Get To Know The CEO: Masha Petrova, PhD, Leading Huntsville-Based Nullspace To Transform Engineering Simulation Software
Petrova joined Nullspace two and a half years ago, as the company was coming out of stealth in Huntsville.
Masha Petrova, PhD knows that the non-engineering world might think her company, Nullspace, sounds pretty niche.
At its core, Nullspace develops software specifically for electrical engineers who are specifically designing new radar and antenna systems.
But in reality, the space is far from niche. Antenna and radar systems rely on RF (radio frequency) technology, which is used to make cell phone calls, GPS signals, Waymo movements, smart home devices, and modern war defense systems possible.
“It’s just about everywhere, but we usually don’t notice it because it is not visible,” Petrova explained to Hypepotamus.
RF engineering is complicated, often called the ‘black art of engineering.’ And building better software tools for this space is difficult. To create satellites and antennas that work in a specific situation, engineers rely on simulation software tools. But legacy systems are outdated, with many taking days or weeks to create each needed simulation project.
Nullspace, fresh off landing a seed round, is ready to go up against legacy players in the simulation software space with its new approach and compression algorithm.
Inside Nullspace
Nullspace’s software simulates how electromagnetics or RF devices work in real life. This ensures that engineers don’t have to build out a new product before knowing if it will work. Its product enables faster, more accurate simulations of large-scale, complex designs in RF and quantum hardware, cutting simulation times from days to hours.
This is crucial for engineers building out the technologies behind our modern communication options.
Nullspace, borrowing its name from a term in linear algebra, got its start in the defense world. The company is strategically headquartered in Huntsville, Alabama, known as “Rocket City.”
But the company sees itself as a dual-use technology, with both military and commercial applications. On top of strong defense use cases, Nullspace sees the aerospace and advanced communications industries as core audiences for its software.
Petrova told Hypepotamus that as the team is aware, they are the only US-based enterprise-focused electromagnetic simulation software company.
Get To Know The CEO
An aerospace engineer turned marketing executive, Petrova worked at other companies in the tech and deep tech world before joining Nullspace. She wanted to get back to her engineering roots and work on building a company, and learned about Nullspace through LinkedIn. Petrova said a mutual connection on the networking app helped her get in touch with the co-founders, who were spinning Nullspace out as a separate company at the time.
She joined Nullspace two and a half years ago, as the company was coming out of stealth in Huntsville.
While she admits that engineering simulation tools aren't the flashiest or most exciting part of the tech world, she has always been drawn to their potential.
Funding Nullspace
Nullspace recently raised a $2.5 million seed round. The round was led by Fathom Fund, a deep tech-focused firm out of Houston, Texas. Golden Seeds LLC and other strategic angel investors also wrote checks into the round.
Petrova told Hypepotamus that the funding will go towards ramping up hiring, marketing, and sales efforts. (The team is currently hiring for an engineer and an account manager, for those interested).
"At Fathom, we seek out companies that combine deep technical moats with clear paths to market dominance. Nullspace is a great example of that,” said Dr. Paul Sheng, managing partner at Fathom Fund, in a press statement. “The founders' PhD-level engineering backgrounds, combined with their extensive operational track records, have enabled them to build software solutions with an extraordinary level of maturity. “Nullspace is delivering much-needed modern physics simulation tools that customers are welcoming with open arms. In rapidly evolving markets like 5G, quantum computing, and spectrum management, this head start is invaluable.”
Following the funding news, Sheng will be joining Nullspace’s board of directors.
Prior to the seed round, Nullspace brought in angel investors and strategic advisors they met through Creative Destruction Labs’ manufacturing stream in Seattle.
Being a female founder in the deep tech space brought its own source of challenges, Petrova told Hypepotamus.
“Fundraising was a unique experience in the space as well. What we’re building is complicated…and investors are used to seeing men. It’s very rare to see a female CEO of a deep tech company.”
