Isar Aerospace: Series C increased to over € 220 million with NATO Innovation Fund
Munich — Satellite launch services provider Isar Aerospace today announced a significant increase of more than €65 million in its Series C financing round, which now totals over €220 million. The NATO Innovation Fund (NIF) — an independent venture capital fund supported by 24 NATO member states with an investment volume of over one billion euros — is investing in Isar Aerospace for the first time; this is also the first direct investment by the NATO Innovation Fund in a satellite launch service provider. The fund supports deep-tech companies in the fields of defense, security and resilience. The commitment represents NIF’s first direct investment in a satellite launch services provider and underscores the importance of space technologies for both civil innovation and defense capabilities.
Other new investors in the extension of the Series C financing round include the European family office G3T as well as the investors 10x Group, Besant Capital, Finadvice Med HOLDINGS and LP&E. Existing investors Lakestar, Earlybird, Airbus Ventures, Porsche SE, Bayern Kapital and UVC Partners made significant contributions to the Series C financing round.
Using commercial technologies as a lever for sovereignty
Andrea Traversone, Managing Partner of the NATO Innovation Fund, says: “Access to space is critical to the technological sovereignty of Europe and the UK. Space technologies like Isar Aerospace’s offer huge potential and will enable us to build a secure and prosperous future for generations to come. We will support Isar by promoting deployment opportunities in both government and commercial sectors.”
Leading nations such as the USA are already basing their space and defense strategies on commercial space capabilities, as the procurement of private commercial services and products is more innovative, more efficient and, above all, more cost-effective.
Daniel Metzler, co-founder and CEO of Isar Aerospace, says: “The NATO Innovation Fund’s investment in Isar Aerospace is a strong sign of confidence in our approach and underlines the fundamental role of space technologies for our economy and society. But more than that, it shows that European governments need to encourage and leverage private innovation and products to compete globally.”
Leading New Space company in Europe
With a total financing volume of more than 400 million euros since its foundation in 2018, Isar Aerospace is the most capitalized independent New Space company in Europe. The company has established itself as a technology leader thanks to complete vertical integration with its own development, production and testing processes. Isar Aerospace relies on scalable series production to industrialize the production of launch vehicles.
In May 2024, Isar Aerospace announced plans to build the world’s most modern production facility for orbital launch vehicles near Munich. In cooperation with the pan-European real estate company VGP Group, which will develop and build the facility, Isar Aerospace will be able to produce up to 40 Spectrum launch vehicles per year.
This latest funding will enable Isar Aerospace to invest in the initial set-up and ramp-up of its series production. With a high degree of automation and a focus on scalability, the company will be able to meet the growing demand from the private and public sectors for the transportation of small and medium-sized satellites and satellite constellations at competitive prices.
About Isar Aerospace
Isar Aerospace, based near Munich, develops and builds launch vehicles for the transportation of small and medium-sized satellites and satellite constellations into Earth orbit. The company was founded in 2018 as a spin-off of the Technical University of Munich. Since then, it has grown to over 400 employees from more than 50 nations, who have many years of practical space expertise as well as experience in other high-tech sectors. With a total financing volume of more than EUR 400 million, Isar Aerospace is the best-financed independent new space company in Europe and a pioneer in scaling and industrializing the production of launch vehicles through vertical integration. The two-stage orbital launch vehicle “Spectrum” is specially designed for the construction of satellite constellations and provides access to one of the most crucial technological platforms of our time: space. Further information can be found at: https://www.isaraerospace.com/.
About the new investors in Isar Aerospace’s Series C financing round
About the NATO Innovation Fund:
The NATO Innovation Fund is a venture capital fund supported by 24 NATO member states that invests more than one billion euros in cutting-edge technologies to address defense, security and resilience challenges. The fund invests independently, with 24 states supporting the success of the portfolio and helping deep tech entrepreneurs gain access to commercial and government markets. The participating NATO countries are: Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovakia, Spain, the Czech Republic, Turkey, Hungary and the United Kingdom. Further information: https://www.nif.fund/
About the 10x Group:
10x Group is a group of serial entrepreneurs investing in founders across Europe and Silicon Valley. Previous investments include Adyen, EquipmentShare, Revolt, Enpal, OpenDoor, Luminar, DeliveryHero, Robinhood and several other well-known global companies.
About Besant:
Besant is an investment company with assets under management of over USD 500 million and offices in Europe and the Americas. It offers dedicated investment solutions in selected growth sectors that are benefiting from far-reaching changes. Besant’s team has extensive expertise in financial, strategic and operational management and brings more than 50 years of combined experience in public and private markets, with over $2.9 billion invested. Besant Digital focuses on global venture capital investments with a focus on technology and digital business models. The main target regions are Europe, Israel and the USA as proven centers for innovation.
About Finadvice Med HOLDINGS:
Finadvice Med HOLDINGS is a Swiss investment company supported by a group of European entrepreneurs.
About G3T:
The family business is a holding company with industrial roots. It was a shareholder in Abertis, one of the world’s leading companies in the highway and telecommunications infrastructure sector. Its main business areas are currently renewable energies, real estate (Spain, France and Germany) and healthcare centers, and it is also present in the agricultural and industrial sectors through financial investments. It holds a significant stake in Fluidra, the global market leader for swimming pool and wellness equipment.
The corporate business is managed directly, and in the case of financial investments, whether listed or private equity, the company holds a significant and stable position, is closely linked to the management and pursues a long-term orientation. Venture Capital was integrated into the strategic plan as a new business area with the aim of acquiring minority interests in technology-oriented growth companies.
About LP&E:
LP&E is a privately held venture capital firm based in Switzerland that focuses on investments in emerging technologies and innovative business models.
About Porsche SE:
Porsche Automobil Holding SE (Porsche SE) is a holding company with investments in the mobility and industrial technology sector. As at December 31, 2023, the company employed just under 50 people and generated consolidated net income of EUR 5.1 billion in the 2023 financial year. Porsche SE holds the majority of the ordinary shares in Volkswagen AG and 25 percent plus one share of the ordinary shares in Porsche AG as core shareholdings. In addition, there are minority interests in several technology companies in North America, Europe and Israel as well as investments in private equity and venture capital funds.