News
Eric Schmidt joins Relativity Space as CEO, bankrolling the rocket startup since October
Mar 10, 2025
Key Points
- Eric Schmidt, former Google CEO, joins Relativity Space as chief executive and has been the primary financial backer since October 2024.
- Schmidt is taking a hands-on leadership role at the medium-lift rocket startup, which develops 3D-printed launch vehicles to compete with SpaceX's Falcon 9.
- The move signals a major capital commitment from a seasoned tech executive to a capital-intensive hardware business amid broader shifts in deep-tech manufacturing.
Summary
Eric Schmidt, the former Google CEO, joined Relativity Space as chief executive in October 2024 and has been the primary financial backer of the rocket startup. Schmidt is taking a hands-on leadership role at the medium-lift launch vehicle company, which develops 3D-printed rockets to compete with SpaceX's Falcon 9. The segment provides no details on valuation, fundraising amounts, or the specific terms of his role beyond the CEO title. Schmidt's move from software at Google to hardware manufacturing in rockets reflects a broader shift among seasoned tech executives toward deep-tech and manufacturing plays as AI and robotics reshape production economics.
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