Kapta Space Raised $24 Million for Satellite Radar
The Seattle startup will scale production of its metamaterial-based radar arrays for defense intelligence contracts.
Updated on Oct. 10, 2026 in Startups
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Seattle-based Kapta Space has raised $24 million in a Series A funding round to accelerate the production of its software-defined radar hardware. Founded in 2023, the startup aims to deploy its technology for orbital mission applications.
Why it matters
The company addresses the high costs of traditional radar architectures by utilizing metamaterials, a move intended to satisfy the rising demand for space-based defense intelligence hardware.
Kapta Space utilizes a Metamaterial Electronically Scanned Array, a specialized antenna architecture that uses metamaterials—engineered structures with properties not found in nature—to steer radar beams for moving target detection.
The players
Kapta Space
A Seattle-based startup developing metamaterial-based, software-defined radar arrays for orbital defense applications.
Washington Harbour Partners
An investment firm that led the $24 million Series A funding round for Kapta Space.
Bison Ventures
A venture capital firm that co-led the Series A funding round to scale Kapta Space's manufacturing capabilities.
Department of Defense
The U.S. federal agency that awarded Kapta Space a $1.8 million grant to support its radar technology development.
Milton Perque and Adam Bily
The co-founders who launched Kapta Space in 2023 to modernize satellite-based radar detection.
The details
The company's software-defined architecture allows satellites to dynamically steer radar beams, replacing the rigid physical movement required by older radar systems. By using metamaterials, Kapta Space aims to reduce the weight and power constraints typical of current space-based radar equipment. This design shift is focused on enabling mass-producible components that meet the requirements of defense intelligence surveillance missions.
Timeline
Kapta Space was founded in 2023.
The $24 million Series A funding round was raised on October 9, 2026.
The Tech Race
Kapta Space is entering a competitive defense intelligence market that has long been dominated by monolithic, high-cost radar systems. The company is positioning its software-defined metamaterial arrays to provide a lower-cost alternative suitable for rapid orbital deployment.
This funding enables the company to move toward hardware spaceflight qualification and orbital demonstrations. For the defense and aerospace sector, this signifies a potential shift toward cheaper, software-steerable radar capacity in the coming years.
The takeaway
Kapta Space is betting that software-defined metamaterial arrays can replace the expensive, mechanical radar hardware currently used in satellite intelligence. Watch for updates on the company's hardware qualification timeline and the first orbital demonstration mission.
Further reading
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