European Sovereignty Monitor

Industry, investment and R&D

Franco-German space firm Exploration Company raises USD 450 million Series C

The Exploration Company, the Franco-German space firm, closed a USD 450 million (about EUR 387 million) Series C led by Bessemer, Atomico and EQT's Scaleup Europe Fund, funding its Nyx capsule and Storm rocket engine programmes.

Reported European Spaceflight, 8 September 2026

What it does not test. This does not establish that Nyx has flown or docked, or that Storm has been test fired; it is capital committed, not a demonstrated capability.

How this item counts. No movement: no answer to who owns, who operates, whose law governs or who made the parts changes. Weight 0. Series C closed (EUR ~387m); minority stakes incl. US VC, no control/ownership shift stated. European Sovereignty Index

Previously in Industry, investment and R&D

Verified Mistral raises record EUR 3 billion Series D led by Samsung at EUR 21 billion valuation Verified Claret Capital closes EUR 575 million Fund IV for non-dilutive European tech debt Reported France's sovereign cloud champion Nubevia buys Comlink in fifth acquisition

All Industry, investment and R&D news →