Firefly Aerospace
NASDAQ: FLYLeander, US · Founded 2017 · Delaware corporation · 6 known investors
Firefly Aerospace is a space and defense technology company that builds small- to medium-lift launch vehicles, lunar landers, and orbital spacecraft, and provides mission services including responsive launch, in-space maneuverability, space domain awareness, and lunar delivery. It serves defense, space exploration, and commercial space customers, and completed the first commercial Moon landing.
Founders & leadership
Firefly Aerospace was founded in 2017 by Thomas Markusic, Thomas E. Markusic, and Eric Salwan.
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Thomas MarkusicinCo-founder
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Thomas E. MarkusicChief Executive Officer and Director
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Eric SalwaninFounderEric began his career in 1999 in software development roles at KPN Research TNO and Tandberg (later acquired by Cisco), then served as a technical project leader, development manager, and ultimately CTO at the digital agency Sping. He currently works as CTO across several portfolio companies at Brooklyn Ventures, an investor in startups and scale-ups.
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Jason KimChief Executive Officer; Board Member
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Russell Shea FerringSenior Vice President and Chief Technical Officer
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Daniel FermonSenior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
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Darren MaChief Financial Officer
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David WheelerSenior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
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Ramon SanchezChief Operating Officer
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Nathan O'KonekGeneral Counsel
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Brad SchneiderChief Revenue Officer
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Russel FerringVice President of Spacecraft
Investors · 6
Reported raises · per SEC filings
Form D private placements$514M disclosed across 6 rounds · 2021–2026
▶$22MraisedJul 2026 · 18 investors · Other TechnologyRule 506(b)
▶$22MraisedJul 2026 · 18 investors · Other Technology
Rule 506(b)Officers, directors & promoters on the filing
- Jason KimExecutive Officer, Director
- Darren MaExecutive Officer
- Ramon SanchezExecutive Officer
- Shea FerringExecutive Officer
- Nathan O'KonekExecutive Officer
- Kirk KonertDirector
- Ryan BolandDirector
- Pamela BradenDirector
- Christopher EmersonDirector
- Jon LusczakoskiDirector
- Kevin McAllisterDirector
- Thomas ZurbuchenDirector
- Offering amount
- $22M
- Amount sold
- $22M
- First sale
- Jun 2026
- Incorporated
- Corporation, Delaware
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
▶$175.5MraisedNov 2024 · 10 investors · Other TechnologyRule 506(b)
▶$175.5MraisedNov 2024 · 10 investors · Other Technology
Rule 506(b)Officers, directors & promoters on the filing
- Jason KimExecutive Officer, Director
- Chris EmersonDirector
- Russell Shea FerringExecutive Officer
- Kirk KonertDirector
- Jed McCalebDirector
- Daniel FermonExecutive Officer
- Marc WeiserDirector
- Thomas MarkusicDirector
- Darren MaExecutive Officer
- David WheelerExecutive Officer
- Amount sold
- $175.5M
- First sale
- Oct 2024
- Incorporated
- Corporation, Delaware
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
▶$12.3MraisedMar 2024 · 2 investors · Other TechnologyRule 506(b)
▶$12.3MraisedMar 2024 · 2 investors · Other Technology
Rule 506(b)Officers, directors & promoters on the filing
- Russell FerringExecutive Officer
- Chris EmersonDirector
- Peter SchumacherDirector
- William WeberExecutive Officer, Director
- Thomas MarkusicDirector
- Pete CannitoDirector
- Pamela BradenDirector
- Dan FermonExecutive Officer
- Kirk KonertDirector
- Darren MaExecutive Officer
- Jed McCalebDirector
- Offering amount
- $12.3M
- Amount sold
- $12.3M
- First sale
- Jul 2023
- Incorporated
- Corporation, Delaware
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
▶$179.3MraisedMar 2024 · 9 investors · Other TechnologyRule 506(b)
▶$179.3MraisedMar 2024 · 9 investors · Other Technology
Rule 506(b)Officers, directors & promoters on the filing
- Thomas MarkusicDirector
- Pete CannitoDirector
