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Raven Space Systems

HardwareBroomfield, Colorado, USAFounded 2020· One of 1708 Hardware companies tracked by AMPulse

Provides Microwave Assisted Deposition (MAD) 3D printing technology for aerospace-grade thermoset composites, enabling in-situ curing as components are printed.

CEO / Founder
Blake Herren
Team Size
1-10
Stage
Active
Total Funding
$2.03M
Latest Round
Pre-Seed
Key Investors
Backswing Ventures, 46 Venture Capital, Mana Ventures, What If Ventures, Cape Fear Ventures

Technology & Products

Key Products

Raven Space Systems specializes in Microwave Assisted Deposition (MAD) 3D printing technology for aerospace-grade thermoset and ceramic composites. Their products include optimally designed structures, thermal protection, and 3D printed hypersonic testbeds (Mach3D).

Technological Advantage

MAD technology enables rapid production by curing materials as they are printed, reducing labor and waste while utilizing off-the-shelf aerospace-grade materials.

Differentiation

Value Proposition

Accelerates production by curing composites during printing, reducing manual labor, material waste, and lead times while delivering high-strength, lightweight components optimized for critical aerospace applications

How They Differentiate

Focuses exclusively on scalable 3D printing of high-performance thermoset composites with rapid microwave-assisted curing, differentiating it from traditional manufacturing methods.

Market & Competition

Target Customers

Companies in the aerospace, space, and defense industries

Industry Verticals

["Aerospace","Space","Defense"]

Competitors

Stratasys; Lockheed Martin; Boeing

Growth & Milestones

Growth Metrics

Rapid scaling of production capabilities with plans for an aerospace-certified facility by Q2 2025

Major Milestones

["Secured a NASA Space Act Agreement and AFRL Commercial Research and Development Agreement","Awarded a $1.8 million Phase II STTR contract from AFWERX","Planned demonstration mission for a 3D printed space capsule to the ISS"]

Notable Customers

Agencies involved in NASA and AFRL research agreements

https://www.ravenspacesystems.com

Why this company matters

Raven Space Systems has developed Microwave Assisted Deposition (MAD), a 3D printing process that cures thermoset composites in situ using microwave energy. This approach addresses a longstanding bottleneck in composite additive manufacturing: the need for post-print autoclave or oven curing, which adds labor, waste, and cycle time. By curing as material is deposited, MAD aims to accelerate production of high-strength, lightweight components for critical aerospace and defense use cases.

The company's core technology works with off-the-shelf aerospace-grade thermoset and ceramic materials. Products include optimally designed structures, thermal protection systems, and hypersonic testbeds branded as Mach3D. Raven holds a granted patent covering systems and methods for microwave-assisted deposition in 3D printing, with additional patent-pending applications related to the MAD process.

Raven's target customers are primes and agencies in aerospace, space, and defense. The company has secured research agreements with NASA and the Air Force Research Laboratory, as well as a $1.8 million Phase II STTR contract from AFWERX. Partnerships include AFWERX, the National Science Foundation, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's CHESS facility, and SpaceWorks Enterprises. Raven plans to open an aerospace-certified production facility by Q2 2025 and has a planned demonstration mission for a 3D printed space capsule to the International Space Station.

The company's competitive differentiation lies in its exclusive focus on scalable, in-situ microwave curing for thermoset composites, a niche not addressed by traditional manufacturing or by thermoplastic-focused additive processes. Competitors such as Stratasys, Lockheed Martin, and Boeing offer broader composite manufacturing capabilities but do not specialize in this curing method. Raven's key risk is scaling from research-stage agreements to production-scale contracts with aerospace primes, a transition that requires certification and capital. The company has raised $7 million from Backswing Ventures, 46 Venture Capital, Mana Ventures, What If Ventures, and Cape Fear Ventures.