Latest news with #AlphaFunds
Time of India
03-08-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Who is Arvinder Singh Bahal? Indian‑origin businessman heading to space with Blue Origin; licensed pilot and globe‑trotter
Arvinder Singh Bahal Indian-origin Arvinder Singh Bahal , a naturalized US citizen, is set to soar to the edge of space on the upcoming space tourism flight of Blue Origin , the private aerospace company founded by billionaire Jeff Bezos. Bahal will be part of a diverse six-member crew. The line-up includes Gökhan Erdem, a Turkish businessman, space enthusiast and photographer; Deborah Martorell, a Puerto Rican meteorologist and journalist; and Lionel Pitchford from England, who has worked as a teacher, translator, and tour guide in Spain for over four decades. Also joining the mission are JD Russell, an American serial entrepreneur and founder of the tech-focused venture capital firm Alpha Funds, and Justin Sun, a Chinese crypto billionaire and founder of TRON, a blockchain-based decentralized platform. About Arvinder Singh Bahal Bahal, who is nicknamed "Arvi," is 79-years-old, and was born in Agra, Uttar Pradesh. He is a real estate investor by profession. "A lifelong traveller and adventurer, 'Arvi' has visited every country in the world, the North and South Poles, and skydived Mount Everest and the Pyramids of Giza,' the Blue Origin statement read. 'He holds a private pilot's license and also flies helicopters,' it added. The mission Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket carrying the crew will lift off from the company's Launch Site One (Corn Ranch) near Van Horn, Texas, on Sunday. The launch window opens at 7:30 am CDT / 12:30 pm UTC (6 pm in India). The rocket has taken 70 people above the Kármán line (the internationally recognised boundary of space) before the current mission. The flight, Blue Origin's 14th crewed one to to suborbital space, will last 11 minutes. It will be New Shepard's 34th mission and its fifth this year.
Miami Herald
13-06-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Blue Origin Astronaut J.D. Russell Launches Alpha Funds to Propel Aerospace Innovation
debuts with flagship project Alpha Aerospace to drive next-generation aerospace technologies ODESSA, FL / ACCESS Newswire / June 13, 2025 / J.D. Russell, Blue Origin astronaut and serial entrepreneur in real estate investment and management, announces the official launch of Alpha Funds ( a visionary investment platform dedicated to advancing frontier technologies. The firm's inaugural initiative, Alpha Aerospace ( aims to accelerate innovation in the aerospace sector with a mission aligned closely to Russell's own journey and values shaped during his time with Blue Origin. Russell was a crew member on Blue Origin's New Shepard 8th human spaceflight, following in the footsteps of pioneering figures such as Jeff Bezos, William Shatner, Michael Strahan, and Wally Funk. His experience aboard New Shepard ignited a renewed commitment to advancing humanity's role in space and inspired the creation of Alpha Funds. Alpha Funds will serve as a catalyst for investing in early- and growth-stage companies pushing the boundaries of aerospace, space exploration, and related high-tech industries. With Russell's deep experience in business and spaceflight, the fund seeks to provide not only capital but strategic guidance to bold ventures aiming to reshape humanity's future in the skies and beyond. "Space changed my perspective," said J.D. Russell, Founder and CEO of Alpha Funds. "Alpha Funds is a platform for those who believe that investing in the edge of innovation isn't just financially smart-it's our responsibility. With Alpha Aerospace, we're starting with what I know best: space, flight, and the frontier spirit." Alpha Aerospace, the fund's first flagship project, will focus on backing breakthrough aerospace technologies, launch systems, propulsion innovations, and next-generation spacecraft. The initiative reflects a commitment to a long-term vision of making space more accessible, sustainable, and economically viable to build a future where millions live and work in space. Russell, who has founded and scaled multiple successful software companies and real estate management companies, brings a unique blend of entrepreneurial acumen, operational discipline, and mission-driven passion to the venture capital world. For more information on Alpha Funds, visit learn more about Alpha Aerospace, visit Media Contact: press@ Contact Information: Lowell Sheets Marketing Agentpress@ SOURCE: Sheets and Associates press release
