The Exploration Company Raises $450 Mn to Build the Future of Space Travel

The funding also marks the largest investment ever raised by an EU-based company led by a female founder and CEO. The round was co-led by Bessemer Venture Partners, Atomico, and the Scaleup Europe Fund, managed by EQT.

Several of TEC’s existing European investors also joined the round, including Balderton, Plural, Cherry, and Red River West. The new funding will support TEC as it continues to grow and expand its space business globally.

“Everyone on Earth depends on infrastructure in space, yet the ability to reach, supply and return from orbit remains rare,” said Hélène Huby, Founder and CEO of The Exploration Company. “This financing will allow us to execute with urgency: to bring Nyx to the International Space Station and safely back to Earth, while accelerating Storm, the high-thrust propulsion capability Europe needs for its future reusable heavy launcher. We are scaling from Europe with talent, customers and partners from around the world because the next generation of space transportation must be built to serve more nations, industries and people – and because our mission is to contribute to build a more collaborative and peaceful future in space.”

Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic, commented: “Just before the International Space Summit in Paris, The Exploration Company has secured the largest Series C raised by a European space company. TEC’s transformational ambitions and excellence in execution, driven by the French German engine, are an inspiration for the space companies we build together in Europe.”

Founded in 2021 by Hélène Huby, The Exploration Company (TEC) is a global space company with European roots. It is building spacecraft to help people and businesses travel and operate in space.

The company develops different space transportation technologies, including reusable spacecraft and powerful engines. These systems are designed to carry cargo to space and, in the future, safely transport people and bring them back to Earth.

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