Investing at the edge of space at Disrupt 2025

On the Space Stage at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, top investors Celeste Ford, Chris Morales, and Morgan Beller will explore where capital is flowing in the space economy and what startups need to stand out.

Together, they’ll dive into what founders must demonstrate to win funding, and how investment strategies are shifting as the commercialization of space accelerates. As governments and private markets place bigger bets on space, the funding landscape is rapidly evolving.

If you’re building or thinking of launching a space tech startup — or if you’re already curious about the future of the space tech ecosystem — you need to lean in on this session. Grab your tickets now and save up to $444, with group discounts of up to 30%.

Journey through the space economy with these top investors

These three leading investors will unpack the opportunities and risks of backing the next generation of space startups. With backgrounds spanning aerospace engineering, venture capital, defense, fintech, and blockchain, this trio brings unique perspectives on how frontier technologies make the leap from research to real-world impact.

Learn more about these top voices, along with 250+ speakers leading sessions on the Disrupt speaker page.

Celeste Ford, Managing Director, Stellar Ventures

Celeste Ford is managing director at Stellar Ventures, investing in the next generation of space technology companies. She is the founder and board chair of Stellar Solutions, Inc., a Malcolm Baldrige Award-winning aerospace engineering firm serving defense, intelligence, commercial, and civil clients. Ford founded Stellar Solutions in 1995, leading global expansion and launching initiatives like the Stellar Solutions Foundation and QuakeFinder humanitarian R&D program. Her awards include Lifetime Achievement honors from the Baldrige Foundation and the National Association of Women Business Owners, Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year, and induction into the Silicon Valley Engineering Hall of Fame. She holds aerospace engineering degrees from Notre Dame and Stanford.

Chris Morales, Partner, Point72 Ventures

Chris Morales is a partner on the Investment Team at Point72 Ventures, where he leads defense tech investments. Before joining Point72, he was a technology, media, and telecommunications associate at Goldman Sachs Investment Banking, advising top technology clients on M&A, debt, and equity financings. Morales previously served as an F/A-18 Super Hornet Weapons Systems Officer in the U.S. Navy, flying combat missions in Operations New Dawn and Enduring Freedom. During his final two years of active duty, he was a flight instructor, training aircrew on the techniques, tactics, and procedures of the F/A-18.

Morgan Beller, General Partner, NFX

Morgan Beller is a general partner at NFX, a seed-stage venture capital fund. Previously at Facebook, she joined Corporate Development in 2017 to explore blockchain strategy, helping create the dedicated blockchain team that became Diem and Novi, where she served as Head of Strategy. Before Facebook, Morgan led Corporate Development at Medium, overseeing the Embedly acquisition and shaping the company’s subscription strategy. Earlier, she was on the Deal Team at Andreessen Horowitz, focusing on early-stage investments. Morgan brings deep experience in technology, blockchain, and venture investing, shaping startups from the ground up through strategy and capital.

Step into the next frontier of space startups at Disrupt

With more than 10,000 founders, investors, and operators gathering at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, this Space Stage session is a must for anyone exploring opportunities at the edge of innovation and looking for an inside view of how investors are shaping the future of the space economy. Don’t miss your ticket savings — register today to save up to $444, and get up to 30% off group passes when you bring your team.