News & Podcast
Stay up to date with the latest stories, deep-dives and interviews from the Munich startup ecosystem. From funding deals to founder portraits and tech trends.
The Exploration Company: Nyx capsule passes critical parachute test
The Munich spacetech startup The Exploration Company has successfully completed an important development step for its Nyx space capsule. In a drop test in California, the recovery system worked as planned – a crucial proof of the spacecraft’s safe return and another milestone on the path to the planned demonstration flight in 2028.
The Exploration Company acquires Thrustworks
Munich-based space company The Exploration Company (TEC) has announced the acquisition of Thrustworks GmbH from Mönchengladbach. With the acquisition, TEC expands its own supply chain and develops highly specialized manufacturing for space and defense applications in North Rhine-Westphalia.
Five Munich startups among the Norrsken/100
The Norrsken Foundation has published its impact/100 list this year – and Munich is well represented: five startups from the Bavarian capital are among the world’s most important impact companies. They demonstrate how innovation and sustainability can work together.
€150 million: Successful Series B for The Exploration Company
The Exploration Company secures €150 million in a Series B funding round. The funding round is led by Balderton Capital and Plural. Bessemer Venture Partners, NGP Capital, French Tech Souveraineté, DeepTech & Climate Fonds (DTCF), and Bayern Kapital are also participating. Existing investors are also returning, including EQT Ventures, Red River West, Cherry Ventures, Promus Ventures, and Omnes Real Tech Fund. The fresh capital will be used for further development and testing of the Nyx spacecraft and expansion of the 200-person team.
Key milestones for The Exploration Company, Isar Aerospace and other spacetech startups
Several startups from the Munich new space economy have celebrated successes recently. We’ve compiled them for you.
Recent milestones for Munich new space startups
The Munich new space community continues to grow and the startups are celebrating successes. Most recently, Ororatech, The Exploration Company, Reflex Aerospace, Cloudeo, Talos and Dcubed.
The Exploration Company raises €40.5 million
The spacetech startup The Exploration Company develops a reusable space capsule designed to transport people and cargo into space. In its Series A, the company headquartered in Weßling and Méringnac near Bordeaux is now raising €40.5 million.