Loft, a pioneer in simplified access to space, announces a €170 million fundraising to accelerate the deployment of its satellite fleet, which can simultaneously host various types of missions through a cloud-inspired model. With over €500 million signed contracts and 30 satellites in production, Loft enables its institutional and private clients to fasten the launch of critical missions into orbit using turnkey space infrastructure that supports advanced technologies like AI, for strategic applications in environment, security, and defense.
– Loft announces a €170 million Series C fundraising round, solidifying its position as a leader in the New Space revolution. This round was led by the global alternative asset manager Tikehau Capital, with significant participation from Bpifrance with its Large Venture fund and Temasek. New strategic investors, including Supernova Invest, the leading deeptech investment firm in Europeand Tribeca Venture Partners are also joining the historical investors.
With over half a billion euros in signed contracts and a continuously expanding satellite fleet, Loft has become a key player in space infrastructure. This fundraising brings the total capital raised by the company since its inception to over €300 million and will scale its service model to soon constitute one of the largest heterogeneous low Earth orbit satellite fleets. More than 30 satellites are currently in production.
The surge in demand for commercial space solutions is driven by two major trends in an unstable geopolitical context, and the impacting our planet. The development of new satellite capacity access solutions thus represents a significant challenge for the industry.
Today, it takes several years to design, manufacture, test, and launch a satellite mission, with deadlines often missed. These delays hinder innovation at a time when climate and security challenges are more critical than ever. , providing standardized, reliable, quickly operational space infrastructure capable of hosting any type of mission.
Since inception in 2017, Loft has revolutionized space access with modular, . By offering standardized platforms and a modular interface, institutional and private clients can deploy their applications without worrying about managing the infrastructure. Loft allows them .
Loft pools resources by hosting multiple payloads on a single satellite, reducing costs and time-to-market for its clients. This allows easy and fast access to a comprehensive range of in-orbit sensors coupled with onboard computing capabilities. By processing data directly in orbit with AI-powered software applications, Loft’s clients can obtain real-time analytics, shortening the time between data collection and exploitation. This unique model paves the way for strategic applications such as real-time detection of climatic events (wildfires, maritime pollution) or sensitive operations (GPS jammers).
Several strategic milestones have recently been achieved, driven by strong commercial momentum:
● for clients ranging from international space institutions like NASA, CNES, and ESA, to defense agencies such as the US Space Force and Space Development Agency, and tech giants like Microsoft, as well as global leaders in AI, including Earth Daily, Helsing, Anduril, etc.
● successfully executed, with
● , demonstrating a strong growth trajectory.
● which will launch its first satellites for the Space Development Agency in 2025.
● with Marlan Space, including the construction of a 5,000 m² factory in Abu Dhabi to serve the Middle Eastern market.
With , Europe’s space capital, and , at the heart of Silicon Valley, Loft is by its presence in the Middle East and the entry of Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund into its capital structure.
In Europe, France plays a central role in the group’s development, with a strong commitment to the local space ecosystem. The Toulouse site hosts nearly 100 employees from 20 different nationalities and directly contributes to talent development and the attractiveness of space-related careers, fostering collaborations between startups, SMEs, and major industrial groups. Toulouse also manages all export contracts for Southeast Asia and the Middle East.
Loft relies on a predominantly “” supply chain, across startups, SMEs, and large corporations. This value chain, which supports European technological sovereignty, is particularly strategic as European space enters a pivotal moment in its history, exemplified by the IRIS² program (Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity, and Security by Satellite), which underscores European strategic autonomy. Loft’s unique ability to work with both large groups and startups provides a competitive advantage to the French and European ecosystem in an increasingly competitive international environment. Loft aims to play an increasingly pivotal role in these ambitious projects, heralding a new era for the space industry.
“We are proud to welcome these new investors onboard in Loft’s journey, while benefiting from the renewed confidence of our longstanding partners. Loft is now structured as a global group, transforming the way 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.”
