Bridgit Mendler: From Disney star to space entrepreneur

While you might not immediately recognize the name "Mendler," her face is likely familiar. Now 31 years old, the actor graced Disney Channel screens on shows such as Good Luck Charlie, Wizards of Waverly Place, and Jonas between 2009 and 2012.

During her late teens, Mendler was already expanding her repertoire in another field: music.

Throughout her career, Mendler has released numerous songs, including tracks for her 2011 movie Lemonade Mouth. More recently, she has collaborated with other artists, releasing songs such as 'Diving' in 2017.

Beyond acting and singing, Mendler has demonstrated her versatility. In 2017, she embarked on an academic journey at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where she engaged as a student and researcher at the MIT Media Lab.

Following her doctoral studies at MIT, she pursued further education at Harvard Law School.

One might assume Mendler would take a break, but instead, she is launching a startup called Northwood Space, aiming to revolutionize satellite data transmission.

In an interview with CNBC, Mendler revealed her newfound passion for space law, cultivated during her time at the Federal Communications Commission’s Space Bureau.

Through Northwood Space, her vision is to establish a data highway between Earth and space, streamlining the transmission of data to and from satellites.

Reflecting on her startup, Mendler elaborated: "The vision is a data highway between Earth and space. Space is becoming more accessible in many ways, but transmitting data to and from space remains challenging. Finding access points to communicate with satellites is a significant hurdle."