Leveraging commercial technologies for sovereignty: Isar Aerospace extends Series C to over €220 million with strong commitment from NATO Innovation Fund
- NATO Innovation Fund’s first direct investment in satellite launch service provider Isar Aerospace underscores the strategic importance of space technologies for security, defense and resilience
- Leveraging commercial innovation and technologies is key to establish sovereign capabilities
- Series C extension brings total funding to more than EUR 400m to date
- Strong backing for Isar Aerospace’s pioneering approach to scale and industrialize the production of orbital launch vehicles to serve institutional and commercial demand
Munich, 20 June 2024 – Satellite launch service company Isar Aerospace today announced a significant extension of its Series C round by more than EUR 65m, now totaling more than EUR 220m. The extension received a strong commitment from NATO Innovation Fund (NIF), a standalone venture capital fund backed by 24 NATO Allies which deploys EUR 1bn+ to empower deep tech companies addressing challenges in defense, security and resilience. This marks the first-ever direct investment in a satellite service launch provider from the NATO Innovation Fund and highlights the multifaceted importance of space technologies, which are pivotal for both civilian innovation and defense capabilities.
Other new investors in the extension round included the European family office G3T as well as 10x Group, Besant Capital, Finadvice Med HOLDINGS and LP&E. Existing investors Lakestar, Earlybird, Airbus Ventures, Bayern Kapital and UVC Partners also participated significantly in the extension round.
Leveraging commercial technologies for sovereignty
Andrea Traversone, Managing Partner of the NATO Innovation Fund, said: “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. We will support Isar with adoption pathways across government and commercial opportunities.”
Leading nations, including the United States, already shifted their space and defense strategies to rely heavily on commercial space capabilities, as procuring private commercial services and products is more innovative, efficient and, above all, more cost-efficient.
Daniel Metzler, Co-Founder and CEO of Isar Aerospace, said: “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. Even more, it shows that European governments need to promote and leverage private innovation and products to keep up globally.”
Prof. Dr. Helmut Schönenberger, Managing Partner at UVC Partners, commented: “We have been strong supporters of Isar Aerospace since its foundation, firmly believing in their vision and the critical need for Europe to build and fortify its own space capabilities. This significant extension of their Series C round, particularly with the backing of the NATO Innovation Fund, underscores the immense potential and strategic importance of their work in the space sector.”
Leading New Space Company in Europe
With more than EUR 400m in total funding since its foundation in 2018, Isar Aerospace is the most capitalized independent New Space company in Europe. It has established itself as a technological leader, having developed proprietary know-how through full vertical integration as well as owning design, production, and testing operations entirely in-house.
Building on a scalable series production, Isar Aerospace will heavily industrialize production of launch vehicles
In May 2024, Isar Aerospace announced the establishment of a world-leading commercial launch vehicle production facility near Munich, Germany. In collaboration with the pan-European real estate company VGP Group who will develop and build the facility, Isar Aerospace will be able to produce 40 Spectrum launch vehicles per year in the future.
This latest funding will enable Isar Aerospace to continue investing in the build-up and equipment for its series production. The company’s high degree of automation and scalability positions Isar Aerospace to serve the increasing private and public sector demand for transporting small and medium-sized satellites and satellite constellations into space.
About Isar Aerospace
Isar Aerospace, based near Munich, develops and builds launch vehicles for transporting small and medium-sized satellites as well as satellite constellations into Earth’s orbit. The company was founded in 2018 and has since grown to more than 400 employees from more than 50 nations with decades of hands-on rocket know-how and experience within other high-tech industries. With more than EUR 400m in total funding, Isar Aerospace is the most capitalized independent New Space company in Europe, providing strong backing for its pioneering approach to scale and industrialize production along vertical integration. Isar Aerospace’s two-stage orbital launch vehicle “Spectrum” is specifically designed for satellite constellation deployment, enabling access to one of the most critical technological platforms: space.
More information: www.isaraerospace.com
About the new Investors of Isar Aerospace’s Series C Extension Funding Round
The NATO Innovation Fund
The NATO Innovation Fund is a venture capital fund, backed by 24 NATO Allies, that deploys more than €1 billion in deep tech to address challenges in defence, security, and resilience. The fund invests independently, with 24 nations supporting its portfolio’s success and helping provide deep tech entrepreneurs with access to both commercial and government markets. Participating NATO Allies are: Belgium; Bulgaria; Czechia; Denmark; Estonia; Finland; Germany; Greece; Hungary; Iceland; Italy; Latvia; Lithuania; Luxembourg; Netherlands; Norway; Poland; Portugal; Romania; Slovakia; Spain; Sweden; Türkiye; United Kingdom. More information: https://www.nif.fund/
10x Group
Besant
Besant is an investment firm with over, USD500m of AUM with geographical presence in Europe and the Americas providing dedicated vehicles across selected growth sectors capitalizing value from areas undergoing a transformational change. Besant’s team has vast experience in financial, strategic and operational management and brings more than 50 years of combined experience in public and private markets, having invested more than USD2.9bn. Besant Digital pursues global venture capital investments with a focus on technology and digital business models. Main target regions are Europe, Israel and the US, as proven hubs for innovation.
Finadvice Med HOLDINGS
Finadvice Med HOLDINGS is a Swiss investment vehicle backed by a group of European entrepreneurs.
G3T
Family-owned holding company of industrial origin. It has been stakeholder of Abertis, one of the world’s leading companies in highway and telecommunication infrastructures. At present, its main business areas are renewable energies, Real estate (Spain, France and Germany), healthcare centers and through financial investments it is present in agrofood and industrial sectors, it has a relevant participation in Fluidra, world leader in equipment for swimming pools and wellness. The company’s
businesses are managed directly and in the case of financial participations, whether listed or private equity, it has a relevant and stable position, close to management and with a long-term temporary vocation. Venture Capital has been incorporated in its new strategic plan as a new business area, taking minority stakes in growth-stage technology-driven companies.
LP&E
LP&E is a privately held venture capital firm based in Switzerland and focuses on investments in emerging technologies and innovative business models.
About UVC Partners
UVC Partners is a leading Munich- and Berlin-based early-stage venture capital firm that invests in European B2B tech start-ups from pre-seed to series A. With about €400 million in assets under management, UVC Partners typically invests between €500,000 and €10 million initially and up to €30 million per company. The portfolio includes category leaders in deep tech, climate tech, hard- and software, and mobility with various technologies and business models. As an independent partner of UnternehmerTUM, Europe's most extensive innovation and startup center, UVC Partners has access to proprietary deal flow, an industrial network of more than 1,000 corporates, and access to talent from the leading European technical university. The investments include Flix, Vimcar, planqc, Tanso, Isar Aerospace, TWAICE, DeepDrive, STABL, and many more. They all benefit from the team's extensive investment and exit experience, their ability to build sustainable category leaders with a competitive advantage, and their passion for growing the game changers of tomorrow.
Learn more at www.uvcpartners.com
