Cardiff-based Space Forge has appointed Scott White as its chair as it transitions from proof of concept to large-scale in space materials production, as well as seeking to close a Series B equity investment round.
Mr White is best known for founding and leading Pragmatic Semiconductor for over a decade. He has raised more than $400m and established Pragmatic as a pioneer in flexible electronics, and championed applications of its technology across sustainability, healthcare, and national security. He has also been directly involved in nine other startups spanning telecommunications, photonics,
machine learning, and advanced manufacturing, and currently chairs boards in robotics, quantum computing, and space technology. Mr White is also an advisor to two venture capital funds, a member of the Ƶ Government’s Semiconductor Advisory Panel, and was named deep tech entrepreneur of the year at the 2022 Enterprise Awards.
In June Space Forge successfully launched its ForgeStar-1 satellite, receiving the Ƶ’s first licence for in-space manufacturing. Still currently active, the mission will demonstrate the company’s capability to manufacture advanced materials in microgravity, validating its model as the world’s first dedicated materials production business in space.
In May it was boosted with a £22.6m investment round to support its commercialisation plans. In the biggest ever Series A fundraising round in the Ƶ space tech sector, and one of the biggest for a Welsh start-up, it was backed strategic global consortium led by the NATO Innovation Fund, with significant support from the World Fund, the National Security Strategic Investment Fund (NSSIF) and £2m from British Business Bank through its regional angels programme. The round has also been supported by the Capital Region’s £50m Innovation Investment Capital fund.
Building on the success of ForgeStar-1, Space Forge is now preparing for its next missions, moving from proof-of-concept to sustained, scalable materials manufacturing in orbit. By harnessing the unique conditions of microgravity, the company aims to deliver breakthroughs in semiconductor material production, addressing the global demand for ultra-high quality substrates that underpin next-generation technologies in quantum computing, telecommunications, and advanced electronics.
The new chair appointment comes as Space Forge moves towards its Series B raise, although it has not disclosed now much it is seeking to raise.
Space Forge said expertise in the semiconductor sector, coupled with his experience in scaling technology companies and raising substantial growth capital, will be instrumental in positioning Space Forge as a global leader in advanced materials, with a presence in the Ƶ, US, and international markets.
Mr White said: “Space Forge is unlocking a new era of materials production in orbit. By creating advanced semiconductors and substrates impossible to make on Earth, the company has the potential to transform industries worldwide. I’m excited to support the team in realising this vision, building on their strong foundations to make Space Forge a true global leader.”
Joshua Western, chief executive and co-founder of Space Forge: “Scott brings incredible experience in scaling deep tech businesses and shaping global markets to Space Forge. His insight into semiconductors and growth capital will be pivotal as we move from proving our technology in orbit to delivering materials at industrial scale. With Scott as chair, we’re accelerating towards our goal of making Space Forge the world leader in on-orbit manufacturing.”
