# Margo Naray

> Margo de Naray is the Chief Executive Officer of Solestial, Inc., a Tempe, Arizona-based space solar power startup pioneering radiation-hardened, ultrathin silicon solar cells that self-cure radiation damage at low operating temperatures. Appointed CEO in May 2025 following the company's $17M Series A funding round, she brings 20 years of cross-industry leadership spanning aerospace (Astra Space), agribusiness (Cargill), and semiconductor manufacturing (Intel). Solestial's technology promises to slash the cost of spacecraft solar arrays by roughly 90% compared to incumbent III-V multijunction technology, using automated manufacturing and widely available silicon to make reliable space-grade solar power accessible at scale.

- **Role:** Chief Executive Officer at Solestial, Inc.
- **Organizations:** Solestial, Inc., Astra Space Inc., Cargill, Intel Corporation
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** B.S.E in Industrial Engineering, University of Michigan, M.S.E in Systems Engineering / Dual MS in Business Administration and Systems Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- **Known for:** Appointed CEO of Solestial, Inc. following $17M Series A funding round in May 2025, Led Astra Space's electric propulsion/Hall effect thruster business as SVP & GM (2022-2025), Managed multinational animal nutrition business at Cargill Aqua Nutrition as Managing Director

## Career timeline

- **2001-2005** — Earned B.S.E in Industrial Engineering at University of Michigan
- **2006-2008** — Operations Manager / Manufacturing Engineer at Intel Corporation
- **2008-2010** — Pursued dual MS in Business Administration and Systems Engineering at MIT
- **2010-2016** — Joined Cargill in strategic marketing, technology, and commercial leadership roles
- **2016-2022** — Managing Director at Cargill Aqua Nutrition, leading multinational animal nutrition business with focus on technology-driven market expansion
- **2022-2025** — Senior Vice President & General Manager, Space Products and Services at Astra Space Inc., leading electric propulsion/Hall effect thruster business
- **2025-05** — Appointed Chief Executive Officer of Solestial, Inc. following $17M Series A funding round led by AE Ventures
- **2025-07** — Solestial awarded $1.2M SpaceWERX Direct-to-Phase II contract for fast-to-manufacture multiorbital solar array wing
- **2026-01** — Solestial acquires Meyer Burger equipment, enabling complete in-house silicon solar cell processing

## Achievements

- Appointed CEO of Solestial, Inc. following $17M Series A funding round in May 2025
- Led Astra Space's electric propulsion/Hall effect thruster business as SVP & GM (2022-2025)
- Managed multinational animal nutrition business at Cargill Aqua Nutrition as Managing Director
- Under her leadership, Solestial secured $1.2M SpaceWERX Direct-to-Phase II contract in July 2025
- Oversaw Solestial's acquisition of Meyer Burger equipment to enable full in-house silicon solar cell manufacturing
- Dual MIT MS degrees in Systems Engineering and Business Administration
- 20+ years cross-industry leadership spanning semiconductor, agribusiness, aerospace, and space manufacturing

## Latest updates

- **2026-01** — Solestial acquires Meyer Burger manufacturing equipment, enabling complete in-house processing from silicon wafer to finished solar cell
- **2025-07** — Solestial awarded $1.2M SpaceWERX Direct-to-Phase II contract to develop fast-to-manufacture multiorbital solar array wing for small satellites
- **2025-05** — Appointed CEO of Solestial, Inc. following $17M Series A funding round led by AE Ventures

## Links

- Website: https://solestial.com/leadership/margo-de-naray/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/margodenaray/
- Twitter/X: https://x.com/MargoPOV
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/margodenaray/

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/margo-naray
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-05-12