ESA Business Applications is the go-to place for business ideas involving space in all areas of society and economy. Its mission is to support entrepreneurs in Europe in the development of business using satellite applications and space technology. The programme is designed to provide multiple entry points such as ESA Business Incubation Centres (ESA BICs), ESA Technology Transfer Brokers, ESA Business Application Ambassadors and the ESA Business Applications programme. It can also support ideas of transferring space technology into non-space markets or vice versa.

ESA Business Applications

SPEI is the organization of the economic development office of Canton Vaud Switzerland, providing financial aid to Canton Vaud startups

Service de la promotion de l'économie et de l'innovation (SPEI)

We want to build a world in which all humans can thrive. We believe that capital and business can solve the world’s grand challenges. Our impact goals are to make impact investing mainstream and to steward exponential technologies to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We invest in and support early stage impact tech startups, funds and projects, with a mission to solve the world’s most pressing problems through the use of exponential technologies. We believe that all investing needs to be impact investing. To meet our vision we lead by example and are creating a movement that other investors are following. Through our investment vehicles (Accelerators and Fund), Katapult Future Fest and Katapult Foundation we are building the impact investing field and attracting new capital. We are working on catalyzing HNWI, family offices and foundation capital into impact investing by both giving them opportunities to co-invest and by offering support and education. An important part of our thesis is not only finding businesses that are solving the world’s greatest challenges but also how we can contribute as an impact investor to stewarding technologies as a force for good. Technology can be a catalyst for good but also cause great harm. As the world adopts ever more transformative tech, we believe that maximizing the chance of good outcomes requires responsible stewardship and clear intentionality. We believe that the earlier in the company life-cycle this is made explicit, the greater the chance of positive impact. Active engagement and leveraging all aspects of Katapult supports our investees and cements a multi-stakeholder approach to decision making. We will set the standard for how to operate at the intersection of impact and tech. Through our focus on Ocean, Climate and Africa we take a holistic approach to solving society’s largest challenges. By promoting healthy oceans, a stable climate and sustainable food systems we drive towards building a thriving world for all.

Katapult

Seedrs is the leading online platform for investing in the equity of startups and other growth companies in Europe and has been named the most active investor in private companies in the UK. Seedr allows all types of investors invest in businesses they believe in and share in their success and allow all types of growth-focused businesses raise capital and business community in the process. The company do all of this through a simple, highly professional, online process that protects and empowers investors while helping businesses grow and generate returns

Seedrs

Banco Sabadell is a banking group that specializes in serving small and medium enterprises. It comprises of several banks, brands, subsidiaries, and associated banks. The company was founded in 1881 and is headquartered in Alicante, Spain.

Banco Sabadell

Business Angels Switzerland (BAS) is an association giving young entrepreneurs the opportunity to present their projects and start-up companies to seasoned investors and successful entrepreneurs. The aim of the presentation is to obtain financing for the project, coaching, or both.  The association's 69 members are split into two sections: the Swiss-German one, based in Zurich, and the Suisse Romande one, based in Lausanne. BAS is neither an investment fund nor a holding company: the decisions to invest are made by its members on a personal basis. BAS is thus not involved at all in its members’ investments.

Business Angels Switzerland (BAS)

We founded Great Stuff Ventures in 2018 with the goal to find and be inspired by the greatest technology entrepreneurs of the next decade and beyond.   We are a group of entrepreneurs and industry veterans investing their own capital in great people doing great stuff. For the daring builders of tomorrow. For the advocates of the can-do.

Great Stuff Ventures

Wegaw

We process remote sensing satellite data with artificial intelligence to monitor renewable energy sources like water & snow. Through these datasets we improve our clients energy forecasting capabilities helping them increase the energy production by 10% and their energy trading prices by 5%

We process remote sensing satellite data with artificial intelligence to monitor renewable energy sources like water &amp; snow. Through these datasets we improve our clients energy forecasting capabilities helping them increase the energy production by 10% and their energy trading prices by 5%

