Aerospace startup Kreios Space has secured €8 million in seed financing to accelerate the development of satellites capable of operating in Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO). According to the company’s announcement, the round was co-led by the NATO Innovation Fund and JOIN Capital, marking the largest investment in Europe so far for this emerging orbital field.

The funding will support the launch of two demonstration satellites. As mentioned in the statement, one of these missions will validate Kreios Space’s Air-Breathing Electric Propulsion (ABEP) system in orbit for the first time. Once testing is complete, the company aims to scale production and deploy constellations focused on Earth observation and direct-to-device communication.

Kreios Space co-founder and CEO Adrián Senar explained that this orbit has long been considered unreachable, but the company’s approach could make it accessible for Europe. He highlighted that VLEO provides benefits such as sharper imagery, faster data transmission, and greater operational independence.

David Ordonez, Senior Associate at the NATO Innovation Fund, stated that supporting Kreios Space is a step toward enhancing Europe’s space autonomy. He emphasized that satellites operating at these lower altitudes could provide more precise surveillance, mobile connectivity, and mission flexibility.

The company noted that this investment follows an earlier raise of €2.3 million in 2024. With a growing team of 17 specialists from organizations such as Thales, JAXA, and ESA, Kreios is preparing to shift from laboratory research to deploying operational systems.

JOIN Capital’s Tobias Schirmer commented that Europe is now entering a turning point in satellite technology—moving from theory to real applications—and stressed the importance of building independent capacity in this domain.