Luxembourg City, Luxembourg · Person Adel Al-Saleh is the CEO of SES Satellites, one of the world's largest satellite operators headquartered in Luxembourg with a fleet spanning geostationary and medium Earth orbit. He also serves as Vice-Chair of the Global Satellite Operators Association (GSOA), giving him a prominent role in shaping global satellite industry policy and regulatory affairs. Al-Saleh has led SES through major strategic initiatives including the O3b mPOWER medium Earth orbit constellation expansion and the high-profile C-band spectrum clearing in the United States. He is a widely recognized executive voice in the global space and telecommunications sector.
Mont-Saint-Guibert, Belgium · Startup Aerospacelab designs, builds and operates satellites end-to-end, offering versatile platforms (150 kg–1 t), payloads spanning earth observation and telecom, and full mission operations. Founded in 2018 by ex-NASA and ESA engineer Benoît Deper, the company is 90% vertically integrated and ITAR-free. It raised a €94 M Series B in August 2025 (including €37.5 M from the EIB) and is completing a Megafactory in Charleroi — Europe's largest satellite plant, targeting 500 units per year by 2026. Aerospacelab is one of two finalists competing to build the LEO layer of the EU's IRIS² secure-comms constellation.
Turin, Italy · Startup AIKO develops flight-proven AI software that enables satellites and spacecraft to operate autonomously — detecting anomalies, replanning missions, processing payload data, and executing maneuvers without ground intervention. Founded in Turin in 2017 by Lorenzo Feruglio, AIKO became the first European company to demonstrate deep learning algorithms in orbit. The company's modular product suite (GENE for anomaly detection, OLIVER for onboard planning, CLEAR for payload processing, DANA for maneuvering) serves commercial operators and space agencies. With offices in Turin and Toulouse, AIKO has raised €7 million and is leading the ASIMOV proximity-operations project funded by the Italian Space Agency.
Rome, Italy · Venture Capital Founded in 2015 as the National Innovation Fund (Fondo Nazionale Innovazione) and wholly owned by Cassa Depositi e Prestiti, CDP Venture Capital SGR is the largest venture capital operator in Italy and one of the biggest in Europe, deploying capital through a family of direct and fund-of-funds vehicles with a combined target allocation of over €3.3 billion in its 2024–2028 business plan. It operates across the full lifecycle — from seed (Italia Venture I/II) through growth (Large Ventures, target €700 million) and ecosystem development (VenturItaly II FoF, target €700 million) — covering deep tech, life sciences, digital transition, and sustainability. The portfolio spans 246+ companies, with notable names including Everli and Arduino; its fund-of-funds arms back virtually every significant Italian VC manager. As a state-backed anchor LP and direct co-investor, CDP acts as the cornerstone of the national innovation ecosystem.
Brussels, Belgium · Person Christine Leurquin is CEO Belgium and Senior Director of European and Public Affairs at Aldoria, a French space safety and sustainability startup specializing in space debris tracking and collision avoidance services. Aldoria operates a ground-based radar network dedicated to monitoring objects in low Earth orbit, providing commercial and institutional clients with conjunction analysis and space traffic alerting services. Her dual role combines executive leadership for Belgian operations with EU-level public affairs activities, making her a key interface between the space sustainability startup ecosystem and European policymakers.
Espoo, Finland · Startup ICEYE operates the world's largest synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite constellation, providing persistent Earth observation data regardless of weather or daylight conditions. Founded in 2014 as an Aalto University spin-off, the company builds its satellites in-house in Espoo and serves defence, insurance, disaster response and environmental monitoring customers. By 2026 it had launched over 35 satellites with a valuation of $2.8 billion, and signed contracts with the Finnish, Polish and Swedish armed forces for national SAR satellite programmes.
Munich, Germany · Startup Isar Aerospace is a Munich-based space launch company founded in 2018 by Daniel Metzler, Josef Fleischmann, and Markus Brandl, all graduates of TU Munich. The company is developing Spectrum, a two-stage launch vehicle designed to carry small and medium-sized satellite payloads to orbit at a significantly lower cost than traditional European launchers. Isar Aerospace has raised over EUR 300 million from investors including HV Capital, Porsche SE, Airbus Ventures, and Lombard Odier, making it one of Europe's best-funded NewSpace ventures. With a launch site agreement in Andoya, Norway, Isar Aerospace is positioned to offer Europe independent, commercial access to space as demand for small satellite launches accelerates.
Espoo, Finland · Person Joost Elstak is SVP Missions at ICEYE, a Finnish space technology company founded in 2014 that operates one of the world's largest commercial synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite constellations. ICEYE is widely regarded as one of the most prominent European space startups and a unicorn, providing near-real-time Earth observation data for disaster management, insurance, maritime, and government applications. In his role, Elstak oversees mission operations and delivery for ICEYE's growing customer base across both commercial and government sectors globally.
Paris, France · Person Maxime Verrière serves as SVP and Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer at Arianespace, the French launch services company that is one of the world's leading providers of commercial satellite launch services. Arianespace, headquartered near Paris, has been a cornerstone of European space access since its founding in 1980 and operates the Ariane, Soyuz, and Vega launch vehicles from the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou. In his C-suite role, Verrière is responsible for driving Arianespace's strategic direction and transformation agenda during a highly competitive period for the European launch industry.
Warsaw, Poland · Accelerator OTB Ventures is a Warsaw-based deep-technology venture capital firm founded in 2017 that invests across Europe in early-growth companies working on space technology, AI and automation, fintech infrastructure and enterprise software. It targets capital-efficient deeptech businesses with proven technology and early revenue, and has backed companies such as ICEYE. It is one of the largest deeptech-focused funds in Central and Eastern Europe.
Harwell, United Kingdom · Person Rafel Jorda Siquier is the CEO of Open Cosmos, a UK-based space startup founded in 2015 that designs, builds, and operates small satellites and provides end-to-end mission services for governments and commercial customers. Under his leadership, Open Cosmos has grown into a notable player in the New Space sector, securing contracts with the European Space Agency and other institutional clients across Europe and beyond. Jorda Siquier is a recognized figure in the European commercial space ecosystem and advocates for democratizing access to space through low-cost, rapidly delivered satellite solutions.
Gdansk, Poland · Accelerator PARP-backed accelerator attracting international startups to Poland, run by Space3ac in Gdansk. Offers up to EUR 65,000 equity-free funding plus soft-landing support (incorporation, legal/tax, accommodation, visas). Focus on smart cities, space, and logistics. Scope: International.
Munich, Germany · Startup The Exploration Company is a Munich-based space startup founded in 2021 by Helene Huby, a former Airbus and ArianeGroup executive. The company is developing Nyx, a reusable orbital vehicle designed to carry cargo to the International Space Station and future commercial space stations. Nyx uses a green propulsion system and is designed for multiple missions, reducing cost per flight. The company has raised over EUR 150 million, including a major Series B, making it one of Europe's best-funded space startups. The Exploration Company represents Europe's push for independent orbital logistics capabilities beyond traditional government-led programs.