Inside The Startup Launching AI Data Centers Into Space

Starcloud recently made history by launching a satellite with an NVIDIA H100 into orbit — the first time a GPU that powerful has ever operated in space. It's the first step toward building AI data centers in orbit, powered by continuous sunlight and cooled by radiating heat into deep space. Their approach could one day rival the world's biggest data centers while using less energy, zero fresh water, and far lower emissions. In this episode of Hard Tech, YC's Aaron Epstein visits Starcloud's HQ, where co-founders Philip Johnston, Ezra Feilden, and Adi Oltean explain how they built a working prototype in just 15 months — and why big tech is racing to space for AI compute.

Learn more about Starcloud: https://www.starcloud.com

Apply to Y Combinator: https://www.ycombinator.com/apply
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Chapters:
00:00 – A New Industry: Data Centers In Space
00:52 – Making History
01:29 – Their Mission
02:16 – Building A Demo Satellite
02:50 – Why Compute Belongs in Space
03:51 – Energy Demands On Earth
04:31 – Responding to Skeptics
06:03 – Founder Origin Story
06:43 – Pivot From Space Based Solar To Orbital Data Centers
07:22 – YC And The Power Of Taking Risks
07:22 – Tour Of StarCloud HQ
10:39 – The StarCloud-1 Launch
11:40 – Next Launch in 2026