Disney Channel star Bridgit Mendler launches space data startup.

Bridgit Mendler, known for her roles in Disney Channel hits like “Good Luck Charlie” and “Lemonade Mouth,” is stepping into the world of entrepreneurship as the CEO of Northwood Space, a startup focused on satellite data. Mendler announced her new role in a tweet, revealing that Northwood Space will specialize in producing ground stations, the antennas on Earth that connect and transmit data to satellites.

The startup’s goal is to create a “data highway between Earth and space,” Mendler explained to CNBC. With the space industry expanding rapidly, Northwood Space aims to quickly develop and deploy ground stations to manage the increasing volume of data being sent to and from space.

Backed by $6.3 million in initial funding from investors like Founders Fund, Andreessen Horowitz, and Also Capital, Mendler’s interest in space was sparked during her time at the Federal Communications Commission’s Space Bureau in 2022. She and her husband, Griffin Cleverly, a co-founder and engineer, conceived the idea for Northwood Space during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Northwood Space plans to conduct its first satellite connection test later this year. Mendler highlighted the challenges of data transfer to and from space, noting that while space technology has advanced, the process of sending data remains complex.

The space industry is experiencing a satellite boom, with approximately 5,500 satellites orbiting Earth in 2022, a number projected to reach 58,000 by 2030. Despite this growth, ground architecture for data transfer has seen minimal changes since the 1960s, according to Northwood Space, making data transmission challenging due to the immense amount of information involved.

Mendler’s journey to entrepreneurship began with her rise to fame on Disney Channel, where she starred in shows like “Good Luck Charlie” and “Wizards of Waverly Place,” as well as the film “Lemonade Mouth.” Alongside her acting career, Mendler pursued a successful music career with hits like “Ready or Not” and “Hurricane,” which has 275 million Spotify streams. She continued to release music, including her 2016 EP “Nemesis,” while pursuing higher education.

Mendler’s academic pursuits include a master’s degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where she is also pursuing a Ph.D., and a law degree from Harvard University, where she was co-president of the space society. Her transition from entertainment to academia has garnered admiration from fans, with tweets about her resume and versatility often going viral.

Fans had speculated about Mendler’s upcoming announcement, anticipating new music. However, Mendler’s announcement of Northwood Space came as a surprise. She teased fans about the news, which she clarified would not be music-related, sparking curiosity and excitement among her followers.

Despite her shift away from music, Mendler remains connected to her fans, even humorously referencing her past music in response to a fan’s inquiry about new songs. As she embarks on her new role with Northwood Space, Mendler’s fans eagerly await her next chapter in the world of entrepreneurship.