Key facts
- Kevin Weil, formerly of OpenAI, has joined the board of directors at Stoke Space.
- Stoke Space is developing reusable rockets to compete with SpaceX.
- The company has raised $1.34 billion in funding.
- Weil's background includes work at Twitter, Meta, Planet Labs, and leading OpenAI's scientific research acceleration efforts.
- Stoke Space aims for its rocket, Nova, to be fully reusable.
Kevin Weil, a prominent tech executive with experience at Twitter, Meta, Planet Labs, and most recently as head of OpenAI's scientific research acceleration efforts, has joined the board of directors at Stoke Space. The Seattle-based startup is focused on building rapidly reusable rockets to challenge established players like SpaceX.
Stoke CEO Andy Lapsa stated that Weil's expertise in fundraising and Silicon Valley networks was crucial in the company's early stages. Stoke has secured substantial funding, totaling $1.34 billion, including a $510 million Series D round in 2025, to develop its fully reusable rocket, Nova.
Weil's background in digital products and platforms, while not directly aligned with rocket engineering, is seen as valuable for scaling the company. His previous role at OpenAI has also fueled speculation about potential connections between the AI lab and Stoke Space, particularly given OpenAI CEO Sam Altman's reported interest in investing in space ventures.
Stoke Space aims to achieve full and rapid reusability with its Nova rocket, a feat not yet accomplished by any company, though SpaceX's Starship is seen as the closest competitor. The company believes this capability is essential for future applications like distributed data centers in space. Weil's prior experience in the space industry as president of Planet Labs and his work bridging Silicon Valley and the Department of Defense are also considered assets for Stoke Space, which anticipates military contracts as a key to its success.