““We are delighted to support Loft Orbital as it continues to advance capabilities in space infrastructure. Our extensive expertise in aerospace and defense, along with our proven track record in sourcing and executing co-investments across North America, Europe and Asia, enables us to bring significant value to ventures like Loft. We look forward to collaborating with the Loft team and our co-investors as they embark on this next chapter of their journey, driving innovation and scaling their impact in the New Space economy” Thomas Friedberger, deputy CEO of Tikehau Capital.
Adrien Muller, Investment Director at Bpifrance, adds: “We are proud to renew our support for Loft’s management through this latest fundraising, one of the most significant in the global New Space sector. 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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Contacts
Florian Ridard – Vae Solis Communications – +33 7 69 59 14 95 – [email protected]
Thomas Coulom – Vae Solis Communications – +33 6 45 83 91 08 – [email protected]
Gabriel Chekroun – Vae Solis Communications – +33 6 58 66 23 41 – [email protected]
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About Loft
Loft Orbital was founded in 2017 to address the challenge of speed-to-orbit in the space industry. Our mission is to make space simple for our customers by providing a fast, reliable, and straightforward path to deploy their missions. We deploy and operate customer missions with speed, simplicity, and reliability. We integrate, launch, and operate spacecraft, offering an end-to-end service model that includes turnkey integration and minimal nonrecurring engineering (NRE). We operate from our facilities in San Francisco, CA, Golden, CO, and Toulouse, France. In 2024, we established Orbitworks, a joint venture with Marlan Space, to create the Middle East’s first private space infrastructure company, further expanding our global reach and capabilities. With over 25 missions deployed and a team of more than 250 employees, we serve commercial and government customers worldwide. Our productized satellite platform and inventory-based approach eliminate lead time risks, allowing customers to focus on their payloads and missions.
About Tikehau Capital
Tikehau Capital is a global alternative asset management group overseeing €47.1 billion in assets under management (as of September 30, 2024). Tikehau Capital has developed a broad range of expertise across four asset classes (credit, real assets, private equity, and capital markets strategies) and offers solutions focused on multi-asset strategies and special situations. Led by its co-founders, Tikehau Capital operates with a differentiated business model, a strong balance sheet, privileged access to global transaction opportunities, and extensive experience supporting high-caliber companies and executives. Deeply rooted in the real economy, Tikehau Capital provides tailored and innovative alternative financing solutions to its portfolio companies, aiming to create long-term value for its investors while generating a positive societal impact. With significant shareholders’ equity (€3.1 billion as of June 30, 2024), the Group invests its capital alongside its client-investors in each of its strategies. Controlled by its management, alongside top-tier institutional partners, Tikehau Capital is driven by a strong entrepreneurial spirit and DNA, shared by its 767 employees (as of September 30, 2024) across its 17 offices in Europe, Asia, and North America. Tikehau Capital is listed on the regulated Euronext market in Paris, Compartment A (ISIN code: FR0013230612; Ticker: TKO.FP). For more information, visit : www.tikehau capital.com.
About Bpifrance and Its Large Venture Fund
Bpifrance’s equity investments are managed by Bpifrance Investissement. Bpifrance finances companies at every stage of their development through loans, guarantees, and equity investments. It supports their innovation projects and international growth. Bpifrance also facilitates their export activities with a wide range of products. Advisory services, training, networking, and acceleration programs for startups, SMEs, and mid-sized companies are also part of the offer available to entrepreneurs. With its 50 regional offices, Bpifrance provides entrepreneurs with a close, unique, and effective point of contact to help them tackle their challenges. Large Venture, with €2.5 billion in assets, is Bpifrance’s venture growth fund dedicated to high-potential technology companies, aiming to foster the emergence of French champions that will become global market leaders. Since its creation in 2013, the fund has invested in over 80 companies in sectors such as health and life sciences, digital technology, and greentech.
