Insider Brief:
- Isar Aerospace has extended its Series C funding round by an additional EUR 65 million (USD 70 million), raising the total to over EUR 220 million (USD 234 million).
- This extension received strong support from the NATO Innovation Fund, a venture capital fund backed by 24 NATO allies.
- This investment marks the first direct involvement by NATO in a satellite launch provider.
- New investors including G3T, 10x Group, Besant Capital, Finadvice Med HOLDINGS, and LP&E joined the extension round.
Isar Aerospace, a satellite launch service company, has announced an extension of its Series C funding round by an additional EUR 65 million, raising the total to over EUR 220 million. This extension received strong support from the NATO Innovation Fund (NIF), a venture capital fund backed by 24 NATO allies. NIF focuses on empowering deep tech companies that tackle challenges in defense, security, and resilience. This investment marks the first direct involvement by NATO in a satellite launch provider, underscoring the critical role space technologies play in both civilian and defense sectors.
New investors including G3T, 10x Group, Besant Capital, Finadvice Med HOLDINGS, and LP&E joined the extension round. Existing investors, including Lakestar, Earlybird, Airbus Ventures, Bayern Kapital, and UVC Partners, also made significant contributions.
Andrea Traversone, Managing Partner of the NATO Innovation Fund, noted the strategic importance of space technologies for Europe and the UK, stating, “Access to space is critical to the technological sovereignty of Europe and the UK. Space technologies like Isar’s hold immense promise and will enable us to build a secure and prosperous future for generations to come.”
In line with global trends, leading nations like the United States are increasingly relying on commercial space capabilities for defense and other strategic needs. Commercial services offer innovation, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness, making them a preferable option for many governments.
Daniel Metzler, Co-Founder and CEO of Isar Aerospace expressed optimism about the investment, noting, “The investment by the NATO Innovation Fund in Isar Aerospace is a strong sign of confidence in our approach and underlines the fundamental role of space technologies for our economies and societies. It shows that European governments need to promote and leverage private innovation to keep up globally.”
Since its founding in 2018, Isar Aerospace has secured over EUR 400 million in total funding, positioning itself as a leading independent New Space company in Europe. It has developed extensive in-house capabilities for designing, producing, and testing launch vehicles.
In May 2024, Isar Aerospace announced the creation of a new commercial launch vehicle production facility near Munich, Germany, in collaboration with the VGP Group. This facility aims to produce up to 40 Spectrum launch vehicles per year. The recent funding will support the company’s plans to expand its production capabilities and meet the growing demand for launching small and medium-sized satellites.
Financial advisers Eden Global Partners and Finadvice played crucial roles in facilitating this significant funding round for Isar Aerospace. The company is set to advance its position in the space industry and contribute to both economic and technological progress in Europe and beyond.
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