Key facts
- Blue Origin is seeking $10 billion in outside investment.
- The company's valuation is set at $130 billion.
- This is Blue Origin's first external funding round.
- Coatue Management is expected to lead with a $4 billion commitment.
- Jeff Bezos will contribute $2 billion.
Blue Origin, the space exploration company founded by Jeff Bezos, is reportedly seeking $10 billion in outside investment at a $130 billion valuation. This move marks a significant shift, as it is the first time in the company's 25-year history that it is opening to external funding. Coatue Management is expected to lead the round with a $4 billion commitment, with large institutional investors contributing another $4 billion and Bezos himself adding $2 billion. The fundraising effort comes after a recent explosion of its flagship New Glenn rocket during a static fire test in late May, which caused significant damage to the rocket and its launch pad. The company has been self-funded by Bezos, who reportedly invests several billion dollars annually, but is now seeking private capital to compete with rivals like SpaceX and fund ambitious projects including super heavy lift rockets, lunar landers, and satellite constellations.