Europe's spacetech sector is buzzing with activity, and as a female entrepreneur, I find this year’s developments particularly encouraging. H1 2025 has been remarkable, with massive funding rounds and strategic initiatives laying the groundwork for Europe’s future in space technology. Armed with lessons from my own startup journey and insights as the creator of the Fe/male Switch Startup Game, I’ve analyzed the biggest deals that could reshape the industry. Let’s dive into the numbers and lessons that entrepreneurial women can glean from these milestones.
What Made H1 2025 Stand Out?
The spacetech sector in Europe has matured noticeably. Think of this year as the culmination of a decade-long preparation period. From end-to-end launch solutions to reusable satellites that manufacture advanced materials, European startups are innovating across diverse touchpoints. Rising investment rounds signal an alignment between government priorities and private sector capabilities. Also, the dual-use potential of space technologies, like laser systems and thermal sensors, is opening new doors, especially in defense and environmental sectors. And this is just the beginning.
The Biggest Spacetech Funding Rounds in H1 2025
Here’s a breakdown of the noteworthy deals. Studying these funding rounds as a startup founder helps you understand broader market priorities and scaling strategies.
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Isar Aerospace (€150M, Germany)
Leading a new wave of launch providers, Isar Aerospace is making space more accessible. Based in Munich, the company developed the “Spectrum” rocket completely in-house. Its €150M funding round this June reflects Europe’s growing appetite to compete globally in satellite launches. -
EnduroSat (€63M, Bulgaria)
Known for its modular CubeSats and nanosatellite platforms, EnduroSat raised a whopping €63M. Its space-as-a-service model allows clients to launch turnkey missions while sharing satellite resources. They’re redefining efficiency for smaller players in the sector. -
Look Up (€50M, France)
Based out of France, Look Up developed radar and digital platforms for space situational awareness. With €50M in funding, they’re poised to target the satellite traffic management problem, a tech niche with immense scalability potential. -
Space Forge (£22.6M, UK)
This British startup secured £22.6M for its reusable satellites that enable manufacturing in space. Their microgravity production promises high-quality semiconductors and alloys. It's easy to see why investors flocked to fund this outlandish idea. -
Orbex (£20M, UK)
Another British powerhouse, Orbex raised £20M for its environmentally friendly microlaunchers. Their rockets use bio-fuels, an innovative yet sustainable approach to satellite deployment. UK government backing shows confidence in indigenous launch capabilities. -
Skynopy (€15M, France)
Focused on satellite data retrieval, Skynopy is building a ground-station network for real-time operations. By raising €15M in June, they are addressing Europe’s lag in satellite connectivity infrastructure. -
ATMOS Space Cargo (€13.1M, Germany)
ATMOS develops heat-shield re-entry capsules for space logistics. Their PHOENIX model lets experiments and materials return from orbit quickly, a vital link for long-term space exploration. -
OroraTech (€12M, Germany)
Germany’s OroraTech expanded its wildfire detection systems with €12M. These satellites use thermal AI sensors to detect fires, benefiting producers, responders, and governments. -
Magdrive ($10.5M, UK)
Representing the propulsion sector, Magdrive creates high-thrust electric drives for satellites. Their $10.5M round balances innovation with cost-effectiveness. -
Aistech Space (€8.5M, Spain)
Leveraging Earth observation technology, Aistech raised €8.5M for multispectral imaging satellites. Their focus on agriculture and transport monitoring shows Europe's investment in local sector solutions.
Lessons for Female Entrepreneurs
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Collaborate Across Borders
The investments above show Europe’s multicultural startup ecosystem. If you’re a founder, embrace cross-border partnerships, it’s a strategic advantage, especially for scaling early-stage ventures. For instance, Bulgarian and Spanish companies working within Europe’s collaborative frameworks secured significant funds. -
Don’t Ignore Dual-Use Potential
Look at Look Up and OroraTech, most of their applications revolve around improving space safety or addressing Earth-based climate challenges. For women-led startups in technical fields, identifying dual-use applications (like defense, sustainability, or remote sensing) can attract diverse investors. -
Sustainability Matters
Sustainability in spacetech isn’t a niche anymore; it’s a must-have. Orbex’s bio-fuel rockets and ATMOS’s reusable capsules appealed to environmental concerns while solving real logistical issues in space missions. If you’re bootstrapping like me, carve your business story around sustainable innovation. -
Aim Big, Even Without VC Support
You don’t need millions to start thinking big. Bootstrap your way into markets with smaller, feasible products. Let’s take inspiration from Aistech Space, they started with smaller-scale imaging satellites and gradually moved to a focus on agriculture-specific sensors. A step-by-step approach wins investor trust.
