With Sift Stack, two ex-SpaceX engineers are bringing the software that helpedlaunch rockets to the factory floor

Sift Stack, founded by ex-SpaceX engineers, is transforming manufacturing software with AI-driven solutions. The company, targeting clients in aerospace and defense, focuses on efficient data management from complex machines. The recent AI advancements have shifted their business model, emphasizing the importance of robust data infrastructure, which attracted a $42 million investment round in 2025.

Key Points

• Sift Stack was founded in 2022 by Karthik Gollapudi and Austin Spiegel, who previously worked at SpaceX.
• The company focuses on software tools to support the design and manufacturing of complex machines like spacecraft.
• Sift Stack aims to provide an advanced data management system to handle telemetry data from manufacturing processes.
• The surge in AI tools for data analysis has changed the company's focus towards data infrastructure.
• They have secured a $42 million Series B funding in 2025, with a $274 million valuation, led by StepStone and other investors.

Relevance

• The rise of AI and automation in manufacturing relates to broader trends towards digitization and efficiency in various industries.
• Jeff Bezos's $100 billion fund to automate factories illustrates the growing investment in physical manufacturing.
• Sift Stack's emergence aligns with a shift where hardware innovation increasingly relies on sophisticated software solutions.

Sift Stack's approach demonstrates the crucial interplay between AI and manufacturing, heralding a transformative phase for data management in advanced industries, highlighted by significant investments and shifting business strategies.