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Pale Blue

Kashiwa, JP · Founded 2020 · 28 employees on LinkedIn · 10 known investors

Find your way into Pale Blue

405 people in our graph share verified history with the Pale Blue team — schools, employers, funds. One of them is your warm intro.

Rolanda Fuunlockedknows Hiro Koizumi · together at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (overlapped)
×7knows the team · via Massachusetts Institute of Technology
×4knows the team · via Keio University

Pale Blue develops and manufactures water-based propulsion systems for small satellites, serving satellite integrators and operators globally. The company aims to enable growth in the space industry by providing essential in-space mobility solutions.

Deep TechHardwareSpace Tech

Founders & leadership

Pale Blue was founded in 2020 by Jun Asakawa, Kazuya Yaginuma, and Hiro Koizumi.

JAJun Asakawa
Jun AsakawainRepresentative Director
KYKazuya Yaginuma
Kazuya YaginumainCo-Founder
HKHiro Koizumi
Hiro KoizumiinCo-founder · 取締役2020–2025Hiroyuki Koizumi is an Associate Professor at the University of Tokyo, where he directs the Space Propulsion Laboratory and leads development of micro-propulsion systems for microsatellites (including Hodoyoshi-4, PROCYON, AQT-D, and EQUULEUS); he holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Keio University and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Aeronautics and Astronautics from the University of Tokyo. Previously an Assistant Professor at JAXA's Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (2007–2011), where he worked on the Hayabusa-1 mission, he co-founded space-propulsion startup Pale Blue Inc. and serves as its CTO.

Investors · 10

aSTARTTokyo
Global BrainTokyo · $100K – $184M
Shizuoka Capital$790K – $241M
Itochu Technology VenturesreportedTokyo · $4M – $213M

Also in the syndicate · 6

Incubate FundleadIncubate Fund KKKURONEKO Innovation Fund LPMitsui Sumitomo Insurance Venture CapitalMITSUI SUMITOMO INSURANCE Venture Capital Co., Ltd.SPARX Innovation for Future Co.,Ltd.

Funding

SEC filings, press & company announcements
  • Undisclosed amountSeries CAug 2025 · 2 sources
    Source ↗
  • Undisclosed amountSeries BOct 2023

    Incubate Fund (lead), Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Venture Capital

    Source ↗
  • Undisclosed amountSeries AOct 2021

    Incubate Fund KK, KURONEKO Innovation Fund LP, MITSUI SUMITOMO INSURANCE Venture Capital Co., Ltd., SPARX Innovation for Future Co.,Ltd.

    Source ↗

Source: company announcements and press reports — follow each round's link for the claim.

In the news

Pale Blue Raises ¥1.5 Billion in Series C Funding for Water Propulsion Satellite Engines, Strengthens Production Systemthebridge.jp · Aug 2025Pale Blue completes Series C fundraising - Pale Blue|Water Ion Thruster, Hall Thruster, Space Mobilitypale-blue.co.jp · Aug 2025Pale Blue Receives Investment from Mitsubishi Electric’s ME Innovation Fundfinsmes.com · Aug 2025Pale Blue Raises $7.5M in Series B Round, to Build Production Facility — Satcom.Digitalsatcom.digital · Oct 2023Pale Blue raises 7M USD in funding - Pale Blue|Water Ion Thruster, Hall Thruster, Space Mobilitypale-blue.co.jp · Oct 2021

Frequently asked questions

What does Pale Blue do?
Pale Blue develops and manufactures water-based propulsion systems for small satellites, serving satellite integrators and operators globally. The company aims to enable growth in the space industry by providing essential in-space mobility solutions.
Who founded Pale Blue?
Pale Blue was founded by Jun Asakawa, Kazuya Yaginuma, Hiro Koizumi in 2020.
Who are Pale Blue's investors?
Pale Blue's investors include aSTART, Global Brain, Shizuoka Capital, Itochu Technology Ventures.
Where is Pale Blue headquartered?
Pale Blue is headquartered in Kashiwa, JP.