- Pamela BradenDirector
- Chris EmersonDirector
- Russell FerringExecutive Officer
- William WeberExecutive Officer, Director
- Peter SchumacherDirector
- Dan FermonExecutive Officer
- Darren MaExecutive Officer
- Kirk KonertDirector
- Jed McCalebDirector
- Offering amount
- $179.3M
- Amount sold
- $179.3M
- Finders' fees
- $500K
- First sale
- Feb 2023
- Incorporated
- Corporation, Delaware
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
▶$50MraisedMar 2022 · 1 investors · Other TechnologyRule 506(b)
▶$50MraisedMar 2022 · 1 investors · Other Technology
Rule 506(b)Officers, directors & promoters on the filing
- Kirk KonertDirector
- Jed McCalebDirector
- Peter SchumacherDirector
- Pete StarnesExecutive Officer
- Darren MaExecutive Officer
- Russel Shea FerringExecutive Officer
- Pamela BradenDirector
- Thomas MarkusicExecutive Officer, Director
- Eric SalwanExecutive Officer, Director
- Offering amount
- $75M
- Amount sold
- $50M
- Sales commissions
- $3M
- First sale
- Mar 2022
- Incorporated
- Corporation, Delaware, 2017
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
▶$75MraisedMay 2021 · 8 investors · Other TechnologyRule 506(b)
▶$75MraisedMay 2021 · 8 investors · Other Technology
Rule 506(b)Officers, directors & promoters on the filing
- Brad SchneiderExecutive Officer
- Deborah JamesDirector
- Darren MaExecutive Officer
- Russel FerringExecutive Officer
- Robb KulinExecutive Officer
- Paul StarnesExecutive Officer
- Jed McCalebDirector
- Thomas E. MarkusicExecutive Officer, Director
- Robert CardilloDirector
- Offering amount
- $75M
- Amount sold
- $75M
- Minimum investment
- $250K
- First sale
- Apr 2021
- Incorporated
- Corporation, Delaware, 2017
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
Source: SEC EDGAR Form D. Amounts as filed; amended filings shown once at their latest values.
Competitors · 4
by search overlapSpaceX453 shared keywordsRevolutionizing space technology to make life multi-planetary
Capella Space392 shared keywordsCapella Space designs, builds, and operates synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite constellations that provide all-weather, day-and-night Earth observation imagery at sub-0.25m resolution. It offers an automated end-to-end tasking and data delivery platform serving defense and intelligence, maritime, disaster response, and infrastructure monitoring customers.
Lockheedmartin251 shared keywordsLockheed Martin is a defense and aerospace company that develops military aircraft and advanced technology systems for government and defense customers. Its work includes programs such as the F-35 fighter jet and experimental aircraft developed through its Skunk Works division.
Relativity Space170 shared keywordsRelativity Space develops Terran R, a reusable medium-to-heavy-lift rocket designed for efficiency and scalability, serving government entities, telecommunications companies, and commercial customers for space access missions. The company focuses on making space exploration more accessible, reliable, and sustainable.
Companies competing with Firefly Aerospace for the same Google search keywords, organic and paid, via search-intersection analysis.
In the news
Firefly Aerospace Stock Slides Despite String of Fresh NASA Awards - Firefly Aerospace (NASDAQ:FLY) - Benzingabenzinga.com · Jul 2026
Northrop Grumman Invests in Defense-Focused Space Startup Firefly Aerospacebloomberg.com · May 2025Frequently asked questions
- What does Firefly Aerospace do?
- Firefly Aerospace is a space and defense technology company that builds small- to medium-lift launch vehicles, lunar landers, and orbital spacecraft, and provides mission services including responsive launch, in-space maneuverability, space domain awareness, and lunar delivery. It serves defense, space exploration, and commercial space customers, and completed the first commercial Moon landing.
- Who founded Firefly Aerospace?
- Firefly Aerospace was founded by Thomas Markusic, Thomas E. Markusic, Eric Salwan in 2017.
- Who are Firefly Aerospace's investors?
- Firefly Aerospace's investors include AE Industrial Partners, Capital Factory, Noosphere Ventures, Republic Capital (ex Republic Labs), Rpm Ventures Iii Management, L.L.C., BGW Ventures.
- How much funding has Firefly Aerospace raised?
- Firefly Aerospace has disclosed $514M raised across 6 rounds.
- Where is Firefly Aerospace headquartered?
- Firefly Aerospace is headquartered in Leander, US.