most innovative organizations globally. He served as a Senior Scientist at Google X, Google's semi-secret development lab dedicated to making major technological advancements. Here, he contributed to projects pushing the boundaries of what's possible, further honing his ability to evaluate nascent technologies with immense potential. His foundational experience also includes his tenure as a Spacecraft Systems Engineer at NASA Ames Research Center, where he worked on various space missions, solidifying his understanding of aerospace engineering and its applications.
At DCVC, Chris Boshuizen leverages this rich background to support portfolio companies not just with capital, but with strategic guidance, technical mentorship, and a founder-friendly approach. He is passionate about empowering entrepreneurs who are building foundational technologies that can create entirely new markets or disrupt existing ones. His deep understanding of the scientific principles and engineering challenges involved in deep tech allows him to effectively evaluate opportunities and help founders navigate the often-long development cycles inherent in these ventures. Through his work at DCVC, Chris Boshuizen continues to shape the future of technology by investing in the next generation of deep tech innovators.
Chris Boshuizen is a Partner at DCVC (Data Collective), a leading venture capital firm. He is also widely recognized as the co-founder of Planet Labs, a pioneering Earth observation company, and for his prior work at Google X and NASA Ames.
Chris Boshuizen primarily invests in deep technology companies. His focus areas include artificial intelligence, space technology, advanced materials, robotics, and other frontier technologies that leverage cutting-edge science and engineering.
Chris Boshuizen works as a Partner at DCVC (Data Collective), a prominent venture capital firm specializing in deep tech investments.
