Third Annual Roundtable on Value and Benefit Creation in Commercial Space Held in New York City

Wednesday, September 5, 2018

On September 5, 2018, Secure World Foundation (SWF), Reed Smith LLP, and the Heinlein Prize Trust held a small, invite-only Roundtable on Value and Benefit Creation in Commercial Space at the New York City offices of Reed Smith. The event was structured as an interactive investor and industry actor discussion of how developments in commercial space are creating and sustaining value and benefit beyond the start-up, angel and venture capital phases, with a focus on how value and benefit from non-traditional commercial space activities are identified, described, and communicated. The event was a follow-up to similar events held in New York City and Washington DC in 2016 and 2017. 

The Roundtable brought together a cross section of space industry representatives, including both service and hardware providers, as well as investors from various stages of the funding cycle including angel investors, venture capital firms, and institutional investors. During the day three “Discussions” were held, each focusing on a thematic topic. Each Discussion began with short presentations from invited speakers; followed by a moderated dialogue between all attendees and participants.

Themes discussed during the Roundtable included: the changing perception of risk in commercial space; the role of public-private partnerships; and the importance of commonly terminology in commercial space development.  A summary report will be published by SWF in the near future. For more information, please contact SWF Director of Private Sector Programs Mr. Ian Christensen.