Erik Franks, MSc
About Erik Franks, MSc
Erik Franks, MSc, serves as the CEO of Tesseract and has a diverse background in engineering and business. He has held various roles in companies such as Masten Space Systems and Benchmark Space Systems, and he has a strong educational foundation in economics and space studies.
Current Role at Tesseract
Erik Franks serves as the CEO of Tesseract, a position he has held since 2017. Under his leadership, the company has focused on innovative solutions in the space industry. Franks has been instrumental in guiding the strategic direction of Tesseract and fostering partnerships that enhance the company's capabilities and reach within the sector.
Previous Experience at Masten Space Systems
Erik Franks worked at Masten Space Systems in Mojave, California, from 2013 to 2015. He held the position of Rocket Systems Engineer for two years, where he contributed to the development and testing of rocket systems. Following this role, he served as Operations Manager at the same company from 2015 to 2017, overseeing various operational aspects of rocket development.
Education and Expertise
Erik Franks has a diverse educational background. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from The University of Texas at Austin, completing his studies from 1998 to 2003. He later pursued a Master of Science in Space Studies at the International Space University, graduating in 2013. Additionally, he participated in the Y Combinator startup accelerator program, focusing on Startup Entrepreneurship during the Summer 2017 Batch.
Career in Product Management and Consulting
Before his roles in the space industry, Erik Franks worked as a Product Management Analyst at OutlookSoft for six months in 2004 in the Austin, Texas area. In 2020, he briefly served as a Financial Consultant for Space for Humanity, contributing his financial expertise to support the organization's initiatives.
Current Role at Benchmark Space Systems
Since 2020, Erik Franks has also held the position of Director of Sales at Benchmark Space Systems in the Los Angeles Metropolitan Area. In this role, he is responsible for driving sales strategies and expanding the company's market presence in the space technology sector.