Isar Aerospace becomes a unicorn – Bavaria’s space travel of the future!

Isar Aerospace becomes a unicorn – Bavaria’s space travel of the future!

Isar Aerospace, an innovative space company from the Technical University of Munich (TUM), recently achieved impressive unicorn status. With a company valuation of over a billion dollars, the start-up joins the list of committed companies that have emerged from TUM in recent years. The number of TUM unicorns has now increased to 22, which reflects the dynamic corporate landscape at this institution. Loud TUM Isar Aerospace was founded by TUM graduates Daniel Metzler, Josef Fleischmann and Markus Brandl, who were supported by the comprehensive support of TUM.

The company is developing its own commercial rocket technology and aims to carry small and medium-sized satellites into space. The new carrier called 'minilauncher', which is 28 meters high and 2 meters in diameter, could significantly reduce the costs of satellite transport. Accelerating to nearly 17,000 mph (28,000 km/h), it offers a cost-effective solution for companies planning to place swarms of small satellites in low Earth orbits to maximize their use for applications such as digital farming, autonomous driving and communications networks. This increasing demand for satellites is a key element for Isar Aerospace's future growth, industry experts reported.

Technological achievements and awards

The first prototypes of Isar Aerospace were developed in UnternehmerTUM's high-tech MakerSpace workshop after its founding in 2018. The company has now set up its own production facility in Ottobrunn. This opening took place in the presence of Prime Minister Markus Söder and underlines the company's regional focus. Loud Community TUM Isar Aerospace received $150 million from investors in a recent financing round, which was instrumental in achieving unicorn status.

Isar Aerospace not only won the TUM Presidential Entrepreneurship Award in 2023, but also the German Aerospace Center's first German microlauncher competition in 2021. These successes have led to securing an 11 million euro launch contract. In 2023, the company was also awarded the EIC Horizon 'Low Cost Space Launch' prize of €10 million, cementing its position as one of the best-funded space startups in Europe.

Market opportunities and future plans

The company, which currently employs around 250 people, is planning the first commercial launch of its carrier 'Spectrum' next year. The goal is to realize 25 to 30 launches per year. Some commercial customers, such as satellite company OroraTech, are already eagerly awaiting the upcoming launches. These developments are in line with the growing global trend to increase the number of satellites in space, the impact of which is diverse - from weather reports to GPS to digital applications.

Isar Aerospace benefits from the strong network within the European space sector, which is coordinated by the European Space Agency (ESA). This organization has the mission to develop Europe's space capabilities and advocates the benefits of investments for European citizens. The collaboration between companies like Isar Aerospace and institutions like ESA underlines the space industry's enormous potential for economic growth and innovation.

Overall, the success of Isar Aerospace shows how important the support from research institutions such as TUM and UnternehmerTUM incubation programs are. These initiatives not only provide technical infrastructure and access to global networks, but also promote creative approaches to solving challenges in the aerospace industry. The growing influence of alumni on the industry demonstrates once again the relevance of education and entrepreneurship in today's economy.