Top 7 El Segundo Startups to Watch in 2026
El Segundo hosts a variety of startups, with many working on complex technologies in aerospace and energy. These companies are building everything from portable nuclear reactors to defense systems.
Varda, for instance, is developing manufacturing in space, and cybersecurity firm Saviynt has raised $375M.
Below is our list of 7 El Segundo startups worth keeping an eye on.
Failory's Top 7 Picks
Saviynt offers a cloud-native identity governance platform that helps businesses secure their critical applications and data. Their solutions are designed to unify and automate access management, simplifying security for complex enterprise environments.
| Year Founded | 2010 |
| Founders | Amit Saha, Atul Vij, Sachin Nayyar |
| Funding Amount | $375M |
| Startup Size | Major Organization (1,001-5,000) |
| Last Funding Status | Debt Financing |
| Top Investors | HPS Investment Partners, PNC Bank, Carrick Capital Partners |
Radiant builds portable nuclear microreactors that provide a clean energy alternative to fossil fuels. Their compact, factory-built reactors are designed for rapid deployment to power remote communities and critical infrastructure.
| Year Founded | 2019 |
| Founders | Bob Urberger, Doug Bernauer |
| Funding Amount | $218.8M |
| Startup Size | Mid-Size Team (51-250) |
| Last Funding Status | Series C |
| Top Investors | Andreessen Horowitz, Alumni Ventures, Tribe Capital, Draper Associates, StepStone Group |
Varda builds and launches autonomous space factories designed to produce materials in zero gravity. Their capsules return these products to Earth, aiming to unlock breakthroughs in pharmaceuticals and other high-value industries.
| Year Founded | 2021 |
| Founders | Daniel Marshall, Delian Asparouhov, Will Bruey |
| Funding Amount | $328M |
| Startup Size | Mid-Size Team (51-250) |
| Last Funding Status | Series C |
| Top Investors | General Catalyst, Alumni Ventures, Khosla Ventures, Founders Fund, Lux Capital |
Savage X Fenty creates inclusive lingerie and apparel designed to celebrate all body types and skin tones. The direct-to-consumer brand is recognized for challenging traditional beauty standards within the fashion industry.
| Year Founded | 2017 |
| Founders | Robyn Rihanna Fenty |
| Funding Amount | $310M |
| Startup Size | Mid-Size Team (51-250) |
| Last Funding Status | Series C |
| Top Investors | Advent International, L Catterton, Neuberger Berman, ACME Capital, Polaris Partners |
Picogrid develops a mission control platform that unifies autonomous systems like drones and sensors for defense and industrial use. The software provides a common operating picture by integrating sensor data, AI analytics, and communications into a single interface.
| Year Founded | 2020 |
| Founders | Martin Slosarik, Zane Mountcastle |
| Funding Amount | $13.1M |
| Startup Size | Lean Team (11-50) |
| Last Funding Status | Grant |
| Top Investors | Alumni Ventures, Initialized Capital, Credo Ventures, US Department of Energy, DOMiNO Ventures |
Skyryse develops flight automation technology to make flying any aircraft safer and more accessible for everyone. Their universal operating system, FlightOS, is designed to automate complex flight controls and simplify the entire experience of piloting.
| Year Founded | 2016 |
| Founders | Mark Groden, Mitch Adler |
| Funding Amount | $233.5M |
| Startup Size | Mid-Size Team (51-250) |
| Last Funding Status | Series B |
| Top Investors | Eclipse Ventures, Venrock, Industry Ventures, Cantos, Fidelity |
Castelion builds defense hardware systems designed for pressing national security challenges. They apply modern development and manufacturing processes to rapidly deliver new capabilities to the defense sector.
| Year Founded | 2022 |
| Founders | Andrew Kreitz, Bryon Hargis, Sean Pitt |
| Funding Amount | $119.6M |
| Startup Size | Mid-Size Team (51-250) |
| Last Funding Status | Series A |
| Top Investors | Andreessen Horowitz, Lightspeed Venture Partners, BlueYard Capital, Cantos, Silent Ventures |
