Munich, Germany · Venture Capital 10xDNA is a Munich-based deep-tech venture capital firm founded by serial entrepreneur and Die Hoehle der Loewen judge Frank Thelen. The fund focuses on disruptive technologies across artificial intelligence, quantum computing, space technology, synthetic biology, and energy. It targets companies whose technology has the potential to scale by an order of magnitude versus incumbents, backed by Frank Thelen's three decades of operating experience across consumer software, mobile, and deep tech.
Lausanne, Switzerland · Startup Astrocast is a Lausanne-based satellite IoT company founded in 2017 by Fabien Jordan and Jonas Weiss as an EPFL spin-out and ESA BIC Switzerland resident. The company designs, builds, and operates a constellation of nanosatellites in low earth orbit that provide two-way data connectivity to IoT devices in the most remote locations on Earth — including maritime vessels, agricultural sensors, and remote infrastructure monitoring systems. Astrocast's network eliminates coverage gaps where terrestrial mobile networks cannot reach, enabling clients in agriculture, maritime, utilities, and environmental monitoring to track assets and collect data globally. The company has launched multiple satellites, maintains commercial operations, and is listed on Euronext Growth Oslo, making it one of Switzerland's few publicly traded space startups.
Rzeszów, Poland · Startup Developing an AI-based multichannel earthquake forecasting system providing predictions at 14-day, 5-day, 3-day and 1-day horizons with magnitude and location estimates. Founded in 2019; completed ESA BIC Poland and raised over €640k.
Como, Italy · Startup D-Orbit is an Italian space infrastructure company focused on in-orbit transportation and services for satellites. Its best-known product line is built around orbital transfer and deployment: rather than leaving smaller satellite operators constrained by the primary mission of a launch vehicle, D-Orbit helps place payloads into more precise target orbits after launch. That changes the economics and flexibility of access to space for customers who need better control over deployment profiles. The company also reflects a broader trend in European deep tech, where success increasingly depends on integrating hardware, software, mission operations, and long sales cycles into a single commercial platform. D-Orbit therefore matters beyond aerospace alone. It shows that European startups can participate in the frontier infrastructure layer of the space economy instead of limiting themselves to downstream software or research projects. In this directory, D-Orbit helps extend coverage into spacetech and aerospace logistics, while also connecting naturally to the ecosystem's support organizations, accelerators, and cross-border industrial networks that often help hard-tech companies reach early validation and partnerships.
Lausanne, Switzerland · Innovation Hub EPFL (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne) is Switzerland's second federal technical university, situated on the shores of Lake Geneva. Ranked among Europe's top research universities, EPFL has become one of the continent's most prolific generators of deep-tech and life-sciences startups, producing over 400 spin-off companies since 2000. Notable alumni companies include Nexthink, SOPHiA GENETICS, Astrocast, and Distalmotion. EPFL Innovation Park, located adjacent to the main campus, houses hundreds of startups and bridges academic research with commercial application across quantum photonics, precision health, robotics, and digital finance. The park includes an ESA BIC Switzerland programme that incubates space-tech startups. For founders in the Lake Geneva region, EPFL provides a uniquely dense combination of technical research infrastructure, institutional support, venture-ready talent, and direct access to EPFL's technology transfer office.
Paris, France · Event Week-long deep-tech programming across Paris with major sessions at Station F and Bpifrance-linked venues, designed to connect science-based founders with industrial buyers and patient capital. Includes deep-tech summit programming across SpaceTech, quantum, robotics, and advanced manufacturing.
Brussels, Belgium · Event The 6th edition of a Brussels policy-and-business forum at the intersection of the European space industry and EU institutions. Relevant for NewSpace founders navigating funding, regulation, and procurement.
Lausanne, Switzerland · Person Co-founder and CEO of Astrocast, the Lausanne-based satellite IoT company he co-founded in 2017 as an EPFL spin-out and ESA BIC Switzerland resident. Jordan led Astrocast from a nanosatellite concept to a publicly listed company on Euronext Growth Oslo, building a LEO constellation that provides two-way IoT connectivity to remote locations across agriculture, maritime, and infrastructure sectors.
Kyiv, Ukraine · Event Ukraine's largest popular-science and deep-tech conference, with 50+ speakers from 15+ countries, held in person in Kyiv despite wartime conditions. Relevant for deep-tech and science-driven founders looking for research collaboration and talent.
Kongsberg, Norway · Event An annual technology festival that takes over central Kongsberg with hundreds of free debates, exhibitions, and talks on technology and value creation, spanning space and defence tech.
Warsaw, Poland · Venture Capital Manta Ray VC is the technology venture arm of Kulczyk Investments, founded by Sebastian Kulczyk to back globally scalable Polish-rooted startups. The fund invests in growth-stage technology companies and has been associated with high-visibility outcomes such as ICEYE (SAR satellites) and Iceye-affiliated deep-tech bets. It complements the broader Kulczyk Investments ecosystem and the InCredibles founder programme.
Luxembourg City, Luxembourg · Event A Luxexpo The Box conference on the commercial space sector, covering market trends, emerging technologies, and the next generation of space companies. Relevant for spacetech founders given Luxembourg's space-investment ecosystem.
Milan, Italy · Accelerator Founded in 2016, Primomiglio SGR is a Milan-based venture capital firm managing over EUR 200M across sector-specific funds. Its Barcamper Ventures fund invests EUR 0.5-3M at seed and Series A in digital and ICT startups, while a dedicated SpaceTech fund targets newspace and satellite technology. Primomiglio's scouting approach uses a touring bus (the 'Barcamper') to visit Italian universities and tech hubs to discover early-stage talent. Portfolio includes companies in SaaS, IoT, and space infrastructure.
London, United Kingdom · Event The UK's space-industry expo and conference at ExCeL London, connecting space companies, defence, and the broader supply chain. For spacetech and deeptech founders it is the main UK venue to meet agencies, primes, and investors active in the space economy.
Bydgoszcz, Poland · Startup Sybilla Technologies is a Bydgoszcz-based space-tech company specialising in space situational awareness, space traffic management and orbital safety. It designs, builds and operates robotic optical observatories and the software that automates data acquisition, analysis and scheduling across sensor networks. Its space domain awareness data serves national space agencies in Poland, Italy and France, as well as the European Space Agency.
Sanliurfa, Turkey · Event TEKNOFEST 2026, the world's largest aviation, space and technology festival, is hosted in Şanlıurfa on 30 September – 4 October 2026 at GAP Airport. Organized by the Türkiye Technology Team (T3) Foundation with the Ministry of Industry and Technology under the National Technology Initiative, it runs 50+ technology competitions across aerospace, AI, defence, energy and agriculture, plus air shows, a startup programme, hackathons and exhibitions.
Wrocław, Poland · Startup Wrocław-based deep-tech company developing next-generation satellite communications payloads, SATCOM ground terminals and flexible telecom systems. Backed by ESA's HummingSAT programme; launched a pre-IPO targeting 30–35M PLN ahead of a NewConnect debut.
Toulouse, France · Event An international space-industry summit in Toulouse, Europe's space capital, organised by Novaspace with the Occitanie region. For spacetech and deeptech founders it is a focused venue to meet space agencies, primes, and investors shaping the resilient-space agenda.