The former Disney Channel star Bridgit Mendler currently holds the position of CEO at a space startup named “Expect the Unexpected.”
Bridgit Mendler, a former Disney star best known for her role as Teddy Duncan on Disney Channel’s ‘Good Luck Charlie,’ has recently launched a startup focused on outer space communications. Mendler co-founded this space-oriented venture with her husband, Griffin Cleverly.
Bridgit Mendler has added to her impressive resume by taking on a new role.
On Monday, the 31-year-old former Disney Channel star announced on X, formerly known as Twitter, that she would be the CEO of Northwood Space, a startup working to establish a “data highway between earth and space.”
“We are creating shared ground infrastructure from scratch to enhance space accessibility. We have a lot of work ahead, but that’s the exciting part,” Mendler, known for her role in Good Luck Charlie, shared in her announcement.
The company has secured $6.3 million in funding, according to Mendler’s tweet.
In a surprising follow-up tweet, Mendler revealed that she is a mother to a 4-year-old boy.
“The other news I wanted to share is I’m a mama to a sweet 4yo boy. Started fostering in 2021, adopted near Christmas of 2022. I’m so fortunate — being a parent is the greatest gift and most defining experience there is. That’s my news for now folks,” her tweet revealed.
Although Mendler is now openly discussing motherhood for the first time, she previously mentioned to CNBC that she “completely fell in love with space law” while working at the Federal Communications Commission’s Space Bureau.
“Space is becoming more accessible in many ways, but sending data to and from space remains challenging. Finding an access point to communicate with your satellite can be difficult,” she explained.
Mendler collaborated with the agency in 2022 and pursued studies at the University of Southern California, MIT, and Harvard, as detailed in her LinkedIn profile.
The multi-talented Mendler shared that the idea for the company emerged while spending time with her family in New Hampshire during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“While others were making sourdough starters, we were constructing antennas from whatever materials we could find at Home Depot … and receiving data from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration satellites,” Mendler recounted to CNBC.
Reportedly, Mendler’s husband, Griffin Cleverly, whom she wed in October 2019, will be the startup’s chief technology officer.
Speaking about their wedding in November 2019, Mendler told Extra, “It was magical… There was a beautiful sunset, and there was even a guy building a sandcastle behind us while we exchanged our vows — in his board shorts, crafting this incredible sandcastle. During our vows, I could see him in my line of sight.”
Apart from her acting career, Mendler has also made a name for herself as a musician, having launched her first album, Hello My Name Is…, in 2012 and the EP Nemesis in 2016.