The rocket manufacturing industry in Benelux is making significant strides in space exploration and satellite technology. Companies range from startups aspiring to replace traditional propulsion methods to established firms specializing in satellite launch and design. Noteworthy technologies under development include advanced propulsion systems and nanosatellites tailored for specific commercial applications. The sector is also focusing on sustainability, looking to minimize the environmental impact of rocket launches, and is rapidly collaborating with European entities to elevate its global position in the aerospace market, positioning Benelux as a budding hub for innovation and growth in rocket manufacturing.


The list of investors includes a mix of venture capital firms, private equity investors, and public entities, primarily located in major cities across Benelux. Ranging from smaller firms with fewer than 50 employees to sizeable organizations employing up to 5000 staff, they collectively contributed around 289 investments in 2024. Founded between 1985 and 2018, the firms prioritize strategic funding across emerging technologies, with a focus on supporting the rocket manufacturing industry during a pivotal era of technological advancement.


Top 13 Rocket Manufacturing Investors in Benelux


1. European Innovation Council (EIC)


The European Innovation Council (EIC) is a public entity based in Brussels, Belgium, established to support innovation and entrepreneurship across Europe. Founded in 1958, the EIC offers various funding programs, including the EIC Accelerator and EIC Pathfinder, aimed at helping startups and SMEs develop and scale their technologies. The EIC provides business acceleration services, networking opportunities, and prizes to foster innovation in multiple sectors. Notably, the EIC has been involved in several transactions relevant to the rocket manufacturing industry, such as providing grants to Dawn Aerospace for their innovative propulsion systems, funding to ThrustMe for their propulsion technology, and supporting Aurora Propulsion Technologies in their development of advanced propulsion solutions. These transactions highlight the EIC's commitment to advancing technologies that are crucial for the rocket manufacturing sector.


2. European Investment Bank (EIB)


The European Investment Bank (EIB) is a public entity based in Luxembourg, founded in 1958, that provides financial services such as loans, equity investments, guarantees, and advisory services to support sustainable projects across various sectors. EIB's clientele includes both public and private organizations seeking funding for initiatives that promote growth and job creation. In the context of the space industry, EIB has been involved in several notable transactions, including a venture debt financing agreement of up to EUR 18 million for GomSpace, a Danish space company specializing in nano-satellite platforms. This funding aims to support product innovation crucial for high-frequency applications in the telecom sector. Additionally, EIB has invested in Spire Global, providing €20 million to aid in the development of a satellite constellation and new software applications. These transactions highlight EIB's engagement in the space sector, which is relevant to rocket manufacturing.


3. Exor N.V.

  • Website: exor.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands
  • Founded year: 2009
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Number of deals in 2024: 26
  • LinkedIn: exor_2

Exor N.V. is a holding company based in Amsterdam, Netherlands, founded in 2009. It operates across multiple sectors, including automotive, healthcare, and media, and manages a diverse portfolio of companies such as Ferrari, Stellantis, and Philips. Exor focuses on enhancing value through strategic investments and operational support. In the context of rocket manufacturing, Exor has made notable investments, including participation in the Series D funding round for Ursa Major, a rocket propulsion company that raised $138 million to develop its solid rocket motor program. Additionally, Exor invested in Radian Aerospace, which raised $27.5 million to support its plans for building an orbital space plane. These transactions highlight Exor's commitment to the rocket manufacturing industry, alongside its broader investment strategy.


4. Noshaq

  • Website: noshaq.be
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Belgium
  • Founded year: 1985
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Number of deals in 2024: 11
  • LinkedIn: noshaq-be

Noshaq is a venture capital investment fund based in Belgium, founded in 1985. It provides financial solutions and strategic support to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the province of Liege, focusing on funding, project structuring, and business development. While Noshaq primarily targets sectors such as biotech and sustainable development, it has also participated in notable transactions in the aerospace sector. For instance, Noshaq was involved in a €40 million Series B funding round for Aerospacelab, a company dedicated to increasing satellite production capacity and deploying constellations for Earth monitoring. This investment highlights Noshaq's engagement in the aerospace industry, which is closely related to rocket manufacturing. Additionally, Noshaq has made investments in various other sectors, demonstrating its diverse investment strategy while still showing interest in innovative technologies that could impact the aerospace field.


