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The Exploration Company funding, valuation and investors
European reusable spacecraft company building Nyx capsule and Storm engines toward sovereign launch and logistics capacity.
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Funding, valuation & investors
Answer-first snapshotLatest funding
Series C
$450M · September 2026
Latest known valuation
Not publicly disclosed
Total disclosed equity funding
$450M
Excludes debt, grants, acquisitions, secondaries, and IPO proceeds.
Current status
private
growth · Munich / Gauting, Germany (multi-EU)
Investors in latest funding
Lead: Atomico , Scaleup Europe Fund (EQT) , Bessemer Venture Partners
Overview
The Exploration Company (TEC) develops reusable space logistics from multi-country European bases (Germany, France, Luxembourg, Spain, Italy). Flagship programs include Nyx (reusable capsule targeting ISS docking by November 2028) and Storm (full-flow staged combustion engines). CEO Hélène Huby (ex-Airbus/ArianeGroup). September 8, 2026 Series C: $450M co-led by Atomico and Scaleup Europe Fund (EQT) alongside Bessemer Venture Partners.
Why The Exploration Company is interesting
September 8, 2026 $450M Series C — billed as Europe’s largest space Series C — co-led by Atomico and EQT’s Scaleup Europe Fund with Bessemer, citing more than $2B in contracts and commitments.
Product & use cases
Nyx reusable capsule for cargo then crew logistics, plus Storm engines as the propulsion path toward a European heavy reusable launcher.
- ISS / station cargo logistics for ESA and commercial customers
- Sovereign European launch and return capacity independent of SpaceX
- Future constellation deployment once a larger launcher is funded
Key facts
- Series C (Sep 8, 2026): $450M — Atomico + EQT Scaleup Europe Fund + Bessemer (TechCrunch)
- Company/Atomico claim: 10 Nyx missions booked; >$2B contracts and commitments
- Nyx target: dock with ISS and return by November 2028
- Storm engine program funded initially from Series C; pad + full rocket need more capital later (CEO)
Funding history (newest first)
Series C
2026-09 $450M- Atomico (lead)
- Scaleup Europe Fund (EQT) (lead)
- Bessemer Venture Partners (lead)
Source: Read source · techcrunch.com
Investors in our directory
Funds linked from The Exploration Company's profile — open a fund page for stage focus and related deal articles.
Industries
Market / IPO context
Editorial / static context — not a live quote.
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