VIPC Invests in AI-Driven, Space-Tech Startup NOVI SPACE

Insider Brief

• The Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation has invested in NOVI SPACE, a Virginia-based startup developing onboard AI compute systems and a full-stack satellite data platform to enhance access to real-time Earth observation data.
• NOVI’s VISTAsat™ platform and flight-proven onboard computers are being deployed through SpaceX and other launch partners, supporting a constellation of edge-processing satellites aimed at transforming satellite data accessibility.
• The investment is part of NOVI’s ongoing seed round, which has also attracted backing from Spirit Electronics Ventures, Tyger River Capital, and AIN Ventures, and builds on NOVI’s prior commercialization grant and DoD-funded SBIR awards.

PRESS RELEASE – The Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation (VIPC) announced that Virginia Venture Partners (VVP), VIPC’s venture capital platform, has invested in Arlington, Virginia-based startup NOVI SPACE Inc. (NOVI). NOVI is a space AI infrastructure and compute company providing end-to-end technology solutions revolutionizing access to space-based satellite sensor data. As part of their ongoing seed round, NOVI has successfully attracted capital from both in-state and out-of-state co-investors including Arizona-based Spirit Electronics Ventures, North Carolina-based Tyger River Capital, and Virginia-based AIN Ventures, one of VIPC’s Virginia Invests’ fund managers. VIPC also previously awarded a technology commercialization grant to NOVI, which supported its Phase I SBIR award from the Air Force Research Lab (AFRL) and served as an effective bridge to securing a follow-on AFRL Phase II award.

Satellite constellations generate vast amounts of raw sensor data and generally lack on-board processing capabilities. Accessing space-based sensors and processing satellite data remains difficult and prohibitively expensive. NOVI is leveraging its successful demonstration work with the U.S. Department of Defense to fill a critical gap in the U.S. commercial hardware market by providing TRL-9, flight-proven on-board computers (OBCs) for in-orbit satellites. NOVI has previously deployed its satellite compute-on-board into space through SpaceX and other launch partners. In addition, NOVI is developing and deploying a constellation of multi-sensor edge-processing satellites for earth observation (EO), coupled to a full-stack data, algorithm, and intelligence management platform named VISTAsat™. This innovative space AI marketplace provides open-access to a growing satellite network, and enables commercial companies, governments and developers to harness real-time space-based sensors, processors and intelligence across numerous industries.

“We are thrilled to partner with the VIPC team and deeply value their support as NOVI continues to expand in the Arlington area and drive the future of space innovation. VIPC has been instrumental in attracting a strong network of investors and accelerating our growth following a successful satellite launch on SpaceX’s Transporter-12 mission in January 2025,” said Dr. Amit Mehra, President and Co-founder of NOVI.

VIPC President and CEO, Joe Benevento, said, “NOVI is innovating here in Virginia at the unique intersection of artificial intelligence compute and space hardware infrastructure. Our collaboration with NOVI is a great example of how VIPC seeks to catalyze and leverage public-private investment – through VIPC, the Department of Defense, and now external venture capital funds from the private sector – to accelerate technology innovation in the marketplace.”

“NOVI has successfully developed and de-risked transformative edge AI technology, which they are actively deploying to government and commercial customers in route to creating the first low-cost, open constellation to democratize access to space data,” said Marco Rubin, Senior Investment Director for VIPC’s Virginia Venture Partners. “VVP is pleased to support the NOVI team, and we look forward to exciting growth within Virginia’s strategic aerospace and defense industries.”