You probably weren't expecting this one. Apparently, Disney star Bridgit Mendler decided not to just focus on the world of acting and also became CEO of a space company called Northwood Space. Mendler's startup aims to be a “data highway between Earth and Space”, as mentioned by CNBC.
Remember that the actress became known for appearing in real Disney hits. In fact, she not only appeared as a protagonist, in projects such as “Good Luck, Charlie” or “Lemonade Mouth”. In addition to her acting career, Bridgit Mendler even released music under her own name. Her journey as a singer was marked by songs such as “Hurricane” or “Ready Or Not”, which have hundreds of millions of streams on digital platforms.
Mendler has degrees in Law, Philosophy and Anthropology
Mendler previously made news for having given up stardom in favor of his studies. The actress left Disney to embark on an academic adventure that included her at the prestigious Harvard University, where she obtained her PhD in Law. She also attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of Southern California, where she graduated in Philosophy and Anthropology, respectively.
That said, the question remains: what exactly does Northwood Space do? As they themselves state, on their official website, the space startup aims to expand access to space, rethinking shared infrastructure for satellite backhaul. Therefore, by its own definition, Northwood aims to build pathways that are: designed for mass manufacturing, scalable and resilient.
The mission is to create a data highway between Earth and Space
Bridgit Mendler (via Nortwood Space)
According to the company, its concept began with a question they asked themselves: what would the future of satellite backhaul be like if we built it from scratch? (note: the term “backhaul” refers to the communications infrastructure that connects satellites in orbit to Earth).
In this way, the mission, as previously mentioned, involves creating a data highway between Earth and Space. In Northwood's view, in order to meet current requirements, “the unstable one-lane road for spatial data needs to adapt to a ten-lane highway that directs continuous traffic around the world.”
The startup was founded in 2023 and appears to be ambitious in terms of its objectives. The big highlight, as expected, is Bridgit Mendler, who became known for her appearances at Disney. However, the years have passed and she is the CEO of a space company. Unexpected, right?