Open Cosmos Secures €300M to Scale Satellite Operations
UK-based satellite manufacturer Open Cosmos has closed a massive €300 million funding round to expand manufacturing and accelerate Earth observation and communication constellation deployments.
Capital Injection for Orbital Infrastructure
Open Cosmos, the UK-headquartered satellite manufacturer, has solidified its position in the European space sector by closing a €300 million funding round. Announced on 14 September, the capital influx marks a significant leap from its previous $50 million Series B round finalized in late 2023. According to European Spaceflight, the funding will be utilized to scale satellite production capacity and accelerate the deployment of the firm's proprietary Earth observation (EO) and telecommunications constellations.
Investor Breakdown
The round saw heavy involvement from both venture capital and institutional investors. Leading the investment were UK firms Lightrock, ETF Partners, and Entrepreneurs First. Notably, the Institut Català de Finances (Catalonia's public financial body) joined the round, highlighting regional interest in sovereign space capabilities. In a shift toward more traditional finance, two unnamed international pension funds also participated as lead investors, signaling growing mainstream confidence in space-based infrastructure.
Operational Expansion
The primary objective of this capital raise is the industrialization of satellite manufacturing. Open Cosmos intends to transition from small-batch production to high-volume output to meet the rising demand for sovereign data. By expanding its constellations, the company aims to provide more frequent and precise data for environmental monitoring and secure communications, sectors that have become critical to European strategic autonomy. This deal underscores a broader trend of private and institutional capital flowing into European downstream services, ensuring the continent maintains a competitive edge in orbital data services.