Astrobotic to develop lander for ULA | Startups and legal weed
Pittsburgh’s Astrobotic to develop lander for moon mission
PITTSBURGH, PA–United Launch Alliance (ULA) (a joint venture between Lockheed Martin and Boeing) is nearing completion of the development of the next-generation Vulcan Centaur launch rocket. The company expects to launch the Vulcan Centaur to the moon for the first time in early 2023, and its maiden flight will send a lander developed by Pittsburgh’s Astrobotic Technologies to the moon. Here’s an interview we did with Astrobotic CEO John Thornton in 2021.
Startups take advantage of Missouri’s legalization of recreational marijuana
KANSAS CITY, MO–With Missouri voters approving a ballot amendment last month that legalized recreational sales of marijuana statewide, local startups are poised to take advantage of the market. One of those startups is Franklin’s Stash House. Founder Michael Wilson says the company uses “a wide variety of technology, data processes, and innovations.” Wilson says, “It just so happens to be in the marijuana space.”
Fairfax County’s road to being a tech hub
FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA–While it might not be the first place you think of in terms of tech hubs, Fairfax County in Virginia is making its mark by establishing itself as a tech government-contracting epicenter. In addition to government contracting, Fairfax County has launched its share of startups that have grown into successful unicorn tech companies with valuations of more than $1 billion, including Somatus Inc., Electrify America, ID.me Inc., IronNet Inc. and Expel Inc. You can read about Fairfax County’s rise to tech hub status here.
Minnesota Twins Accelerator draws music-tech startup from the UK
MINNEAPOLIS, MN–A UK-based music-tech startup has set up operations in Minneapolis through the Minnesota Twins Accelerator by Techstars, with the intent to maintain a permanent office in the area. Biiah offers “a platform with guidance and structure for creating a daily singing routine focused on mindfulness.” The company, previously known as the Choral Hub, offers an app where users can play mini games, engage in singing sessions, and compete with friends.