Open Cosmos Raises 300 Million Euros for Europe's Satellite Infrastructure

The European space company Open Cosmos has closed a funding round totaling 300 million euros. The round is led by European investors, including Lightrock and ETF Partners. Other participants include the Institut Català de Finances, Entrepreneurs First, two major international pension funds, and other investors such as Trill Impact, Convex Group, and the UK’s National Security Strategic Investment Fund. Open Cosmos plans to use the capital to expand its satellite production while also increasing its investment in satellite-based connectivity and real-time data analytics.

As a result, the company—founded in 2015—is increasingly evolving from a satellite manufacturer into an integrated infrastructure and data provider. Open Cosmos employs nearly 400 people in the United Kingdom, Spain, Portugal, and Greece and, according to its own figures, now has a production capacity of one satellite per day.

Lightrock and ETF Partners Invest in Open Cosmos

In addition to Lightrock and ETF Partners, investors in the 300-million-euro funding round include the Institut Català de Finances (ICF), Entrepreneurs First, and two international pension funds. Other participants include A&G Global Investors, Trill Impact, Phoenix Court, the National Security Strategic Investment Fund (NSSIF), Convex Group, Santander Alternative Investments, Sankara, Ireon Ventures, Sustainable Forward Capital, Endeavor Catalyst Fund, Iberis Capital, Shilling VC, Amena Ventures, and Claret Capital Partners.

The capital is to be directed primarily toward three areas: the expansion of industrial satellite production, the expansion of the company’s own constellations and connectivity infrastructure, and the development of data and analytics services.

One Satellite a Day

Open Cosmos has significantly expanded its manufacturing capabilities in recent years. According to the company, it is currently able to produce one satellite per day across four European facilities.

At the same time, Open Cosmos points to a 100 percent success rate for its launches to date and five consecutive years of profitable growth. Over the past three and a half years, the company has also secured new business worth more than $370 million.

This sets the funding round apart from many capital-intensive SpaceTech ventures: The company is no longer in an early technological validation phase but aims to significantly scale up an existing industrial base. Its customers include governments, space agencies, and energy and infrastructure companies.

However, Open Cosmos’ broader strategic ambition extends beyond mere satellite production. The company is seeking to integrate hardware, communications, and data analysis into a unified infrastructure.

To this end, Open Cosmos has established four platforms: OpenOrbit covers the development, manufacturing, and operation of the satellites. Through OpenConstellation, multiple governments and organizations can jointly use satellite infrastructure. ConnectedCosmos is designed to enable secure broadband, IoT, orbital, and ground communications. Finally, DataCosmos processes image and sensor data into actionable analytics.

Open Cosmos aims to control as much of the value chain as possible—from the construction of a satellite to the information that ultimately reaches the customer.

From 48 Hours to 30 Minutes

The next generation of OpenConstellation demonstrates just how significant this connection could become. According to the company, it is expected to reduce the time required to deliver analyzed Earth observation data from up to 48 hours to approximately 30 minutes.

This will be made possible, among other things, by AI processing directly on board the satellites and communication between the individual spacecraft. The difference is crucial for many applications. Satellite data that is only available in analyzed form hours or days later is suitable for long-term analysis. In the case of wildfires, natural disasters, infrastructure problems, or security-related incidents, however, nearly every minute counts.

Open Cosmos aims to build an “intelligence layer” around the Earth

Open Cosmos therefore speaks of building an “intelligence layer” around the Earth. Sensors, satellite communications, and AI-powered data analysis are to be interconnected in such a way that observations are converted into actionable information as quickly as possible. One example is wildfire detection. An Earth observation satellite could detect an unusual rise in temperature and, using AI, identify it as a potential fire. This information could then be transmitted directly to emergency responders via ConnectedCosmos. Additional satellites and sensors could subsequently gather further information.

The true value of the system thus lies not necessarily in the individual satellites, but in the speed with which a decision can be made based on sensor data.

ConnectedCosmos is designed to enable independent communication

A second focus is on connectivity. Open Cosmos secured Ka-band frequency rights and, according to the company, developed, manufactured, and launched the first ConnectedCosmos satellites within just two and a half months. The platform is designed to provide secure satellite communications and, in the future, fail-safe connectivity. The company is thus targeting governments and operators of critical infrastructure in particular.

“Space infrastructure is just as critical today as energy, digital, and transportation networks,” says founder and CEO Rafel Jorda Siquier. However, infrastructure alone is not the decisive factor. Value is created by combining data analysis with global connectivity.

Europe’s desire for technological sovereignty is becoming a market

This funding round comes at a time when space is increasingly viewed as an integral part of strategic infrastructure. Governments want to be less dependent on non-European providers for communications and Earth observation.

Open Cosmos positions itself precisely at this intersection between commercial spaceflight and national sovereignty.

The company does not necessarily have to build a completely separate satellite constellation for every customer. Through OpenConstellation, multiple partners can share infrastructure. This could be particularly appealing to countries and organizations for which a dedicated constellation would make little economic or technical sense.

Investors are also increasingly turning to this market. According to industry data cited by Open Cosmos, global venture capital investments in the space sector reached $11.3 billion in the first half of 2026 alone. For the entire year of 2025, the figure was $10.1 billion.

Nearly 400 Employees and Further Expansion

The new 300 million euros are now intended to enable the next phase of scaling.

Open Cosmos plans to expand its engineering, manufacturing, and software teams in the United Kingdom, Spain, Portugal, and Greece. The company currently employs just under 400 people in those locations.

At the same time, ConnectedCosmos, OpenConstellation, and DataCosmos are set to be further expanded. This should also increase the importance of the software and data segments of the business.

It is precisely this combination that appeals to Lightrock. Partner Ash Puri sees Open Cosmos as a potential future European market leader in space infrastructure. ETF Partners also points to the conditions now in place for building internationally relevant space companies from Europe.