About Rakiura
Follow real astrophysics research. Fund the people doing it.
Rakiura connects you directly with working astrophysics labs — the people studying black holes, exoplanets, and gravitational waves — so you can follow the research as it happens and support it directly. No institution standing in between.
Who we are
Most science happens out of view. Results reach the public years later, flattened into a headline and stripped of the uncertainty and the work that made them real — while the labs doing it spend a punishing share of their time chasing the next grant.
Rakiura works on both ends of that. Real astrophysics labs publish in public — the data, the dead ends, the open questions they're still working through — and the people who care can follow along and fund the work directly. Depth over headlines, behind-the-scenes over polish, and a direct line from the lab to the people backing it.
Our mission
Remove the barriers between real research and the people who want to be part of it — connect working astrophysics labs with the people who want to follow and fund their work, and send that support straight to the labs doing it.
Our vision
We are building Rakiura to be mission-locked: a platform whose incentives point the same direction as the scientists and the public backing them. No ads — we'd rather be funded by the people who want this to exist. Every choice we make, from pricing to product, is meant to fund more science, not extract from it.
What we stand for
Open, not exclusive
We won't replicate the university's raise-the-bar-to-keep-people-out model. Membership, not a moat — if you're curious enough to show up, there's a place for you here.
No ads, on purpose
Ads change what a platform optimizes for. We'd rather be funded by the people who actually want this to exist.
Carrot, not stick
No leaderboards, no rankings. What matters is whether you're learning and contributing — not where you rank against anyone else.
Priced to be reachable
Following real research shouldn't depend on where you live or what you can afford. Membership is priced to work in most places in the world.
Real research, not a highlight reel
This is the actual, ongoing work — uncertainty included — not simplified outreach for beginners.
The team
Chad Munroe
Co-founder
Chad is Rakiura's co-founder, leading growth, content, and how membership and support sustain the labs on the platform.
Mugdha Polimera
Co-founder — astrophysicist
Mugdha is Rakiura's co-founder, an astrophysicist who leads product and engineering.
Founding team
Ania Liu
Science communicator, Gravitational Wave Paleontology Lab
Ania Liu is the science communicator for the GW Paleontology lab, connecting gravitational-wave astrophysics research with the public.
Paul Dalba
Astronomer
Paul Dalba is an exoplanet astronomer who works with Rakiura on storytelling and awareness, and is the audio host and narrator for the Morningstar Missions to Venus podcast.
Shreejaya
Writer
Shreejaya writes with Rakiura, helping turn research from partner labs into stories people can follow.
Founding labs
The labs publishing on Rakiura today — follow their episodes, essays, and open questions, or check back as new labs join.
Three ways to get involved
Follow the research
Browse every lab publishing on Rakiura — episodes, essays, and the open questions they're working through.
Explore Discover →Work alongside a lab
Join a community research group and work on real problems alongside the scientists doing them — wherever you are in your career.
See research projects →Fund the work
Become a member and send support straight to the labs publishing the research you follow.
Become a member →Want to sponsor a lab, or partner with Rakiura? Reach out at hello@rakiura.co.