• Bridgit Mendler, a former child actress who began her career in 2004 at the age of 11, has now stepped into the role of CEO for a new startup company.
• Her talent was recognized early on when she lent her voice to the animated film “The Legend of Buddha”. Subsequently, she gained prominence through her roles in “Jonas”, “The Secret World of Arrietty”, and in particular, Disney Channel’s “Good Luck Charlie”.
• While juggling her acting career, she also dedicated the past few years to her studies, obtaining degrees from USC and MIT, and even attending Harvard Law School.

After years of dedicating herself to various projects, Mendler’s career has now taken a noteworthy turn with her appointment as the CEO of Northwood Space, a promising new startup in the space industry.

Bridgit Mendler, at the age of 31, embraces the challenges of her new role at Northwood Space. The company recently secured $6.3 million in seed funding to further their goals, as reported by CNBC.

Mendler joyfully shared the news on social media platform X, by quoting the CNBC article and announcing, “Expect the unexpected! So excited to announce our $6.3M seed led by @foundersfound and @a16z, with participation from @CapitalAlso, @LongJourneyVC, @BoxGroup, @humbavc”.

Northwood Space strives to create a data highway connecting Earth and space. The ambitious endeavor aims to improve data transmission and access points to satellites. Instead of focusing on building rockets or satellites, the company specializes in designing shared ground infrastructure to enhance connectivity with space.

Mendler found herself falling in love with the intricacies of space law during her recent stint at the Federal Communications Commission’s new Space Bureau. She expressed her vision, stating, “Space is getting easier along so many different dimensions, but still the actual exercise of sending data to and from space is difficult. You have difficulty finding an access point for contacting your satellite”.

Northwood Space takes on the challenge by developing efficient ground stations, capable of receiving and transmitting data reliably with minimal delay. The company aims to drastically reduce the time it takes to install antennas, aiming for delivery in days rather than the traditional 18-month timeframe.

Comparable to major industry players such as Amazon Web Services and Microsoft’s Azure, Northwood Space aspires to provide a similar infrastructure service to space companies, enabling them to respond to ever-changing use cases and missions swiftly. As a progressive step, the company plans to conduct their maiden in-orbit test later this year.

Bridgit Mendler embarked on her new entrepreneurial journey alongside her husband, Griffin Cleverly, who assumes the role of Chief Technology Officer in the company. Additionally, Northwood Space benefits from the expertise of Head of Software, Shaurya Luthra.

The name of the company, Northwood Space, holds sentimental significance, as it originates from a lakeside location in New Hampshire. Mendler shared that it was during the pandemic, while spending time with her family, that the concept for the company first materialized. Their involvement began with amateur antenna-building activities and gradually escalated to receiving data from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration satellites.

Mendler emphasizes the importance of the “ground-side” in space initiatives, believing that it contributes significantly to the impacts experienced on Earth. Cleverly accentuates the vital need to deliver data reliably and efficiently to foster growth and technological advances in the space industry.