# Bridgit Mendler

> Bridgit Mendler is the co-founder and CEO of Northwood Space, an El Segundo startup mass-producing phased-array ground stations to move data between satellites and Earth. A former Disney Channel lead (Teddy Duncan on Good Luck Charlie) and platinum-selling pop singer, she pivoted through the MIT Media Lab and Harvard Law School into deep-tech, and by early 2026 had raised more than $100 million and won a $49.8M U.S. Space Force contract to modernize the Satellite Control Network.

- **Role:** CEO & Co-Founder at Northwood Space
- **Organizations:** Northwood Space, MIT Media Lab, Harvard Law School, Walt Disney Company (former)
- **From:** Washington, D.C., United States
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** Anthropology (attended, did not finish), University of Southern California, M.S. in Media Arts and Sciences; PhD candidate, Center for Constructive Communication, MIT Media Lab, Juris Doctor (J.D.), Harvard Law School
- **Known for:** Raised over $100M for Northwood Space, including a $100M Series B (Jan 2026), Won a $49.8M U.S. Space Force contract to upgrade the Satellite Control Network, Platinum/gold-certified single 'Ready or Not' (2012)

## Career timeline

- **2007-2009** — Early film roles in Alice Upside Down, The Clique, and Labor Pains
- **2009-2012** — Recurring as Juliet van Heusen on Disney's Wizards of Waverly Place
- **2010-2014** — Lead role as Teddy Duncan on Good Luck Charlie; sings the theme 'Hang in There Baby'
- **2011** — Stars as Olivia White in the Disney film Lemonade Mouth
- **2012** — Debut album 'Hello My Name Is...'; single 'Ready or Not' certified platinum
- **2016** — Releases independent EP 'Nemesis' and tours it
- **2017** — Joins MIT Media Lab as a Director's Fellow
- **2019-2020** — Earns M.S. from MIT; final acting role in Netflix's Merry Happy Whatever
- **2023** — Co-founds Northwood Space; raises $6.3M
- **2024** — Earns J.D. from Harvard Law; Northwood emerges from stealth with major VC backing
- **2026** — Raises $100M Series B and wins $49.8M U.S. Space Force contract to upgrade the Satellite Control Network

## Achievements

- Raised over $100M for Northwood Space, including a $100M Series B (Jan 2026)
- Won a $49.8M U.S. Space Force contract to upgrade the Satellite Control Network
- Platinum/gold-certified single 'Ready or Not' (2012)
- Debut album 'Hello My Name Is...' peaked at No. 30 on the Billboard 200
- Admitted to the MIT Media Lab without an undergraduate degree or a tech background
- Earned a J.D. from Harvard Law School (2024)
- Common Sense Media 'Role Model of the Year' (2012)

## Latest updates

- **2026-01** — Northwood closes a $100M Series B, pushing total funding past $136M.
- **2026-01** — Northwood wins a $49.8M U.S. Space Force contract to upgrade the Satellite Control Network.
- **2026-06** — Speaks at Fortune Brainstorm Tech in Aspen on rejection, risk, and the space economy's next frontier.

## Links

- Website: https://northwoodspace.io
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bridgit-mendler
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/NorthwoodSpace

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/bridgit-mendler
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-07-01