Loft Orbital, a space infrastructure company with headquarters in Toulouse and San Francisco, secured €170 million in Series C funding, led by Tikehau Capital and with participation from Bpifrance’s Large Venture fund and Temasek. New strategic investors Supernova Invest and Tribeca Venture Partners have joined existing investors, further solidifying Loft Orbital’s position in the space industry.
This latest round brings Loft’s total capital raised to over €300 million since its inception. The company will use the new funding to scale its service model and build one of the largest diverse low-Earth orbit satellite fleets capable of hosting multiple mission types through a cloud-inspired approach.
How Loft Orbital addresses the challenge of speed-to-orbit in the space industry
Founded in 2017 by Pierre-Damien Vaujour, Alex Greenberg, and Antoine de Chassy, Loft Orbital simplifies and speeds up space access by providing satellite infrastructure as a service. The founders tackled a crucial industry problem: satellite mission deployment was complex, expensive, and prone to delays. Their solution was to develop a standardised satellite platform that quickly adapts to different customer payloads, allowing customers to focus solely on their payloads or data needs without managing entire satellite systems.
Loft’s supply chain is primarily “Made in France,” with over €100 million invested in French space companies — from startups to large corporations. This investment in European technological independence is critical for European space development, as shown by the IRIS program (Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity, and Security by Satellite).
Behind the Loft Orbital model
Loft has transformed space access through its cloud-inspired, modular satellite infrastructure. Their standardised platforms and modular interface let clients deploy applications without managing infrastructure, freeing them to focus on their core missions rather than technical complexities.
The Loft Orbital model consists of four key elements: a standardised satellite platform (using fixed satellite bus designs and bulk procurement), a payload hub (a universal adapter for plug-and-play payload integration), a cockpit (for efficient multi-satellite control), and pre-assembled satellite inventory.
By hosting multiple payloads on single satellites, Loft reduces costs and speeds up clients’ market entry. This approach provides quick access to in-orbit sensors and computing power. Their AI-powered orbital data processing delivers real-time analytics, enabling rapid responses to events like wildfires, maritime pollution, or GPS jamming.
Pierre-Damien Vaujour, co-founder of Loft Orbital, stated: “Loft is now structured as a global group, transforming how space and satellites are used, thanks to a unique model and growing demand. This operation will enable us to accelerate the large-scale deployment of our satellite fleet, expand our international activities, and have a seat at the table at the forefront of AI developments for the space sector, with the ambition of playing a leading role in the ongoing technological revolution.”
The space industry’s progress relies on ready-to-use satellite infrastructure
The advancement of ready-to-use satellite infrastructure is reshaping the space industry, spurring innovation and creating new opportunities for space exploration and utilisation. Adrien Muller, Investment Director at Bpifrance, concluded: “Loft’s unique ready-to-use satellite infrastructure model, a strong foothold in France and Europe, and its ability to integrate advanced technologies like AI provide real solutions to global security and climate challenges. We are convinced that this fundraising will allow Loft to accelerate its development and strengthen its position as a global leader in the space sector.”
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