Castelion is on a mission to tackle the U.S. military’s hypersonic missile shortage. Founded in late 2022 by former SpaceX employees Bryon Hargis, Sean Pitt, and Andrew Kreitz, the startup has quickly emerged as a significant player in the defense sector. The need for a reliable manufacturer of hypersonic missiles became evident when a Navy officer reached out to Bryon Hargis. The officer emphasized the dire circumstances his office faced. The U.S. has struggled to develop a fully operational hypersonic system, unlike countries such as China and Russia. Recognizing the urgency, Hargis and his colleagues decided to address the issue. They left SpaceX in November 2022 to establish Castelion, focusing on the production of hypersonic missiles. Their journey has faced numerous challenges, including financial hurdles and rejection from over 50 potential investors. Despite these setbacks, the team persevered, securing its initial investment of $2 million from Lavrock Ventures in April 2023. This pivotal moment facilitated Castelion’s first government contract, valued at $5 million, within a month. Since then, Castelion has garnered over $100 million in military contracts and raised $450 million in funding. A recent funding round led by Lightspeed Venture Partners and Altimeter elevated the company’s valuation to $2.8 billion.

Full report : Defense startup Castelion aims to revolutionize the U.S. hypersonic missile production by integrating various components in-house.

For more see the OODA Company Profile on Castelion.