Fortastra builds low-cost, maneuverable spacecraft with autonomous navigation and open-architecture software to defend space infrastructure. Its spacecraft are designed to hold position near critical assets, evaluate surrounding activity and respond to threats in real time, with a modular bus built for high-rate production. Founded in 2025 by Dr. Mike Smayda, a former SpaceX senior aerodynamics engineer and Hermeus co-founder, and headquartered in Torrance, California, Fortastra went from seed funding to orbit in about a year with Watchdog V0. It raised an $8M+ seed led by Upfront Ventures and, in October 2026, a $30M Series A led by First In.