Chris C. Kemp
FounderFounder at Astra Space · Founder at Astra · Board director at Scalr
San Francisco, California, United States
FoundedAstraAstra Space
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373 people in our graph share verified history with Chris — schools, employers, funds. One of them is your warm intro.
Michael McBrideunlockedChris: together at Stanford University Graduate School of Business (2017–2026)
Chris: together at Scalr
×2Chris: together at Planet Labs
Chris: together at Stanford University Graduate School of Business
About
Chris C. Kemp is the Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Astra, a company that manufactures satellite engines and deploys satellites into Earth orbit. He previously served as Chief Technology Officer of NASA, where he co-founded the open source project OpenStack and worked with the White House on the U.S. government's cloud computing strategy. Kemp has received the Federal 100 award, was named to the Silicon Valley Business Journal's "40 under 40," and has been featured in the book "When the Heavens Went on Sale," the documentary "Wild Wild Space," and the CNBC Disruptor 50 list.
Founder at Astra Space
Co-founders at Astra Space
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Adam LondonExecutive Officer, Director
Founder at Astra
Intro paths
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In turn, Chris can intro founders to Astra's investors below.
Astra's investors · 14
ACME CapitalSan FranciscoBay Bridge Ventures ClimateBerkeleyBoom Capital VenturesSan Francisco · $50K – $300K checksCanaan PartnersStamford · $500K – $20M checksChenel Capital PartnersNew YorkDefense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)since 2009Evolution VC PartnersNew YorkHelios CapitalMiami · $25K – $1M checksMissile Defense Agencysince 2012PROOFArlingtonSand Hill AngelsMenlo Park · $50K – $2M checksSlow VenturesSan Francisco · $50K – $1M checksU.S. Air Forcesince 2007Winklevoss CapitalNew York · $100K – $5M checks
Co-founders at Astra
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Dr. Adam LondonFounder
Board director at Scalr
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In turn, Chris can intro founders to Scalr's investors below.
Scalr's investors · 1
Co-founders at Scalr
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SEBASTIAN STADILExecutive Officer, Director
Experience
- AstraFounder and CEOcurrent2016 — presentSan Francisco Bay Area
- Planet LabsAdvisorcurrent2013 — presentSan Francisco Bay Area
- Stanford University Graduate School of BusinessGuest Lecturercurrent2016 — presentStanford, California, United States
- ScalrMember of the Board of Directorscurrent2015 — presentSan Francisco Bay Area
- OpenStackCo-Foundercurrent2010 — present
- OpenStackMember of the Board of Directors2013 — 2015
- Innovation EndeavorsEntrepreneur in Residence2015 — 2016San Francisco Bay Area
- NebulaFounder & Chief Strategy Officer2013 — 2015Mountain View, CA
- NebulaFounder & CEO2011 — 2013Palo Alto, CA
- NASACTO2010 — 2011
- NASAChief Information Officer2007 — 2010
- NASADirector of Business Development2006 — 2007
Skills & more
Cloud Computing99Product Management87SaaS99Start-ups99Software Development83Software Design4Mobile Devices10Strategic Partnerships99Business Intelligence6Business Strategy13Data Center26Web Applications7
+12 more
EntrepreneurshipAgile MethodologiesStrategySoftware EngineeringNew Business DevelopmentSocial MediaSoftware Project ManagementDistributed SystemsEnterprise SoftwareOpen SourceLinuxJavaFrom Chris's professional profile.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Chris C. Kemp?
- Chris C. Kemp is the Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Astra, a company that manufactures satellite engines and deploys satellites into Earth orbit. He previously served as Chief Technology Officer of NASA, where he co-founded the open source project OpenStack and worked with the White House on the U.S. government's cloud computing strategy. Kemp has received the Federal 100 award, was named to the Silicon Valley Business Journal's "40 under 40," and has been featured in the book "When the Heavens Went on Sale," the documentary "Wild Wild Space," and the CNBC Disruptor 50 list.
- Where does Chris C. Kemp work?
- Chris C. Kemp is Founder of Astra and Co-founder at Astra Space and Board director at Scalr.
- What companies did Chris C. Kemp found?
- Chris C. Kemp founded Astra, Astra Space.
- Where did Chris C. Kemp go to school?
- Chris C. Kemp studied at The University of Alabama in Huntsville (CPE, Engineering).
Founder mafias
Innovation Endeavors mafia9
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Naama Stauber BrecklerVenture Capital InternFounded Better Health Technologies +1Joel DudleyPartnerFounded BevimiTomás Álvarez BelónPrincipalFounded CanopiCaleb AppletonAssociateFounded TuneinEric SchmidtGeneral PartnerFounded Relativity SpaceUmed LatifovEntrepreneur in ResidenceFounded OWNY
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Astra mafia8
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Alex FieldingRobotics Advisor - Advisory BoardFounded Privateer Space +2Jacob PortukalianRadio Systems ManagerFounded Cascade Space +1Arlen AbrahamTechnical Program Manager, Rocket Launch InfrastructureFounded Cascade Space +1Max BenassiEngineering ManagerFounded Apex Technology +1Scott StanfordBoard MemberFounded ACME CapitalArpan RauAvionics InternFounded OutSail Technologies
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The University of Alabama in Huntsville mafia8
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Jiake LiuBachelorFounded Prospect Wise +2Will MarshallSummer programmeFounded Planet LabsRoberto Di SalvoPhDFounded QuoherentThomas PerezMaster of EngineeringFounded COACHLafe ReddMSFounded AugmntrJohn HendricksBachelor's DegreeFounded CuriosityStream
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Planet Labs mafia6
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Steve JurvetsonDirectorFounded Future Ventures +1Ryan McLinkoSpacecraft Engineer, Lead for Mechanical and Electrical Engineering TeamsFounded Astranis Space Technologies Corp. +1Ryan JohnsonPresident EUFounded VergeRay RothrockinvestorFounded RedSealRupesh GandupalliDirector, Supply Chain, Logistics Operations & NPI systemsFounded Xdlinx
Same school
Also attended The University of Alabama in Huntsville11
Becca ChambersChief Marketing Officer at Scale Venture PartnersJiake LiuAdvisor at Lair East LabsJosh SeamanPrincipal at Arrowroot CapitalWill MarshallCo-founder and CEO at Planet LabsRoberto Di SalvoCEO & Co-Founder at QuoherentThomas PerezFounder at COACH
+ 5 more
Shared employers
Also worked at Astra13
Maureen HavertyInvestment Principal at Seraphim SpaceRichard ChenelFounder & Managing Partner at Chenel Capital PartnersScott StanfordCo-Founder and Partner at ACME CapitalAlex FayettePartner at ACME CapitalCelestine SchnuggFounder at Boom Capital VenturesLisa NelsonVenture Partner at Flying Fish Ventures
+ 7 more
Also worked at Stanford University Graduate School of Business251
Michael McBrideInvestor at GV (Google Ventures)Elliot GeidtManaging Director at Redpoint VenturesRenee ShahPartner at Redpoint VenturesBlair ShaneInvestor at IVP (Institutional Venture Partners)Jules MaltzInvestor at IVP (Institutional Venture Partners)Shravan NarayenInvestor at IVP (Institutional Venture Partners)
+ 245 more
