Kevin Weil, ex-OpenAI Executive, Appointed to Stoke Space Board

Kevin Weil, a seasoned tech executive with experience from Twitter, Meta, Planet Labs, and OpenAI, has joined the board of Stoke Space, a well-capitalized Seattle startup focused on creating reusable rockets to rival SpaceX.

“For me, it’s quite clear,” Stoke CEO Andy Lapsa remarked in a TechCrunch interview regarding his initial meeting with Weil when he co-founded Stoke in 2020, shortly after Y Combinator’s winter batch. “With an engineering background, launching a company was new to me—especially fundraising and understanding Silicon Valley’s dynamics. My network was limited. Kevin [who invested early along with his wife Elizabeth through their fund Scribble Ventures] provided the expertise I needed to navigate fundraising and get the company launched.

Their collaboration continued as Lapsa raised $1.34 billion, including a $510 million Series D funding round in 2025, aimed at developing a quickly reusable rocket set for flight this year. It seems like the perfect time for Weil to join the board as a director to help scale the company further. Stoke did not make Weil available for comments, nor did he respond to queries from TechCrunch.

Weil’s previous roles have largely revolved around digital products and platforms, which might not directly align with Stoke’s current objectives. Most recently, he spearheaded OpenAI’s initiative to accelerate scientific research and left the company in April after the program’s results were integrated more extensively within the frontier lab. Prior to that, he served as OpenAI’s chief product officer from June 2024 to October 2025.

Weil’s recent role raises an intriguing question: OpenAI’s Sam Altman was reportedly exploring a potential investment in Stoke last year, viewing it as a competitor to SpaceX. Could Weil bridge the gap between the premier AI lab and a prospective space partner? Lapsa opted not to comment on “gossip and rumors” concerning OpenAI, stressing that Weil’s primary focus is solely on Stoke.

Stoke is working on a fully reusable rocket named Nova, designed for multiple flights. No other company has achieved this, with SpaceX coming closest through its ambitious Starship rocket. The difficulties of reusing a rocket—particularly its ability to withstand extreme heat during reentry—have deterred even the most well-funded space investors. Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin, where Lapsa formerly worked, has considered this strategy but has not prioritized it.

Nevertheless, with SpaceX’s notable stock market launch—its valuation heavily relying on Elon Musk’s assurances of operational missions for Starship this year—Lapsa’s foresight appears to be validated. Despite significant investments in new launch vehicles, a shortage of available rockets persists, making the next company to launch an affordably-priced rocket a potential frontrunner in the market.

“The world is starting to see that launch challenges remain unresolved,” Lapsa commented. “At one time, the idea of complete, rapid reuse seemed unrealistic… but now it’s becoming the norm, and people are starting to recognize its inevitability.”

Interestingly, the notion of establishing distributed data centers in space to utilize solar energy and avoid political constraints on Earth has captured the attention of some venture capitalists. The primary challenge of this endeavor lies in the high costs involved in sending computer chips into orbit. Space data centers “only become feasible with complete rapid reuse,” Lapsa pointed out, which could set Stoke apart as its rocket begins its flights.

Military contracts are also vital for the company’s growth, and Weil’s experience in connecting Silicon Valley with the Department of Defense is invaluable; he was among four tech leaders who joined the US Army Reserve to bolster recruitment and collaboration between the Army and the tech industry. This is not Weil’s first experience in the space sector, as he previously served as president of Planet Labs, a satellite earth observation firm, during its public listing in 2021.

Regardless of the strategic insights Weil may offer as the company aims to deliver an operational launch vehicle, effective execution is paramount.

“We’ve mitigated a significant portion of the risk, but there’s still more to tackle,” Lapsa mentioned. “We’ll commit as much effort as needed, and we will move forward when we’re prepared.”