Celeste Ford
Aerospace engineer and entrepreneur who founded aerospace-engineering firm Stellar Solutions in 1995 and now leads space-tech VC firm Stellar Ventures as Managing Director.
Celeste Ford is an aerospace engineer and serial entrepreneur based in Palo Alto, CA. She founded Stellar Solutions, Inc. in 1995, a global aerospace engineering firm serving defense, intelligence, civil, and commercial space clients, and served as its CEO until 2018 (she remains Board Chair). Early in her career she worked as a guidance-and-control engineer at COMSAT and contributed to NASA's Space Shuttle Program at the Aerospace Corporation. In 2022 she launched Stellar Ventures, a space-technology-focused venture firm; the firm closed its first vehicle, the $23M SV Andromeda Fund, in April 2023. She holds a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering from Notre Dame and an M.S. in Aerospace Engineering from Stanford.
Overview
- Role
- Managing Director, Stellar Ventures; Founder & Board Chair, Stellar Solutions
- Based in
- Palo Alto, CA
- Prior experience
- Stellar Solutions Inc. (founded 1995; CEO until 2018), Aerospace Corporation, COMSAT
- www.linkedin.com/in/ceford/
Companies0
No linked records yet.
Affiliated funds1
Frequently asked
- Who is Celeste Ford?
- Celeste Ford is an aerospace engineer and serial entrepreneur based in Palo Alto, CA. She founded Stellar Solutions, Inc. in 1995, a global aerospace engineering firm serving defense, intelligence, civil, and commercial space clients, and served as its CEO until 2018 (she remains Board Chair). Early in her career she worked as a guidance-and-control engineer at COMSAT and contributed to NASA's Space Shuttle Program at the Aerospace Corporation. In 2022 she launched Stellar Ventures, a space-technology-focused venture firm; the firm closed its first vehicle, the $23M SV Andromeda Fund, in April 2023. She holds a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering from Notre Dame and an M.S. in Aerospace Engineering from Stanford.
- What is Celeste Ford's role?
- Celeste Ford is Managing Director, Stellar Ventures; Founder & Board Chair, Stellar Solutions, based in Palo Alto, CA.
- Where did Celeste Ford work before?
- Celeste Ford's prior roles include Stellar Solutions Inc. (founded 1995; CEO until 2018), Aerospace Corporation, COMSAT.
Sources & citations3
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Founder (1995) and Board Chair of Stellar Solutions; CEO until 2018; education (Notre Dame B.S., Stanford M.S.)
Stellar Solutions: Celeste Volz Ford — LeadershipVerified2026-08-15 - 3
Launched Stellar Ventures in 2022; conviction-based investment approach
Forbes: A Woman-Led VC Firm Fuels The Future Of The Space EconomyReported2025-07-02