Common Mistakes to Avoid in the Spacetech Sector
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Over-Relying on Government Contracts
They can provide stability, but chasing them exclusively limits your growth. Consider hybrid funding models instead. -
Ignoring Scalability in Early Designs
Don’t build solutions that work only locally. Watch how Germany’s Isar Aerospace targets global launch markets while being proudly European-focused. -
Misaligned Funding Priorities
Aim for funds that align with your long-term goals. Raising capital is hard, but don’t dilute your vision by saying yes to every offer.
How to Approach Spacetech Innovation as an Entrepreneur
- Seek Grants & Partnerships: European startups thrive on grants and collaborative projects. Platforms like Horizon Europe are your friend in this space.
- Grow in Multiple Phases: Start locally but design for global scalability from day one.
- Tell Your Unique Story: Investors prefer authenticity over fluff. Share your journey, emphasize the heart behind your venture.
The Takeaway
The spacetech sector in Europe didn’t accelerate overnight, it’s a result of long-term investment, community support, and visionary leadership. As women entrepreneurs, we can learn from the sector’s resilience and bold ideas while scaling our ventures. From environmental satellites to reusable spaceplanes, the possibilities are endless.
Bootstrap or VC-funded, it doesn’t matter as long as the journey feels genuine. Let’s push boundaries, break glass ceilings, and maybe, inspire the next generation of female innovators. If Europe is reaching for the stars, why can’t we?
FAQ
1. What made H1 2025 unique for Europe's spacetech sector?
H1 2025 marked the culmination of a decade-long evolution in Europe's spacetech industry, highlighted by rising investments, innovations like reusable satellites, and dual-use technologies. Read more about H1 2025 spacetech trends
2. Which startup raised the highest funding in H1 2025?
Isar Aerospace from Germany raised €150M, leading the charge with its cost-effective rocket solution for satellite launches. Learn more about Isar Aerospace
3. What is EnduroSat's contribution to the spacetech ecosystem?
EnduroSat, based in Bulgaria, specializes in modular CubeSats and a "space-as-a-service" model, raising €63M to expand its mission offerings. Explore EnduroSat’s Space as a Service
4. How does Look Up address the satellite traffic issue?
Look Up tackles space situational awareness by using advanced radars and digital platforms to monitor satellite traffic, with €50M funding to enhance these solutions. Discover Look Up
5. What innovation did Space Forge bring to space manufacturing?
Space Forge from the UK raised £22.6M to develop reusable satellites that manufacture high-quality materials like semiconductors in microgravity. Explore Space Forge's solutions
6. How are Orbex rockets environmentally sustainable?
Orbex, backed by a £20M funding round, develops bio-fuel-powered rockets to minimize environmental impact while deploying satellites. Learn more about Orbex’s sustainable rockets
7. How does Skynopy improve satellite data access?
France’s Skynopy raised €15M to build a global ground-station network facilitating real-time, high-speed satellite data retrieval. Read more about Skynopy’s technology
8. What is ATMOS Space Cargo’s key innovation?
Germany-based ATMOS Space Cargo creates reusable, inflatable heat shields for space logistics and rapid return of materials and experiments. Discover ATMOS Space Cargo
9. What is OroraTech’s wildfire detection solution?
Germany’s OroraTech focuses on wildfire detection using thermal AI sensing satellites, raising €12M to expand its capabilities. Learn about OroraTech’s wildfire detection
10. How is Aistech Space contributing to Earth observation?
Aistech Space, from Spain, secured €8.5M to enhance its multispectral imaging satellite technology, focusing on agriculture and environmental monitoring. Learn more about Aistech Space’s Earth observation goals
About the Author
Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur. Throughout her startup experience she has applied for multiple startup grants at the EU level, in the Netherlands and Malta, and her startups received quite a few of those. She’s been living, studying and working in many countries around the globe and her extensive multicultural experience has influenced her immensely.
