Gary Calnan, CEO & Co-Founder of CisLunar: $5.7 Million Raised to Build the Future of In-Space Manufacturing

Welcome to another episode of Category Visionaries — the show that explores GTM stories from tech's most innovative B2B founders. In today's episode, we're speaking with Gary Calnan, CEO & Co-Founder of CisLunar, a space tech company that's raised $5.7 Million in funding. Here are the most interesting points from our conversation: Passion for Space: Gary’s lifelong interest in space led him to found CisLunar in 2017, focusing on industrializing space and creating sustainable human presence beyond Earth. Addressing Space Debris: CisLunar tackles the growing problem of space debris by processing it into valuable metals for in-space manufacturing, transforming an environmental hazard into an economic resource. Government Support: Winning their first NASA SBIR contract in 2021, CisLunar has also secured funding from the Space Force, DARPA, and the ISS National Lab, highlighting strong government backing. Innovative Power Conversion: CisLunar developed a power converter originally for their own use, which has evolved into a commercial product with applications across various in-space systems. Market Focus: The company positions itself as a leader in high-power processing for satellites and in-space manufacturing, aiming to be a foundational player in the industrial space economy. Survival and Adaptation: During tough market conditions, CisLunar took on contract engineering projects aligned with their strategic goals, showcasing their resilience and adaptability.   //   Sponsors: Front Lines — We help B2B tech companies launch, manage, and grow podcasts that drive demand, awareness, and thought leadership. www.FrontLines.io   The Global Talent Co. — We help tech startups find, vet, hire, pay, and retain amazing marketing talent that costs 50-70% less than the US & Europe. www.GlobalTalent.co