5. InnovationQuarter

  • Website: innovationquarter.nl
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: The Hague, South Holland, Netherlands
  • Founded year: 2013
  • Headcount: 51-200
  • Number of deals in 2024: 9
  • LinkedIn: innovationquarter

InnovationQuarter is a public entity based in The Hague, South Holland, founded in 2013, that focuses on regional development by providing innovation support, investment funding, and internationalization assistance to businesses, particularly startups and SMEs. The organization collaborates with various sectors to enhance economic growth and facilitate innovative projects. Notably, InnovationQuarter has invested in Dawn Aerospace, a New Zealand-Dutch startup known for its cutting-edge satellite propulsion systems and the development of the Mk-II Spaceplane. This investment highlights InnovationQuarter's engagement in the rocket manufacturing industry, as it supports technologies that are integral to space exploration and satellite deployment. Additionally, InnovationQuarter has participated in funding rounds for other innovative companies, showcasing its commitment to fostering technological advancements across various sectors.


6. NewSpace Capital


NewSpace Capital is a private equity firm based in Luxembourg, founded in 2018, specializing in growth investments in the space industry. The firm focuses on deep-tech companies that address global challenges, providing investment management and strategic support. NewSpace Capital operates across various market segments within the space technology sector, including Earth observation and telecommunications. Notably, they have participated in significant funding rounds for companies like Voyager Space, which raised $80.2 million, and ICEYE, which secured $87 million in Series C funding. Their investment in ATLAS Space Operations and Simera Sense also highlights their commitment to supporting innovative companies in the space sector, further solidifying their role as a key player in the industry.


7. Eureka Network


Eureka Network is a not-for-profit organization based in Etterbeek, Brussels, Belgium, founded in 1985. It facilitates international cooperation in research and development (R&D) and innovation, offering various funding programs such as Eurostars and Globalstars to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), research organizations, and universities in their R&D projects. In recent years, Eureka has been involved in several transactions relevant to the rocket manufacturing context, including grants to companies like Alba Orbital, which focuses on small satellite technology, and SpaceChain, which works on blockchain technology for space applications. These transactions highlight Eureka's role in supporting innovative solutions in the space sector, thereby contributing to advancements in rocket manufacturing and related technologies.


8. Graduate Entrepreneur Fund


The Graduate Entrepreneur Fund is a venture capital firm based in the Netherlands, founded in 2021. It specializes in providing funding and support to early-stage startups founded by alumni of the universities of Delft and Rotterdam. The firm typically invests between €75K to €2M, offering tailored support, coaching, and networking opportunities to help entrepreneurs navigate the challenges of starting a business. Notably, the fund has participated in several transactions relevant to the rocket manufacturing and space industry, including investments in Revolv Space, a startup focused on space technology, and Spherical Systems, which is developing chips for extreme space conditions. Additionally, they have invested in Fusion Engineering, a flight control startup, further demonstrating their engagement in the aerospace sector.


9. Capricorn Partners


Capricorn Partners is an investment management firm based in Leuven, Flanders, Belgium, specializing in venture capital, growth capital, and quoted equity funds. Founded in 1993, the firm focuses on innovative companies across various sectors, including digital technologies, health, and clean technologies. They are committed to responsible investing, aiming to create both financial returns and strategic value for their clients. Notably, Capricorn Partners has participated in significant transactions, including a Series E-K investment in SpaceX, which raised $1 billion to support research in space transport and satellite manufacturing. This involvement in SpaceX highlights their interest in the aerospace sector, complementing their broader investment strategy in innovative technologies.


10. OTB Ventures

  • Website: otb.vc
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands
  • Founded year: 2017
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Number of deals in 2024: 6
  • LinkedIn: otb-ventures

OTB Ventures is a venture capital firm based in Amsterdam, Netherlands, founded in 2017. The firm specializes in early-stage investments in deep-tech startups across various sectors, including SpaceTech, AI, FinTech, and CyberSecurity. OTB Ventures has been actively investing in the space sector, as evidenced by their recent transactions. In March 2024, they led a €3.7 million seed funding round for Kurs Orbital, an Italian spacetech startup focused on developing rocket technology. They also participated in a seed round for ATMOS Space Cargo, which raised over $1.4 million in February 2024. Furthermore, OTB Ventures has been involved in multiple funding rounds for ICEYE, a company that specializes in satellite technology, raising significant amounts in Series B, C, and D rounds. These investments highlight OTB Ventures' commitment to supporting innovative companies in the rocket manufacturing and broader space technology sectors.


