Kreios Space, a Spanish SpaceTech startup headquartered in Vigo, has secured €8 million in what marks the largest European investment to date in very low Earth orbit (VLEO) satellite technology.
The Seed round was led by the NATO Innovation Fund and Berlin-based JOIN Capital, with participation from Grow Venture Partners, Xesgalicia, and Tasivia Global. The funding will enable the Spanish startup to advance its proprietary air-breathing plasma propulsion system and launch its first two satellites into VLEO.
“We are not just building satellites, we are opening up an orbit that was long considered impossible,” said Adrián Senar, CEO and Co-founder of Kreios Space. “Very low Earth orbit offers more accurate vision, faster connectivity and greater independence in space. With this funding, we are going to demonstrate our technology in orbit and place both Europe and Spain at the forefront of this emerging domain.” (Translated)
Founded in 2021 by Adrián Senar, Jan Mataró, Francisco Boira, Adrià Barceló, Max Amer and Francisco Bosch, Kreios Space is innovating a new propulsion system known as Air-Breathing Electric Propulsion (ABEP). The system draws in atmospheric air and converts it into plasma fuel, allowing satellites to maintain low orbits for extended periods without carrying onboard propellant – a key limitation of existing low-altitude systems.
This investment builds on a previous €2.3 million raised in 2024 and sets the company on course to test its ABEP engine in orbit for the first time. The demonstration will be followed by commercial deployments focused on both Earth observation and broadband connectivity constellations.
These capabilities are seen as increasingly critical for defence, climate monitoring, and disaster response.
Operating satellites at altitudes between 150 and 400 kilometres – closer than any commercial satellite systems currently in use – offers the promise of three times higher image resolution and the potential for direct-to-device broadband connectivity without bulky antennas.
“Kreios’ technology represents a decisive leap toward unlocking the next frontier of very low Earth orbit,” noted David Ordoñez, Senior Associate at the NATO Innovation Fund. “By bringing satellites closer to Earth, they enable high-resolution imaging and direct-to-device broadband at an entirely new level – capabilities vital for European security.” (Translated)
The move comes at a time when Europe is intensifying efforts to reduce its dependence on non-European space infrastructure.
With ABEP-powered satellites positioned mere hundreds of kilometres above the surface, applications ranging from wildfire detection to infrastructure monitoring become more accurate and cost-effective. Meanwhile, the potential for resilient, sovereign broadband communications could transform connectivity for remote regions, emergency response, and military operations.
“Europe cannot afford to be left out of the next orbital economy,” stated Tobias Schirmer, Founding Partner at JOIN Capital. “What excites us about Kreios is the strategic significance it holds for Europe combined with the readiness of the technology. VLEO has long been a research focus; now it’s ready for real-world deployment.” (Translated)
From its origins as a lab concept in 2021, Kreios Space has grown into a 17-person team attracting talent from organisations including Thales, JAXA, and the European Space Agency (ESA). The firm has also received support from the Spanish CDTI and the Spanish Space Agency (AEE) under the National Space Technology Programme, reinforcing the Spain’s commitment to advancing its orbital economy.
Read the orginal article: https://www.eu-startups.com/2025/09/spains-kreios-space-secures-e8-million-to-bring-satellites-closer-to-earth-and-strengthen-european-strategic-autonomy/
