Loft, a pioneer in simplified access to space, announced a €170 million fundraising to accelerate the deployment of its satellite fleet, which can simultaneously host various types of missions through a cloud-inspired model.
With over €500 million signed contracts and 30 satellites in production, Loft enables its institutional and private clients to fasten the launch of critical missions into orbit using turnkey space infrastructure that supports advanced technologies like AI, for strategic applications in environment, security, and defense.
This round was led by the global alternative asset manager Tikehau Capital, with significant participation from Bpifrance with its Large Venture fund and Temasek. New strategic investors, including Supernova Invest, are also joining the historical investors. We’re very proud of it.
Revolutionizing space access with cloud-inspired ready-to-use satellite infrastructure
The surge in demand for commercial space solutions is driven by two major trends: the security and sovereignty challenges faced by nations in an unstable geopolitical context, and the urgent need to understand the climate changes impacting our planet. The development of new satellite capacity access solutions thus represents a significant challenge for the industry.
Today, it takes several years to design, manufacture, test, and launch a satellite mission, with deadlines often missed. These delays hinder innovation at a time when climate and security challenges are more critical than ever. Loft was created to reverse this trend, providing standardized, reliable, quickly operational space infrastructure capable of hosting any type of mission.
Since inception in 2017, Loft has revolutionized space access with modular, ready-to-use satellite infrastructure inspired by cloud computing models. By offering standardized platforms and a modular interface, institutional and private clients can deploy their applications without worrying about managing the infrastructure. Loft allows them to focus on their missions without dealing with the technical and programmatic complexities of satellites.
Exponential growth driven by AI
Loft pools resources by hosting multiple payloads on a single satellite, reducing costs and time-to-market for its clients. This allows easy and fast access to a comprehensive range of in-orbit sensors coupled with onboard computing capabilities. By processing data directly in orbit with AI-powered software applications, Loft’s clients can obtain real-time analytics, shortening the time between data collection and exploitation. This unique model paves the way for strategic applications such as real-time detection of climatic events (wildfires, maritime pollution) or sensitive operations (GPS jammers).
Several strategic milestones have recently been achieved, driven by strong commercial momentum:
- Over 30 satellites in production for clients ranging from international space institutions like NASA, CNES, and ESA, to defense agencies such as the US Space Force and Space Development Agency, and tech giants like Microsoft, as well as global leaders in AI, including Earth Daily, Helsing, Anduril, etc.
- More than 25 client missions successfully executed, with 5 satellites already in orbit.
- Doubling revenue over the past two years, demonstrating a strong growth trajectory.
- Establishment of a subsidiary dedicated to classified U.S. defense programs, Loft Federal, which will launch its first satellites for the Space Development Agency in 2025.
- Strategic partnership worth over €100 million in the UAE through a joint venture with Marlan Space, including the construction of a 5,000 m² factory in Abu Dhabi to serve the Middle Eastern market.
Dual strategic roots
With dual headquarters in Toulouse, Europe’s space capital, and San Francisco, at the heart of Silicon Valley, Loft is inherently global evidenced by its presence in the Middle East and the entry of Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund into its capital structure.
In Europe, France plays a central role in the group’s development, with a strong commitment to the local space ecosystem. The Toulouse site hosts nearly 100 employees from 20 different nationalities and directly contributes to talent development and the attractiveness of space-related careers, fostering collaborations between startups, SMEs, and major industrial groups. Toulouse also manages all export contracts for Southeast Asia and the Middle East.
Loft relies on a predominantly “Made in France” supply chain, with over €100 million invested in the French space ecosystem across startups, SMEs, and large corporations. This value chain, which supports European technological sovereignty, is particularly strategic as European space enters a pivotal moment in its history, exemplified by the IRIS² program (Infrastructure for Resilience, Interconnectivity, and Security by Satellite), which underscores European strategic autonomy. Loft’s unique ability to work with both large groups and startups provides a competitive advantage to the French and European ecosystem in an increasingly competitive international environment. Loft aims to play an increasingly pivotal role in these ambitious projects, heralding a new era for the space industry.