11. Sambrinvest

  • Website: sambrinvest.be
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: Charleroi, Wallonia, Belgium
  • Founded year: 1985
  • Headcount: 11-50
  • Number of deals in 2024: 2
  • LinkedIn: sambrinvest

Sambrinvest is a venture capital firm based in Charleroi, Wallonia, Belgium, founded in 1985. With over 35 years of experience and more than €200 million under management, the firm specializes in providing financial solutions to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across various sectors, including life sciences and technology. Notably, Sambrinvest participated in a Series B funding round for Aerospacelab, which raised €40 million to enhance satellite production capacity and develop geospatial data analytics capabilities. This investment highlights Sambrinvest's engagement in the aerospace sector, particularly in initiatives that are relevant to rocket manufacturing. Additionally, the firm has been involved in other transactions, primarily in biotech and technology, but its investment in Aerospacelab positions it as a player in the aerospace industry.


12. Cvc

  • Website: cvc.com
  • Type: Private Equity
  • Headquarters: Luxembourg
  • Founded year: 2005
  • Headcount: 1001-5000
  • Number of deals in 2024: 16
  • LinkedIn: cvc-capital-partners

CVC Capital Partners is a prominent investment firm based in Luxembourg, specializing in private equity, credit, secondaries, and infrastructure. Founded in 2005, it manages approximately €193 billion in assets for over 1000 clients, including pension funds and institutional investors. CVC focuses on delivering sustainable value and growth through strategic investments. Among its notable transactions, CVC acquired Ontic Engineering and Manufacturing, Inc. in July 2019 for $1.365 billion, which is significant as Ontic manufactures aerospace parts, linking CVC to the aerospace sector. Other acquisitions, such as Infastech, Delachaux, and Genetic SpA, while important, do not directly relate to rocket manufacturing, indicating a broader investment strategy rather than a specific focus on the rocket industry.


13. Forward Venture Capital

  • Website: forwardvc.com
  • Type: Venture Capital
  • Headquarters: The Hague, South Holland, Netherlands
  • Founded year: 2016
  • Headcount: 1-10
  • Number of deals in 2024: 2
  • LinkedIn: forwardventurecapital

Forward Venture Capital is a venture capital firm based in The Hague, South Holland, Netherlands, founded in 2016. The firm specializes in supporting early-stage entrepreneurs by providing both investment and guidance to help accelerate their growth. While Forward Venture Capital primarily focuses on sectors such as digital commerce and SaaS, they have also shown interest in the aerospace industry through their investment in Turion Space, a startup dedicated to satellite servicing and space debris removal, which closed a $4.7M seed round in September 2021. This investment highlights their engagement in the rocket manufacturing context, as Turion's mission is closely tied to space operations. Additionally, Forward Venture Capital participated in a funding round for Graphmatech, although this company is more focused on materials technology rather than direct rocket manufacturing. Overall, Forward Venture Capital's involvement in the aerospace sector through Turion Space positions them as a relevant player in the rocket manufacturing investment landscape.



Rocket Manufacturing Insights: Key Investors in Benelux


InvestorHeadquarterSizeFoundedDeals 2024
European Innovation Council (EIC)Brussels, Brussels, Belgium201-500195857
European Investment Bank (EIB)Luxembourg1001-5000195899
Exor N.V.Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands11-50200926
NoshaqBelgium11-50198511
InnovationQuarterThe Hague, South Holland, Netherlands51-20020139
NewSpace CapitalLuxembourg11-5020183
Eureka NetworkEtterbeek, Brussels, Belgium11-5019851
Graduate Entrepreneur FundNetherlands11-5020219
Capricorn PartnersLeuven, Flanders, Belgium11-5019935
OTB VenturesAmsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands11-5020176
SambrinvestCharleroi, Wallonia, Belgium11-5019852
CvcLuxembourg1001-5000200516
Forward Venture CapitalThe Hague, South Holland, Netherlands1-1020162


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