/Companies

Venus Aerospace Hypersonic Transportation

Texas, US · Founded 2020 · 114 employees on LinkedIn · 22 known investors

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Venus Aerospace develops rotating detonation rocket engine (RDRE) technology and a detonation ramjet system for space, defense, and commercial high-speed and hypersonic flight. The company designs propulsion systems intended to scale across a range of performance requirements.

Founders & leadership

Venus Aerospace Hypersonic Transportation was founded in 2020 by Sassie Duggleby, Andrew Duggleby, and Sarah "Sassie" Duggleby.

SDSassie Duggleby
Sassie DugglebyCEO & Co-founderSassie Duggleby is CEO and co-founder of Venus Aerospace. An engineer with an MBA, she previously worked at Virgin Orbit in rocket launch operations and held roles in fiber optics, biotech, and hazardous materials transportation.
ADAndrew Duggleby
Andrew DugglebyCTO & Co-founder
S"Sarah "Sassie" Duggleby
Sarah "Sassie" DugglebyCo-Founder/CEOSarah Duggleby is CEO and co-founder of Venus Aerospace, which develops rotating detonation rocket engine technology for defense, space, and commercial hypersonic flight. She previously worked at Virgin Orbit launching air-based rockets and held roles in fiber optics, biotech, and manufacturing, and holds an MBA.
TBTom Barron
Tom BarronChief Operating Officer
NCNick Cardwell
Nick CardwellChief Product OfficerChief Product Officer at Venus Aerospace, Nick Cardwell has worked across aerospace, defense, energy, pharmaceutical, and smart city sectors, with experience in hardware, software, and process development.
SM
Sheila MenzGeneral Counsel

Board

PSPhillip Sarofim
Phillip SarofimFounderFounder & CEO at Trousdale Ventures

Investors · 22

Mercury Fundlisted by Mercury FundHouston · $250K – $4M

How we know: Mercury Fund's portfolio page · offering press articles · funding news · the VCSheet dataset · Not right? Tell us

BOOST&CoreportedLondon

How we know: press coverage · Not right? Tell us

HelmreportedNew York City · $500K

How we know: the VCSheet dataset · Not right? Tell us

Lockheed Martin VenturesreportedBethesda

How we know: a partner's Signal profile · offering press articles · funding news · the VCSheet dataset · Not right? Tell us

PEAK6reportedAustin

How we know: funding news · Not right? Tell us

Reported raises · per SEC filings

Form D private placements

$111.4M disclosed across 5 rounds · 2020–2026

▶$63MraisedMay 2026 · 39 investors · Other Technology
Rule 506(b)
Officers, directors & promoters on the filing
  • Pamela MelroyDirector
  • Gavin MathisDirector
  • Phillip SarofimDirector
  • Sheila MenzExecutive Officer
  • Andrew DugglebyExecutive Officer, Director, Promoter
  • Sarah DugglebyExecutive Officer, Director, Promoter
  • Blair GarrouDirector
Offering amount
$100M
Amount sold
$63M
First sale
Apr 2026
Incorporated
Corporation, Delaware
Federal exemptions
06b
Full filing on SEC EDGAR ↗
▶$15.9MraisedJun 2023 · 17 investors · Other Technology
Rule 506(b)
Officers, directors & promoters on the filing
  • Sarah DugglebyExecutive Officer, Director, Promoter
  • Andrew DugglebyExecutive Officer, Director, Promoter
  • Phillip SarofimDirector
  • Brandon SimmonsDirector
Offering amount
$33M
Amount sold
$15.9M
First sale
May 2023
Incorporated
Corporation, Delaware, 2019
Federal exemptions
06b
Full filing on SEC EDGAR ↗
▶$29.2MraisedApr 2022 · 39 investors · Other Technology
Rule 506(b)
Officers, directors & promoters on the filing
  • Brandon SimmonsDirector
  • Sarah DugglebyExecutive Officer, Director, Promoter
  • Andrew DugglebyExecutive Officer, Director, Promoter
Offering amount
$29.4M
Amount sold
$29.2M
First sale
Mar 2022
Incorporated
Corporation, Delaware, 2019
Federal exemptions
06b
Full filing on SEC EDGAR ↗
▶$3.2MraisedJan 2021 · 19 investors · Other Technology
Rule 506(b)
Officers, directors & promoters on the filing
  • Brandon SimmonsDirector
  • Sarah DugglebyExecutive Officer, Director
  • Andrew DugglebyExecutive Officer, Director
Offering amount
$3.2M
Amount sold
$3.2M
First sale
Jan 2021
Incorporated
Corporation, Delaware, 2019
Federal exemptions
06b
Full filing on SEC EDGAR ↗
▶$70KraisedMay 2020 · 5 investors · Other Technology
Rule 506(b)
Officers, directors & promoters on the filing
  • Sarah DugglebyExecutive Officer, Director
  • Andrew DugglebyExecutive Officer, Director
Offering amount
$70K
Amount sold
$70K
Minimum investment
$5K
First sale
Mar 2020
Incorporated
Corporation, Delaware, 2019
Federal exemptions
06b
Full filing on SEC EDGAR ↗

Source: SEC EDGAR Form D. Amounts as filed; amended filings shown once at their latest values.

Related companies · 3

Companies working in the same space as Venus Aerospace Hypersonic Transportation.

Non-dilutive funding · 2 SBIR/STTR awards

Federal grants — no equity taken
AgencyPhaseYearAmount
U.S. Air ForceAir ForcePhase IISTTR2021$746.2K
U.S. Air ForceAir ForcePhase ISTTR2021$50K

Source: SBIR.gov award data (U.S. Small Business Administration). SBIR/STTR awards are competitive federal R&D grants and contracts — non-dilutive capital alongside any venture rounds above.

In the news

Frequently asked questions

What does Venus Aerospace Hypersonic Transportation do?
Venus Aerospace develops rotating detonation rocket engine (RDRE) technology and a detonation ramjet system for space, defense, and commercial high-speed and hypersonic flight. The company designs propulsion systems intended to scale across a range of performance requirements.
Who founded Venus Aerospace Hypersonic Transportation?
Venus Aerospace Hypersonic Transportation was founded by Sassie Duggleby, Andrew Duggleby, Sarah "Sassie" Duggleby in 2020.
Who are Venus Aerospace Hypersonic Transportation's investors?
Venus Aerospace Hypersonic Transportation's investors include Alumni Ventures, America's Frontier Fund, Cantos Ventures, Cubit Capital, Draper Associates, Gaingels, Halogen Ventures Management Company Llc, Helios Capital and 14 more.
How much funding has Venus Aerospace Hypersonic Transportation raised?
Venus Aerospace Hypersonic Transportation has disclosed $111.4M raised across 5 rounds.
Where is Venus Aerospace Hypersonic Transportation headquartered?
Venus Aerospace Hypersonic Transportation is headquartered in Texas, US.