Smallsat launch ventures are marching into the new decade en masse as they continue to defy a widely anticipated market shake-out, even after one of the better-funded hopefuls fell into bankruptcy late last year.

Estimates for the number of smallsat launch vehicles under development still range beyond 130, which is thought by many analysts to be easily in excess of even the most optimistic demand forecasts. One of the main reasons to question this anticipated launch demand is...

Financing success is concentrating among certain players and sectors of satellite, as only a handful of companies dominate investment amid increasing alliances involving some of these ventures.

Only 11 companies account for about…