Expansion Ventures has announced the closing of a first tranche of €137 million for its Expansion SLP fund, dedicated to space technologies and sustainable aviation. This financing round underscores the ambition to develop a competitive European ecosystem in these strategic sectors.
A lever for European technological sovereignty
Managed by the French investment firm Audacia, Expansion SLP aims to bridge the venture capital gap in the space and aerospace domains in Europe. According to Space Capital IQ, only $1.4 billion was invested in European space startups in 2024, compared to $11.5 billion for their U.S. counterparts.
“Space is becoming a standard industry with exponential annual growth. Expansion Ventures aims to capture this momentum by supporting entrepreneurs driving innovation in this sector,” said Charles Beigbeder, General Partner of the fund.
A promising portfolio already in place
With 19 investments made to date, Expansion Ventures has already established itself as a key player in the sector. Among the companies supported are:
- Satellite launchers: Latitude, HyPrSpace
- In-orbit services: ION-X, Arkadia, Osmos-X
- Decarbonized aviation: Ascendance Flight Technologies, WaltR
- Space tourism: Zephalto
The fund plans to finance around 30 startups, ranging from the seed stage to Series A and B, to strengthen their growth and address the challenges of energy transition and global competitiveness.
A pan-European fund with global ambitions
With offices in Paris and Stockholm, Expansion Ventures embodies a pan-European approach. Backed by institutional investors such as insurance companies, banks, and the European Investment Fund (EIF), the fund targets a final closing of €200 million.
