The Exploration Company at a glance
As of- [1] Equity raised: Sum of the 1 sourced equity round in the funding history below (debt, tender offers and rumored rounds excluded), September 8, 2026
- [2] Lead investors: TechCrunch, September 8, 2026
- [3] Founded: Wikidata (retrieved September 27, 2026)
- [4] Headquarters: Wikidata (retrieved September 27, 2026)
What The Exploration Company does
The Exploration Company (TEC) says it is building spacecraft including a reusable capsule and a high-thrust rocket engine.[1] Its Nyx capsule is designed to carry cargo to and from space stations in low-Earth orbit, according to the company.[1] TEC says its Storm engine is designed to deliver up to 180 tons of thrust.[1] TechCrunch reported in September 2026 that TEC aims to dock Nyx with the International Space Station and return it to Earth by November 2028.[2] The company operates out of Germany, France, Luxembourg, Spain and Italy, with offices in the United States and the UAE, and employed more than 550 people as of September 2026.[3],[4]
Business model and customers
TEC said in September 2026 that it has won more than $2 billion in contracts and commitments globally.[4] On September 10, 2026, the European Space Agency signed an ALADDIN service contract with TEC with a total value of €760 million, according to the company.[5] TEC says it has pre-booking agreements for Nyx with Axiom, Starlab and Vast, for a total of 10 missions booked.[5] TEC also agreed with Arianespace to launch the first Nyx capsule on an Ariane 6 rocket.[5] The company says it was the first European space startup to sign a Space Act Agreement with NASA.[4]
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Recent changes
- Sep 8, 2026Sep 8, 2026Raised $450M Series C TechCrunch
- Sep 8, 2026Sep 8, 2026New investor: Plural TechCrunch
- Sep 8, 2026Sep 8, 2026New investor: Balderton Capital TechCrunch
- Sep 8, 2026Sep 8, 2026New investor: Bessemer Venture Partners TechCrunch
- Sep 8, 2026Sep 8, 2026New investor: Atomico TechCrunch
Earlier changes (1)
- Sep 8, 2026Sep 8, 2026The Exploration Company Raises $450M for Nyx Pulse story
Funding history
1 equity event · newest first · sources dated per row| Date | Round | Amount | Valuation | Lead investors | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 8, 2026 | Series C | $450M | — | TechCrunch |
Equity only. “Equity raised” above sums the rounds with a dated, linked source; rumored rounds, tender offers and secondary sales are listed but not counted, and debt financing is listed separately.
How The Exploration Company has been funded
On September 8, 2026, The Exploration Company announced a $450 million Series C, which it describes as the largest-ever Series C announced by a European space company.[4] Bessemer Venture Partners, Atomico and the EQT-managed Scaleup Europe Fund co-led the Series C, with existing backers Balderton, Plural, Cherry and Red River West participating.[4],[2] The company said the Series C brings its total funding secured to date to approximately $680 million.[4] TEC said the funding will advance Nyx toward an ISS docking mission and accelerate development of the Storm rocket engine.[4] Bessemer partner Alex Ferrara will join TEC's board of directors as part of the Series C.[4]
Investors and their roles
- Bessemer Venture Partners (co-led the Series C, Sep 2026)[4]
- Atomico (co-led the Series C, Sep 2026)[4]
- Scaleup Europe Fund, managed by EQT (co-led the Series C, Sep 2026)[4]
- Balderton (existing backer, participated in the Series C, Sep 2026)[4]
- Plural (existing backer, participated in the Series C, Sep 2026)[4]
- Cherry (existing backer, participated in the Series C, Sep 2026)[4]
- Red River West (existing backer, participated in the Series C, Sep 2026)[4]
Investors
Latest Pulse
- Sep 8, 2026Exploration Company Raises $450M To Rival SpaceXThe Exploration Company, a Munich- and Bordeaux-based spacecraft maker, raised a $450 million Series C led by Atomico, Bessemer and the Scaleup Europe Fund to fund its Storm rocket engine and Nyx reusable capsule program.→
- Sep 8, 2026The Exploration Company Raises $450M for NyxThe Exploration Company raised a $450 million Series C, the largest ever for a European space startup, to scale its reusable Nyx cargo capsule toward crewed and lunar missions.→
Coverage Timeline
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The Exploration Company FAQ
How much has The Exploration Company raised?
The Exploration Company said its $450 million Series C in September 2026 brought its total funding secured to date to approximately $680 million.[4]
Who invested in The Exploration Company?
Bessemer Venture Partners, Atomico and the EQT-managed Scaleup Europe Fund co-led TEC's September 2026 Series C, with Balderton, Plural, Cherry and Red River West participating.[4]
Who founded The Exploration Company?
The Exploration Company was founded in 2021 by Hélène Huby and a team of aerospace veterans; Huby is Founder and CEO.[4]
What does The Exploration Company do?
The Exploration Company builds the reusable Nyx cargo capsule for low-Earth-orbit space stations and the Storm high-thrust rocket engine.[1]
Where is The Exploration Company based?
TEC's German parent entity, The Exploration Company GmbH, is registered in Gauting, Germany, and the company operates out of Germany, France, Luxembourg, Spain and Italy.[6],[3]
Is The Exploration Company public?
The Exploration Company raised a private Series C in September 2026, so it is privately held as of that date.[4]
When was The Exploration Company founded and where is it based?
The Exploration Company was founded in 2021 and is headquartered in Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany, according to Wikidata.
References
researched 2026-10-19Sources & methodologyshow
Where these figures come from
- TechCrunchmajor outlet1 fact
Figures are labelled Reported (a source states it), Estimated, Derived (computed from other facts) or Rumored (in talks / unconfirmed). Rumors never replace a confirmed figure. Each figure keeps its own as-of date; history is preserved rather than overwritten.