Trousdale Ventures
Los Angeles, California · Invests in US; Global · Website
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🔒 $•• – $••Thesis
We invest in mission-driven companies that dare to tackle impossible challenges, striving to transform industries and create lasting societal impact. We seek founders with audacity to dream big, resilience to persevere, and potential to build forever companies that shape human history.
Likely not a fit for
Non-mission-aligned speculation, founders lacking clarity of vision or determination, incremental consumer products disconnected from impact
How they invest
- Lead or follow
- Usually leads
- Typical decision
- ~1 month
- Warm intro
- Not required
- Involvement
- Takes a board seat
- Fund status
- Actively deploying
- Decision process
- Partnership vote
Partners & team
4 contacts on file
Portfolio
Impulse Space is developing in-space mobility infrastructure to enable efficient transport of payloads across and between orbits, facilitating commercial, civil, and government missions.
Venus Aerospace is revolutionizing rocket engine propulsion with its innovative technologies, including the Venus Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine (RDRE) and the Venus Detonation Ramjet (VDR), designed for high efficiency and scalability in space and defense applications.
CesiumAstro designs, manufactures, and tests communication systems and satellites, focusing on advanced, mission-ready systems for space, air, and ground missions.
Starfish Space is a satellite servicing company focused on building the infrastructure for humanity's expansion into space, featuring their autonomous satellite servicing vehicle, Otter.
Solugen is redefining chemical manufacturing by harnessing the power of biology and chemistry to create sustainable chemical solutions for various industries, including oil and gas, renewable fuels, and agriculture.
Ecovative Design specializes in growing sustainable materials using mycelium, transforming agricultural waste into high-fiber protein and various eco-friendly products, including food, packaging, and building materials.
Sway harnesses the power of seaweed to create compostable replacements for plastic, embodying the principles of the circular economy.
Pacific Fusion is focused on harnessing fusion energy through pulsed magnetic inertial fusion technology, aiming to provide clean, on-demand power to meet global energy demands and address climate challenges.
Coreshell unlocks the true capacity and economics of batteries to enable the timely deployment of clean energy. They provide the lowest-cost, high-performance silicon anodes made from 100% domestically sourced metallurgical silicon.
Meyers Manx is known for its iconic dune buggies, including the new electric vehicle models that combine classic design with modern technology.
Lemon Perfect offers organic, zero-sugar lemon water infused with various flavors, providing hydration and health benefits.
Recent activity
- Feb 2026
CesiumAstro
Series C · Lead
- Jan 2026
Vatn Systems
Series A · Participated
- Nov 2025
Coreshell
Pre-IPO · Board Member
- Sep 2025
Pacific Fusion
Series A · Lead
- Aug 2025
CesiumAstro
Series B+ · Lead
- Jun 2025
Impulse Space
Series C · Follow-on
Trousdale Ventures in the news
AlleyWatch
The Weekly Notable Startup Funding Report: 7/13/26
1 month ago
alleywatch.com
The Weekly Notable Startup Funding Report: 7/13/26
1 month ago
Metal Additive Manufacturing magazine
Venus Aerospace secures $91M to scale AM high-thrust rocket engine
1 month ago
Inside Outer Space
Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine: New Funding Round
2 months ago
semiengineering.com
Startup Funding: Q1 2026
4 months ago
AlleyWatch
The 15 Largest US Funding Rounds of February 2026
5 months ago
The Business Journals
Austin startups raised $1.5B in February as robotics, defense tech lead the charge
6 months ago
Resilience Media
CesiumAstro raises $470 million to build out low Earth orbit satellites
7 months ago
Payload Space
CesiumAstro Raises $270M Series C
7 months ago
Global Venturing
Toyota, Airbus Ventures invest in satellite connectivity startup CesiumAstro
7 months ago
SiliconANGLE
Satellite maker CesiumAstro raises $470M to grow its manufacturing capacity
7 months ago
PR Newswire
AheadComputing Inc. Raises Additional $30M Seed2 Round to Reimagine CPU Architecture
7 months ago
AlleyWatch
The Weekly Notable Startup Funding Report: 12/15/25
8 months ago
AlleyWatch
The Weekly Notable Startup Funding Report: 12/15/25
8 months ago
Washington Technology
K2, Pryzm, South 8 and VATN detail their newest capital rounds
9 months ago
pulse2.com
Trousdale Ventures: Ronnie Wiessbrod Appointed As Chief Investment Officer
9 months ago
PR Newswire
Ronnie Wiessbrod Joins Trousdale Ventures as Chief Investment Officer
9 months ago
InnovationMap
Venus Aerospace picks up investment from Lockheed Martin Ventures
10 months ago
Impulse Space
Impulse Space Secures $300 Million Series C to Accelerate the Future of In-Space Mobility
Jun 2025
Inside GNSS
ANELLO Photonics Secures Series B Funding to Advance Inertial Navigation for Autonomous Applications
Nov 2024
SpaceNews
Satellite-servicing startup Starfish Space raises $29 million
Nov 2024
Payload Space
CesiumAstro Pockets $65M in Series B+ Funding
Jun 2024
Fortune
Charles Hudson on reframing the DEI conversation with founders in mind
Jun 2024
Nasdaq
CesiumAstro Secures $65M in Oversubscribed Funding Round
Jun 2024
Business Wire
Phillip Sarofim’s Trousdale Ventures Leads CesiumAstro Series B+ Funding Round
Jun 2024
Business Wire
Trousdale Ventures Adds to Investment Team with Esteemed Finance Industry Leader
May 2023
The Business Journals
Lemon Perfect startup backed by Beyoncé raises $36 million - Bizwomen
Feb 2023
Private Equity Stakeholder Project PESP
Private Capital Investors Exposed to Regulatory Risk Through Investments in Facial Recognition
Nov 2022
statesman.com
Trousdale Ventures is launching and looking for Austin deals
Oct 2018
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Focuses on companies born from offline interactions that balance profit with purpose and emphasize environmental and social stewardship.
Research briefRead more
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