New Space Europe

HyImpulse secures EUR 45 million for the development of European rocket technology

HyImpulse takes off. The German space start-up secures 45 million euros to set up an independent European rocket production facility.
News by Marc Nemitz Marc Nemitz · Heilbronn, 16. October 2025

Space startup HyImpulse Technologies has closed a Series A financing round of 15 million euros in equity and secured an additional 30 million euros in funding. The round is led by Campus Founders Ventures, with other investors including Helantic, GIMIC, the Global Resilience Innovation Fund (GRIF), MBG Baden-Württemberg, SBG Heilbronn-Franken, Vienna Point and several private investors. The capital will flow into the commercialization of the SL1 orbital rocket and the expansion of production capacities.

Since its foundation, HyImpulse has received around 74 million euros in financing.

Investors back European sovereignty

HyImpulse wants to use the funding to reduce Europe's dependence on non-European space providers.

Europe does not have its own access to space. With the fresh capital, we will accelerate the commercialization of our orbital rocket and thus make Europe more independent and competitive.

Dr. Christian Schmierer, co-founder and CEO of HyImpulse

While providers such as SpaceX offer standardized launch services, HyImpulse positions itself as a flexible provider of individual launch solutions. Customers can customize time slots and payloads. A model that closes the market gap between large launchers and small satellite providers.

A milestone for European space travel

"HyImpulse has already made space history," says Oliver Hanisch, CEO of Campus Founders Ventures."With an extremely efficient use of funds, the team was the first privately financed German space company to develop and successfully test a hybrid rocket."

Hanisch emphasizes the strategic importance of the company:"HyImpulse shows how cutting-edge research and deep tech can be turned into marketable products. We have been supporting the team for more than three years and are delighted to be helping to build an internationally relevant company." Prof. Dr.-Ing. Rudolf F. Schwarz from IABG, also an investor, also praised the progress.

Hybrid technology as a key innovation

HyImpulse is developing hybrid rocket technologies that use liquid oxygen and kerosene as a propulsion combination. The approach reduces the number of components by around 50 percent, lowers costs and increases reliability. These are key factors for cost-efficient access to space.

The SR75 suborbital rocket successfully completed a test flight in 2024, demonstrating the functionality of the technology. The first commercial launch of the SR75 is planned for 2026. At the same time, the company is working on the three-stage SL1 orbital rocket, which will transport payloads of up to 600 kilograms into orbit from 2027.

European access to space

Europe currently has no independent access to orbit. According to the Space Economy Report 2024, European providers accounted for less than one percent of all global launches. HyImpulse wants to change this with a technology that will make the continent more independent, sustainable and technologically competitive.

The market is highly dynamic: according to McKinsey, the global satellite business will grow to 1.25 trillion euros by 2040. HyImpulse positioned itself early on and has already secured orders in the three-digit million range as well as launch sites on several continents.

HyImpulse Technologies GmbH, with sites in Neuenstadt, Ottobrunn and Glasgow, develops rockets for suborbital and orbital launch services. With around 65 employees, the company focuses on commercial payload transportation and is considered one of the most important European players in the field of hybrid rocket propulsion technology.


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