The European Space Agency’s commercial arm, ESA Business Applications, and ELITE, LSEG’s business support and capital raising programme, have joined forces. This joint effort will support innovative companies that are seeking to accelerate the development of their space based solutions, products and services and will help companies fast track the commercialisation of their innovation and technology.
ESA’s Investor Forum, being held today with ELITE, will see a selected cohort of ESA-backed companies presented for consideration by investors. The companies selected range from fintech to agriculture, drones, AI and IoT.
Nick Appleyard, Head of ESA Business Applications said:
“A revolution is underway in the Space industry and in Space-using services. New commercial businesses are entering the sector at an unprecedented rate, so there are plentiful opportunities for private investment growth. European Space Agency supports the best of these businesses at an early stage and we welcome the opportunity to partner with ELITE, to help them reach their full potential in the market.”
Luca Peyrano, CEO, ELITE:
“We are delighted to partner with ESA to support some of the most dynamic, highly innovative companies accelerate their growth, With interest in space exploration reaching new heights, it has never been more important for these companies to have access to appropriate funding. Today ELITE is proud to support over 800 companies from across 34 countries and 30 sectors.”
About ESA Business Applications
ESA Business Applications is the mark of Europe’s best commercial ventures powered by Space. We are the commercial arm of the European Space Agency and our mission is to prove that space is open for business and has the power to improve everyday life.
ESA Business Applications empowers new commercial service developments by offering zero-equity funding and support to businesses in the form of dedicated support to project management, as well as commercial and technical development. Businesses also benefit from ESA’s mark of credibility helping them to grow. Our supported services target any sector where space delivers value (satellite navigation location, earth observation imagery, satellite telecommunication, space weather, space technologies and other tools). Businesses can either apply to our periodically announced predefined thematic opportunities or discuss an open application to develop solutions, for any market they are interested in.
Since our programme’s inception in 2008, ESA Business Applications has invested more than €190M in over 500 business ideas addressing markets in industries worldwide. Typical funding ranges from 60kEuro to 2MEuro and is used from early stage feasibility studies to large-scale demonstration projects.
Get in touch with us via email business@esa.int or visitbusiness.esa.int
About the European Space Agency
ESA is an Inter-governmental organisation with 22 member states. Canada is an associate member and several other European countries have cooperation agreements. Whilst ESA only funds industry from member states, players from other countries can participate in projects at their own expense; and as boosting exports is a prime goal, many of the projects serve user communities in non-ESA countries.
About ELITE
ELITE offers businesses a full programme to help them grow, including education, business support and direct contact with Europe’s financial and advisory community. In the UK, Imperial College Business School helps deliver the programme. Management teams are guided on how best to fast-track their development and capital raising processes, how to access the most suitable funding for their needs, whether private equity, venture capital or the bond or equity markets, and given advice on building their profile and reach.
ELITE also allows its vibrant international advisor and investor community the opportunity to engage with a pool of high quality, dynamic companies and entrepreneurs, all of whom are open to the advice, opportunities and connections that the programme offers.
There are over 800 businesses from across 34 countries in the ELITE community. They are generating over €61 billion in combined revenues and employ over 290,000 across Europe and internationally.
For further information on the programme, companies and the full list of partners, please go to: www.elite-growth.com