Fundraising Fox

Ben Schleuniger

Founder

Founder at Orbital Operations

Huntington Beach, California, United States

FoundedOrbital Operations · YC

About

Ben Schleuniger is the co-founder and CEO of Orbital Operations. He previously held engineering roles at NASA focusing on propulsion, SpaceX, and Relativity Space, where he worked on rocket engine systems and led the development of components and integrated design teams.

Founder at Orbital OperationsYC W25

Intro paths

YC

Ben went through Y Combinator (Winter 2025) — any YC alum in your network can reach them through the YC community.

GP

Their group partner at YC was Tyler Bosmeny, General Partner at Y Combinator — the partner who ran Orbital Operations's batch and knows the company first-hand. YC profile ↗

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In turn, Ben can intro founders to Orbital Operations's investors below.

Orbital Operations's investors · 9

Black FlagSan Diego · $100K – $1M checks · since 2025GoAhead VenturesMenlo Park · $500K – $1M checks · since 2025Harpoon VenturesSan Diego · $100K – $5M checks · since 2025Initialized CapitalSan Francisco · $1M – $5M checks · since 2025Karman VenturesAustin · $100K – $500K checks · since 2025Olive Tree CapitalBoston · since 2025Rebel FundSan Francisco · $100K – $5M checks · since 2025TRAC (Third Round Analytics Capital)San Francisco · $250K – $2M checks · since 2025Y CombinatorSan Francisco · $500K checks · since 2025

Co-founders at Orbital Operations

RDRoss Doherty
Ross DohertyCo-Founder & COO
H
Hunter

Experience

  1. Orbital OperationsCEO | Co-Foundercurrent2024 — presentLong Beach, California, United States
  2. Relativity SpaceLead Propulsion Engineer - Integrated Design and Analysis2024Long Beach, California, United States
  3. Relativity SpaceSenior Propulsion Engineer2022 — 2024
  4. Relativity SpaceLead Propulsion Components Engineer2021 — 2022Long Beach, California, United States
  5. Relativity SpacePropulsion Components Development Engineer II2020 — 2021Long Beach, California, United States
  6. Relativity SpacePropulsion Components Development Engineer I2018 — 2020Los Angeles Metropolitan Area
  7. SpaceXPost Graduate Engineer2018Hawthorne, California
  8. Highlander RacingTreasurer / Internal Combustion Vehicle Lead2014 — 2018Riverside, California
  9. NASA - National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationComponents Engineering Intern2017Huntsville-Decatur-Albertville Area
  10. NASA - National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationPropulsion Design Intern2016Marshall Space Flight Center

Skills & more

SolidWorks35ANSYS19Matlab16AutoCAD11PowerPoint8Microsoft Word9Microsoft Office11C++5Microsoft Excel9Microsoft PowerPoint6Cross-functional Team Leadership10Finite Element Analysis (FEA)6
+12 moreProject ManagementProject PlanningMechanical EngineeringEngineeringSalesBudgetsContinuous ImprovementBusiness Process ImprovementChange ManagementStart-upsSustainabilitySolar Energy

Languages English

  • Certified Solid Works Associate — 2B Digital

From Ben's professional profile.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Ben Schleuniger?
Ben Schleuniger is the co-founder and CEO of Orbital Operations. He previously held engineering roles at NASA focusing on propulsion, SpaceX, and Relativity Space, where he worked on rocket engine systems and led the development of components and integrated design teams.
Where does Ben Schleuniger work?
Ben Schleuniger is Founder of Orbital Operations.
What companies did Ben Schleuniger found?
Ben Schleuniger founded Orbital Operations.
Where did Ben Schleuniger go to school?
Ben Schleuniger studied at MIT Professional Education (Applied Data Science Program, Applied Data Science); University of California, Riverside (Bachelor of Science (BS), Mechanical Engineering); University of California Riverside Extension (Certified Solidworks Associate Certificate, Solid Works).

Founder mafias

Y Combinator mafia8,773

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

Sam AltmanPresidentFounded Tools for Humanity +3Jessica LivingstonCo-founderFounded Y CombinatorAlexis OhanianYC Summer 2005Founded RedditFred EhrsamYC Summer 2012Founded Nudge +1Matt HuangYC Winter 2011Founded HotspotsTrae StephensYC Winter 2022Founded Pursuit +1

+ 8,766 more

University of California, Riverside mafia11

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

Vanessa SmallPh.DFounded Alcheme BioArjun PatelBachelor's of ScienceFounded WorkCloutAiden AcevesBachelor’s DegreeFounded Primmune TherapeuticsDeepanshu MadanMaster's DegreeFounded PlatypusWarren RunkBachelor of ScienceFounded Chorus SleepPaul SchneiderBachelor's degreeFounded Fort

+ 4 more

Relativity Space mafia8

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

Kingsley AdvaniInvestorFounded AllocationsScott HartleyInvestorFounded StreamNativeAlexander KwanDirector Of Finance And StrategyFounded TAIRoss DohertySr. Turbomachinery Manufacturing EngineerFounded Orbital OperationsIlya KelnerStaff Flight Software EngineerFounded Red Barn RoboticsPaul ShinMechanical EngineeringFounded F4 Industries

+ 1 more

MIT Professional Education mafia3

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

Julia NiiroChief Sustainability Officer ProgramFounded MilkRunCarlos AravenaInnovation Leadership ProgramFounded Poliglota

Same school

Also attended MIT Professional Education28

Kanira ShahVenture Partner, Future Content Fund at IPR.VCElena Harumi StarkVP of Platform and Impact at AENUThomas DunleavyHead of Venture at Varys CapitalCris De LucaPartner, Digital at Sanofi VenturesHugues BertinPartner at HCS CapitalLinda GreubManaging Partner at Avestria Ventures

+ 22 more

Also attended University of California, Riverside31

Dr Jonathan AvesarScientific Lead at Lever VCLina ChongInvestor at HV CapitalVanessa SmallInvestor at DigitalDx VenturesBo ZhaoDirector of Commercialization at First Bight VenturesJazelyn JoseFinance Associate at SuRo CapitalBrandon GoldmanPartner at LIONHEART VENTURES

+ 25 more

Shared employers

Also worked at Orbital Operations1

Ross DohertyCo-Founder & COO at Orbital Operations

Also worked at Relativity Space22

Jordan NooneGeneral Partner at Embedded VenturesNancy XiaoInvestor at HeadlineJory BellGeneral Partner at Playground GlobalJerry OrzechPRINCIPAL, INVESTMENT TEAM at Crosscut VenturesRyan McCalleyManaging Partner and Founder at SQN Venture Partners, LLCWilliam AbecassisManaging Partner and CIO at Braven

+ 16 more

Also worked at SpaceX148

Roelof BothaAdvisor & former Steward at Sequoia Capital; SpaceX board memberSteve JurvetsonCo-founder of Future VenturesAsanka JayasuriyaPortfolio Support at 8VCJustin RoseInvestment Team at 8VCGarry HillInvestment at Makers FundHelen LiangFounder & General Partner at FoundersX Ventures

+ 142 more

Also worked at Highlander Racing1

Paul SchneiderFounder at Fort