Here at REaKTOR, we’re all about supporting the innovators, dreamers, and boundary-pushers redefining Hampton Roads as Virginia’s epicenter of cutting-edge tech. With that, we’re thrilled to drop some major news: One of our portfolio powerhouses, Psionic, just locked in a strategic investment by New North Ventures, leaders in scaling dual-use tech fueling national security breakthroughs. This move is set to supercharge Psionic’s mission to conquer GPS-denied navigation, propelling us deeper into space, aerospace, and beyond.

Let’s rewind for the full trajectory. Born right here in Hampton (part of Hampton Roads, Virginia), Psionic was forged by former NASA engineers like CEO Steve Sandford, harnessing proprietary tech licensed from NASA itself. Since their start, they’ve evolved into a force multiplier for precision navigation in jammed or hostile environments – think lunar landings, Mars rovers, and drones that laugh off electronic warfare. Their flagship gems? The Psionic Space Navigation Doppler Lidar (PSNDL) and SurePath™, compact devices delivering real-time 3D velocity and position data without relying on satellites. Some of Psionic’s earlier wins include being the recipient of multiple awards from the NASA Small Business Innovation Research & Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) program, and successfully completing precision landing flight tests with NASA using their PSNDL system on F/A-18 aircrafts. They’ve also already teamed up with heavy hitters like Astrobotic providing supporting technology in helping the Griffin Lander deliver NASA’s VIPER rover to the South Pole of the moon, proving Hampton Roads isn’t just a coastal gem – it’s a launchpad for cosmic disruption.

Now, with New North Ventures’ investment, Psionic is further positioned to accelerate next-gen solutions immune to 5G/6G interference and expand photonics chips for aviation autonomy and space ops. Jeremy Hitchcock, Co-Founder of New North Ventures sees the great need for this kind of investment saying, “Precision sensing and navigation are foundational to the next wave of autonomy in space and aerospace.” “Psionic has the ability to be the industry leader across these domains. New North Ventures’ operational company building expertise will set up Psionic for their next phase of growth” said Jerry Miller, Board Chairman of Psionic.

This isn’t isolated glory – it’s the Hampton Roads story in hyperdrive. This investment spotlights our region’s grit: From NASA Langley roots to global space dominance, we’re building an ecosystem where deep tech thrives, jobs explode, and Virginia leads the charge in areas like autonomous systems and advanced manufacturing.

Psionic’s leap forward amps up excitement for all of us – entrepreneurs eyeing pre-Series A hustles, researchers validating wild ideas, and collaborators hungry for partnerships. Hampton Roads is proving that innovation isn’t confined to Silicon Valley; it’s exploding right here, solving humanity’s biggest puzzles. Stay tuned – the future’s launching from our backyard.

 

See the official press release here.

 

Want to learn more about Psionic’s journey? Check out their episode of Disrupting the Tide, produced by Innovate Hampton Roads!