SpaceTech Startup Stellar Alpina Raises €3.8M Funding In Pre-Seed Round

The round was led by Founderful, with participation from LP&E and other strategic DeepTech investors.

Founded in 2026 by ARIS alumni Rick Röthlisberger, Simi Y. Wespi, Victor Elliesen, and Patrick Egli, the company builds advanced propulsion systems and in-space mobility architectures designed to support orbital transfers, satellite repositioning, and future deep-space operations.

Stellar Alpina is focused on rotating detonation propulsion, a next-generation rocket technology that replaces traditional subsonic combustion with supersonic detonation, enabling higher energy efficiency from the same amount of propellant.

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The team believes this approach can address growing demands in the space economy, including satellite servicing, lunar missions, and orbital logistics.

The company rapidly validated its concept after incorporation, completing a full test campaign of its first engine, “Engine 0,” within 82 days. The tests included multiple successful detonation hotfires and marked one of Europe’s first commercial RDRE milestones.

The new funding will support further engine development and scaling of Stellar Alpina’s propulsion systems for the next generation of in-space mobility infrastructure.

“The space economy is moving beyond the question of access to orbit. The next challenge is movement after launch: transferring, repositioning, and operating assets across higher-energy orbits, cislunar space, and more complex mission architectures. We believe detonation-based propulsion can provide the step change this requires by making rocket engines smaller, more efficient, and more capable. Stellar Alpina is building the foundation for mobility in the space between worlds,” said Victor Elliesen, co-founder, Stellar Alpina.

About Stellar Alpina

Founded in 2026 Stellar Alpina is a Zurich-based space startup developing rotating detonation rocket engines, modular in-space vehicles, and lunar delivery systems. Founded by ARIS alumni the company is building advanced propulsion infrastructure to enable efficient orbital mobility and provide Europe with a sovereign, scalable path to lunar access.