Technology providers that enhance satellite operations

Next-gen Satellites

WeGaw reveals ways to accelerate the renewable energy transition

SpinLaunch is a space technology company developing a kinetic launch system to provide low-cost and high-frequency access to space. Unlike traditional fuel-based rockets, SpinLaunch's system utilizes a ground-based, electric-powered centrifuge to accelerate payloads to hypersonic speeds before releasing them into the atmosphere. Its solution is capable of putting 200 kg-class satellites into low orbit. The firm claims this method significantly reduces environmental impact by ~95% compared to conventional rocket launches. Its electric-drive Orbital accelerator offers a revolutionary approach to space travel and significantly reduces the fuel needed to reach orbit by 4x, mitigates costs by 10x, and enables multiple launches per day.Suborbital Accelerator operates at speeds between 800 miph and 5,000 miph, and primarily serves as a testing platform for the Orbital Launch System. It allows customers to conduct tests and serves as a facility for long-term satellite qualification. The company’s first major milestone was the successful test of its suborbital accelerator at Spaceport America in New Mexico in October 2021, where a projectile was launched tens of thousands of feet at 20% power capacity. SpinLaunch also planned to launch small satellites into low-Earth orbit by 2026.SpinLaunch has also created a new type of highly affordable satellite. It claims that applying mass manufacturing techniques and simplifying the supply chain reduces costs without compromising performance. SpinLaunch’s satellites are specifically designed for mass accelerators but are also compatible with traditional launch systems and serve a variety of use cases, such as surveillance broadcasts, Internet of things (IoT), machine-to-machine communication (M2M), and emergency communication platforms.<h3>Key customers and partnerships</h3>In September 2023, SpinLaunch partnered with Sumitomo Corporation (Japan) for the global expansion of affordable and sustainable space services. SpinLaunch has also attracted significant interest and formed strategic partnerships with major organizations, including ATW Partners, Kleiner Perkins, and GV. In 2019, the Department of Defense signed a "launch prototype contract" with SpinLaunch to provide reliable and cost-effective launch services​.Funding and financialsIn September 2022, SpinLaunch secured USD 71 million in a Series B funding round led by ATW Partners to continue developing its launch system and satellite technologies​. In January 2020, the company raised USD 35 million from venture capitalists to aid the development of its kinetic launch system.

SpinLaunch

Rocket Lab is a global leader in launch services and space systems, offering a comprehensive range of solutions from satellite manufacturing to orbital launches. The company's primary launch vehicle, Electron, has become the second most frequently launched US rocket annually, having delivered over 190 satellites to orbit for various commercial and government partners. Electron is capable of carrying payloads of up to 300 kilograms to low Earth orbit. In addition to Electron, Rocket Lab has developed HASTE, a suborbital hypersonic launch vehicle. Rocket Lab is currently developing Neutron, an advanced 13-tonne payload class reusable launch vehicle designed for constellation deployment and interplanetary missions. The company successfully conducted the first hot fire test of its Archimedes engine in August 2024, which will power Neutron's first stage. Neutron's unique design encapsulates its second stage within a reusable first stage with an integrated payload fairing. Rocket Lab aims to launch Neutron by mid-2025, potentially marking the fastest time to market for a commercially developed medium-class launch vehicle. Beyond launch services, Rocket Lab has established itself as a premier supplier of advanced satellites, flight-proven subsystems, and spacecraft components. The company's technology spans various areas, including space solar power, composite structures, flight software, star trackers, reaction wheels, and separation systems. As of August 2024, Rocket Lab's satellite technology and components have been integrated into more than 1,700 satellite missions globally. In the second quarter of 2024, Rocket Lab reported record revenue of USD 106.3 million, representing a 71% year-over-year increase. Key customers and partnerships Rocket Lab has secured partnerships with several high-profile customers and organizations. The company has conducted multiple launches for NASA, including the CAPSTONE mission to the Moon in 2022 and the upcoming ESCAPADE mission to Mars. In August 2024, Rocket Lab delivered two spacecraft for the ESCAPADE mission to Cape Canaveral. Rocket Lab has also established a strong relationship with Capella Space, having completed five missions for the company since August 2020. In August 2024, Rocket Lab successfully launched Capella Space's Acadia-3 satellite, a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite, into orbit. Additionally, the company has partnered with the University of California Berkeley's Space Science Laboratory to build spacecraft for NASA missions.

