ASU Spinout Scales Space Solar Technology with New Arizona Investment

Arizona’s innovation pipeline continues to produce companies solving highly technical challenges with global applications.

Phoenix-based Swift Coat, a nanotechnology company developing advanced coatings that improve solar panel performance in space, has secured a $250,000 investment from the Partnership for Economic Innovation through its Applied Research Centers program. The funding will help accelerate research, product development, and commercialization of the company's proprietary thin-film nanoparticle coating technology.

Swift Coat began as a research project at Arizona State University before evolving into a commercial aerospace supplier. Since its founding, the company has transitioned from a university laboratory into a dedicated manufacturing facility in North Phoenix, positioning itself to serve the rapidly growing satellite industry.

The company has also built significant momentum with federal customers, securing millions of dollars in aerospace contracts, including work supporting the U.S. Air Force. Those projects are helping establish Arizona as a meaningful contributor to the nation's expanding space economy.

As demand for satellites continues to grow over the coming years, the need for more efficient and reliable power generation in orbit will increase alongside it. Swift Coat's technology is designed to improve how much sunlight solar panels can convert into usable energy, allowing spacecraft to generate more power without increasing panel size.

The technology extends beyond aerospace as well. The same coating platform has potential applications across terrestrial solar energy, creating opportunities in both the space and clean energy sectors.

Swift Coat's growth also highlights the strength of Arizona's commercialization ecosystem. Support from organizations such as the Partnership for Economic Innovation and the Arizona Commerce Authority helps bridge the gap between university research and market-ready companies by providing capital, strategic connections, and commercialization resources.

Today, the company employs a growing team primarily composed of Arizona State University graduates and is expanding both its manufacturing capacity and workforce as demand increases.

Swift Coat represents another example of Arizona-grown research evolving into commercially viable technology with national significance. As more deep technology companies emerge from the state's universities and research institutions, Arizona continues to strengthen its position as a destination for advanced manufacturing, aerospace innovation, and next-generation technology companies.