• Former Disney star Bridgit Mendler is now the CEO of a space startup called Northwood Space.
• The news surprised fans who were expecting her to release new music.
• Here's how Mendler has transitioned from being an actor to a CEO.

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Former Disney star Bridgit Mendler is now the CEO and cofounder of a space satellite startup, to the surprise of some of her fans.

Mendler is best known for playing Teddy Duncan in all four seasons of the Disney show "Good Luck Charlie," but has recently moved away from performing.

On Monday, CNBC exclusively reported that Mendler is launching the startup Northwood Space with business partner Shaurya Luthra and her husband, Griffin Cleverly. Northwood Space aims to mass-produce ground stations and antennas that connect to satellites, making them more accessible for space companies, CNBC reported.

Mendler, 31, shared the CNBC news report on X and said the startup had received $6.3 million in funding from investors. She also shared a link to Northwood Space's hiring page.

Mendler's announcement was praised by fans, with some comparing her to a real-life Barbie because of her multiple careers. Others fondly described her career trajectory as "insane."

On Tuesday, Mendler made another surprise announcement: telling fans on X that she and her husband adopted a boy in 2022, who is now four years old.

"I'm so lucky — being a parent is the biggest gift and most defining experience there is that's my news for now folks," she wrote on X.

Mendler first teased a big announcement on X in 2022, leading many fans to speculate she'd be releasing new music.

Here's the career path Mendler took to become a startup CEO.

Mendler had a breakout role on the Disney Channel but has been moving away from acting and music since 2019.

Mendler first appeared on the Disney Channel in 2009 at age 17, with a small role on "Jonas." She also appeared on Disney shows "The Wizards of Waverly Place" and "Jessie" and the Disney Channel Original Movie "Lemonade Mouth."

In 2010, Mendler landed the lead role in "Good Luck Charlie." While on the show, Mendler began releasing music, including the catchy pop song "Ready or Not."

After "Good Luck Charlie" ended in 2014, Mendler appeared in several more TV series and movies and released an EP in 2016. At this time, she started pivoting away from an entertainment career.

In 2013, Mendler began studying at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles and told Vice in 2016 that she majored in anthropology. In 2017, Mendler started working at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's (MIT) Media Lab. Mendler enrolled in the college's graduate program in 2018 and started a doctorate in philosophy there in 2020.

Mendler enrolled in a second doctorate, this time in law, at Harvard Law School in 2021.

Mendler also married her now-husband Cleverly in 2019.

It is unclear whether Mendler has permanently moved on from her acting and music career. Despite regular fan requests, she has not released new music since 2017 nor starred in a new series or movie since 2019.

But for now, Mendler's eyes seem set on the literal stars instead of Hollywood.