Rocket Lab

Italy-based D-Orbit specializes in end-to-end solutions for satellite deployment, in-space transportation, and in-orbit servicing through its proprietary orbital transfer vehicle, the ION Satellite Carrier. The company asserts that the ION Satellite Carrier enables efficient satellite deployment by reducing the time from launch to operations by up to 85% and potential cost savings of up to 40%. It is also the first certified B-Corp space company in the world. As at June 2024, D-Orbit conducted its launches from the US and had completed 13 orbital transportation missions, deployed 100 satellites and 44 hosted payloads, with its next launch planned for July 2024.D-Orbit's services include (1) launch and deployment of satellites, (2) in-orbit services, (3) mission control as a service, (4) advanced services, and (5) systems and components.D-Orbit's launch and deployment services cater to small satellite operators with turnkey solutions that cover various phases of a satellite's lifecycle and includes offerings such as (1) Rideshare, which uses third-party compatible launchers for standard orbit deployment, (2) Precision Deployment, which uses the ION Satellite Carrier for customized orbit placement, and (3) Constellation Deployment, which phases satellite constellations using the ION carrier for optimal orbital placement. Additional services include insurance, mission analysis, onboard software development, and specialized transportation​.For Satellite management, D-Orbit offers a cloud-based mission control software suite named Aurora, which is designed for satellite operators and features a customizable web interface for telemetry, trajectory updates, and telecommands, along with 2D/3D orbit visualization. Operators can control satellites from any location and outsource mission control tasks to D-Orbit, reducing operational costs.The company also offers in-orbit maintenance services, which include satellite transportation, lifetime extension, in-orbit assembly and refurbishment, manufacturing, resupply, recycling, relocation, inspection, and debris removal.D-Orbit also offers advanced services such as the (1) ION Hosted Payload Service for swift payload deployment for testing and experiments, the (2) D-Orbit Cloud Platform for in-orbit data computing, and the (3) Satellite as a Service (SaaS) model exemplified by projects like IRIDE, offering satellite-based services without requiring customer-owned infrastructure. The IRIDE satellite constellation project is financed by the Italian PNRR (National Plan for Recovery and Resilience) and supported by the ESA (European Space Agency) and ASI (Italian Space Agency). IRIDE aims to provide advanced earth observation data for the Italian public administration and will offer services related to marine and coastal monitoring, air quality, land movement monitoring, land cover, hydro weather climate, and more. Satellite launches for the constellation are planned between 2025 and 2026.D-Orbit's Systems and Components division provides a suite of hardware components and software solutions for satellite operations, including the AOCS Suite, a modular Attitude and Orbit Control System designed for satellite stabilization and control, alongside the D-Sense multi-sensor ADCS module for precise satellite positioning. Additionally, its product lineup features specialized systems such as SimOn for safe rocket motor ignition, D3, a decommissioning device for satellite disposal, and D-Raise, a propulsion system engineered for efficient orbit raising, among others.Key customers and partnershipsKey customers include the European Space Agency (ESA), the Italian Space Agency (ASI), Planet Labs, the University of Southern California, Brown University School of Engineering, Spaceflight, Ensign-Bickford Aerospace &amp; Defense (EBAD), and TelePIX, a South Korean space startup.Notable partnerships include its tie-up with <a href="https://sp-edge.com/companies/26250">SpaceX </a>to launch its ION Satellite Carrier missions on <a href="https://sp-edge.com/companies/26250">SpaceX</a> transporters. D-Orbit has also partnered with <a href="https://sp-edge.com/companies/404857">Leaf Space</a> and AWS Ground Station to provide global coverage for its mission control software suite Aurora. Other partnerships include a collaboration with Starfish Space for orbital rendezvous missions, ​HyImpulse Technologies for a joint launch and deployment mission, MetaSensing for collaboration on the IRIDE project, and with SkyServe STORM to integrate edge computing functionalities within the SkyServe STORM platform, enabling the processing of live Earth observation data from D-Orbit's resources into inferences directly in space.

D-Orbit

Phantom Space Corporation is a space services company providing all-in-one capabilities for satellite manufacturing and launch services to commercial and government clients.Phantom Space caters to launch services primarily using its launch vehicle, Daytona Rocket, which is a two-stage system designed to carry payloads of up to 450 kg, including satellites and other space cargo into low-Earth orbit (LEO), for less than USD 4 million per launch. In addition to the Daytona, Phantom Space was developing the larger Laguna rocket, scheduled for launch in 2025, to be powered by a combination of Ripley and Hadley engines produced by Ursa Major to increase payload capacity to 1,200 kg for LEO missions at USD 8 million per launch.In November 2022, the company achieved a major milestone by conducting a successful 60-second hot fire test of the Daytona's Pathfinder test stage at Spaceport America in New Mexico, validating approximately 75% of the vehicle's systems in a flight-realistic condition.The company also provides solutions for designing, manufacturing, and operating small satellites, ranging from single CubeSats to constellations of ESPA-class spacecraft. As of May 2024, Phantom Space had 46 satellite and spacecraft programs successfully executed, while three were currently in progress.As of June 2023, the company aimed to offer affordable access to space through its proprietary rocket and satellite designs. To this end, Phantom Space aimed to employ mass production techniques to reduce costs and increase the frequency of space access for government and commercial entities. Key customers and partnershipsIn May 2023, Phantom Space signed a launch services agreement with Quub, a satellite manufacturer, for three dedicated launches in 2025.In November 2022, Phantom Space secured task orders from NASA for the agency's Venture-Class Acquisition of Dedicated and Rideshare (VADR) missions program. The orders involved launching four CubeSat satellites on the second and fourth Daytona rocket flights from Vandenberg Space Force Base, planned for 2024.

Phantom Space

Beyond Earth builds small rockets to provide dedicated CubeSat launches to low-earth-orbit on short notice.

Beyond Earth

Companies that offer launch capabilities to get satellites into orbit, including last-mile delivery of satellites and value-added services including launch mission planning and execution

Companies that provide satellite management services once they are deployed

Includes companies that develop satellite buses and payloads for mini, micro and nano systems

Companies that manufacture components for mini, micro, nano, and picosatellite systems

Satellite companies that offer location-based intelligence, navigation, mapping, spatial awareness, and data analytics services

Use of autonomous robotics in the production process, specially in the miniature satellite segments

Wegaw

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