Violetta Bonenkamp's expertise in CAD sector, IP protection and blockchain
Violetta Bonenkamp is recognized as a multidisciplinary expert with significant achievements in the CAD sector, intellectual property (IP) protection, and blockchain technology.
CAD Sector:
- Violetta is the CEO and co-founder of CADChain, a deep tech startup focused on developing IP management software specifically for CAD (Computer-Aided Design) data. CADChain addresses the lack of industry standards for CAD data protection and sharing, using innovative technology to secure and manage design data.
- She has led the company since its inception in 2018, overseeing R&D, PR, and business development, and driving the creation of products for platforms such as Autodesk Inventor, Blender, and SolidWorks.
- Her leadership has been instrumental in scaling CADChain from a small team to a significant player in the deeptech space, with a diverse, international team.
IP Protection:
- Violetta has built deep expertise in intellectual property, combining academic training with practical startup experience. She has taken specialized courses in IP from institutions like WIPO and the EU IPO.
- She is known for sharing actionable strategies for startup IP protection, leveraging both legal and technological approaches, and has published guides and content on this topic for the entrepreneurial community.
- Her work at CADChain directly addresses the need for robust IP protection in the engineering and design industries, integrating cybersecurity and compliance measures to safeguard digital assets.
Blockchain:
- Violetta’s entry into the blockchain sector began with the founding of CADChain, which uses blockchain as a core technology for securing and managing CAD data.
- She holds several certifications in blockchain and has participated in major hackathons and policy forums, such as the OECD Global Blockchain Policy Forum.
- Her expertise extends to applying blockchain for IP management, ensuring data integrity, traceability, and secure sharing in the CAD industry.
Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).
She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the "gamepreneurship" methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond, launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks and is building MELA AI to help local restaurants in Malta get more visibility online.
For the past several years Violetta has been living between the Netherlands and Malta, while also regularly traveling to different destinations around the globe, usually due to her entrepreneurial activities. This has led her to start writing about different locations and amenities from the POV of an entrepreneur. Here’s her recent article about the best hotels in Italy to work from.
About the Publication
Fe/male Switch is an innovative startup platform designed to empower women entrepreneurs through an immersive, game-like experience. Founded in 2020 during the pandemic "without any funding and without any code," this non-profit initiative has evolved into a comprehensive educational tool for aspiring female entrepreneurs.The platform was co-founded by Violetta Shishkina-Bonenkamp, who serves as CEO and one of the lead authors of the Startup News branch.
Mission and Purpose
Fe/male Switch Foundation was created to address the gender gap in the tech and entrepreneurship space. The platform aims to skill-up future female tech leaders and empower them to create resilient and innovative tech startups through what they call "gamepreneurship". By putting players in a virtual startup village where they must survive and thrive, the startup game allows women to test their entrepreneurial abilities without financial risk.
Key Features
The platform offers a unique blend of news, resources,learning, networking, and practical application within a supportive, female-focused environment:
- Skill Lab: Micro-modules covering essential startup skills
- Virtual Startup Building: Create or join startups and tackle real-world challenges
- AI Co-founder (PlayPal): Guides users through the startup process
- SANDBOX: A testing environment for idea validation before launch
- Wellness Integration: Virtual activities to balance work and self-care
- Marketplace: Buy or sell expert sessions and tutorials
Impact and Growth
Since its inception, Fe/male Switch has shown impressive growth:
- 5,000+ female entrepreneurs in the community
- 100+ startup tools built
- 5,000+ pieces of articles and news written
- 1,000 unique business ideas for women created
Partnerships
Fe/male Switch has formed strategic partnerships to enhance its offerings. In January 2022, it teamed up with global website builder Tilda to provide free access to website building tools and mentorship services for Fe/male Switch participants.
Recognition
Fe/male Switch has received media attention for its innovative approach to closing the gender gap in tech entrepreneurship. The platform has been featured in various publications highlighting its unique "play to learn and earn" model.
