Celeste Ford
InvestorFounderPartner Champion to Harvest Thermal at Silicon Valley · Co-Founder & General Partner at Svc
Portola Valley, California, United States
FoundedSvc
About
Celeste Ford is the Board Chair and Founder of Stellar Solutions, Inc., an aerospace engineering company she founded in 1995 and led as CEO until 2018, serving defense, intelligence, commercial, civil, and international clients. She launched Stellar Ventures in 2022, where she is General Partner, to invest in space technology companies. She holds a BS in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Notre Dame and an MS in Aerospace Engineering from Stanford University.
Invests in
Defense TechSpace Tech
Co-Founder & General Partner at Svc
Intro paths
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In turn, Celeste can intro founders to Svc's investors below.
Svc's investors · 1
Experience
- Stellar VenturesManaging Directorcurrent2022 — present
- Stellar SolutionsBoard Chair and Foundercurrent2018 — present
- Stellar SolutionsCEO and Foundercurrent1995 — presentPalo Alto, California
- University of Notre DameMember Board Of Trusteescurrent2012 — presentIndiana, United States
- Simpson Strong-TieBoard Membercurrent2014 — presentCalifornia, United States
- Council on Foreign RelationsMembercurrent2011 — present
- Enterprising WomenAdvisory Council Membercurrent2020 — presentUnited States
- Illuminate VenturesAdvisory Council Membercurrent2000 — presentUnited States
- Iris Automation IncBoard Member2020 — 2023
- CHG-ChemringBoard Member2020 — 2023United States and UK
- Seagate TechnologyBoard Member Government Solutions2015 — 2017
- Heritage Bank of CommerceBoard Member2009 — 2014
- Foundry NetworksBoard Member2007 — 2009
Skills & more
Strategic Planning26Space Systems44Spacecraft32Systems Engineering99Program Management58Integration39Aerospace99Business Strategy23Engineering20Satellite69Team Building16Security Clearance53
+12 more
GovernmentDefenseEngineering ManagementMilitaryProposal WritingAir ForceEarned Value ManagementSystem DesignLeadershipIntelligenceTeam LeadershipTestingFrom Celeste's professional profile.
Colleagues at Silicon Valley
Aarthi Ramaswamy
Partner Champion to Parent Voices Oakland at Silicon Valley
Aarti Chandna
SV2 Board Member at Silicon Valley
Bill Brownell
SV2 Board Treasurer at Silicon Valley
Brittny Bottorff
Partner Champion to Oasis Legal Services at Silicon Valley
Byron Hill
Partner Champion to Kit Switch at Silicon Valley
Catherine Crystal Foster
Partner Champion to Oasis Legal Services at Silicon Valley
Charity Silkebakken
Youth Development Grant Round Co-Leader; Partner Champion to MyPath at Silicon Valley
Cindy Lang
SV2 Board Member at Silicon Valley
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Celeste Ford?
- Celeste Ford is the Board Chair and Founder of Stellar Solutions, Inc., an aerospace engineering company she founded in 1995 and led as CEO until 2018, serving defense, intelligence, commercial, civil, and international clients. She launched Stellar Ventures in 2022, where she is General Partner, to invest in space technology companies. She holds a BS in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Notre Dame and an MS in Aerospace Engineering from Stanford University.
- Where does Celeste Ford work?
- Celeste Ford is Co-Founder & General Partner of Svc and Partner Champion to Harvest Thermal at Silicon Valley.
- What does Celeste Ford invest in?
- Celeste Ford invests in Defense Tech, Space Tech.
- What companies did Celeste Ford found?
- Celeste Ford founded Svc.
- Where did Celeste Ford go to school?
- Celeste Ford studied at University of Notre Dame (Bachelor’s Degree, Aerospace Engineering); Stanford University (Master’s Degree, Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering).
Same school
Also attended University of Notre Dame300
Doug GrohAdvisor at CincyTechMimi DunnSenior Investment Analyst at Catalyst Health VenturesJim HuntGeneral Partner at Lavrock VenturesTristan HuntPartner at Averin CapitalJoanne IshamSenior Advisory Board at IronGate Capital AdvisorsAlex FlorAssociate at TCV
+ 294 more
Also attended Stanford University2,000
Peter ThielCo-founder & Partner at Founders FundReid HoffmanCo-founder of LinkedIn; Partner at GreylockKeith RaboisManaging Director at Khosla VenturesGarry TanPresident & CEO of Y CombinatorAlfred LinPartner at Sequoia CapitalAnn Miura-KoCo-founding Partner at Floodgate
+ 1,994 more
Shared employers
Also worked at University of Notre Dame41
Jim HuntGeneral Partner at Lavrock VenturesMichael BrannanSr. Associate at Volition CapitalPeter MitchellChief Legal Officer at NovatorGarret JacksonVice President at Mainsail PartnersZachary YamadaFinance Lead at Comcast VenturesTeri WilleyP2C Managing Director & Officer at Pathway to Cures
+ 35 more
Also worked at Simpson Strong-Tie2
Also worked at Illuminate Ventures14
Cindy PadnosFounder and Managing Partner at Illuminate VenturesJennifer SavagePartner at Illuminate VenturesDaria DavydenkoVice President at Fin CapitalBen BayatManaging Partner at NextGen Venture PartnersAustin LignellAssociate at Mercato PartnersYifat ShirbenCMO at Follow[the]Seed
+ 8 more
Also worked at Iris Automation Inc7
Garrett GoldbergVenture Partner at Virta VenturesTamim Abdul MajidGeneral Partner at OCA VenturesLudovic CopéréInvestor at Sony Ventures CorporationAlexander HarmsenFounder/CEO at Iris AutomationJames HowardFounder/CTO at Iris AutomationCeleste FordManaging Director at Stellar
+ 1 more