Munich-based VC Alpine Space Ventures adds €10 million from NATO Innovation Fund to fuel space tech | EU-Startups

Alpine Space Ventures, a leading venture capital fund dedicated to early-stage investments in the burgeoning space sector,  announced a €10 million investment from the NATO Innovation Fund (NIF). The strategic fund-of-fund investment will boost Alpine Space Ventures’ ability to back the development and deployment of innovative space technologies, reinforcing  Europe’s security and resilience capabilities in both government and commercial sectors. This announcement comes after Alpine Space Ventures secured a €60 million landmark investment by the European Investment Fund (EIF) last year.

The Alpine Space Ventures investment team boasts more than 50 years of building products and companies in the space industry. This expertise is further supplemented by the firm’s investor base, comprised of entrepreneurs and pioneers in the space industry – including 20 early SpaceX employees. 

Founded in 2021, the Alpine Space Ventures team has already made investments in satellite manufacturers K2 Space and Reflex Aerospace which are manufacturing mega-class satellites and small satellites respectively, space mobility company Morpheus Space, carbon composite manufacturer Blackwave, and satellite energy solutions provider  Source Energy.

Bulent Altan, Founding Partner at Alpine Space Ventures, commented: “This investment from the NATO Innovation Fund highlights the critical role of space technologies in addressing today’s complex security challenges. The inherent nature of space applications ensures that the  innovations we foster will not only enhance the Alliance’s technological capabilities  but also drive forward the commercial space industry.”

Thorsten Claus from the NATO Innovation Fund added: “In line with NIF’s confidence in the role of space in an enduring future for the Alliance, our fund-of-fund investment in Alpine Space Ventures aligns with our commitment to the security of space and ground-based infrastructure, crucial for operations across land,  air, sea, and cyber domains. We are compelled by the Alpine Space Ventures team,  who bring significant experience in the space industry and exceptional technical depth. We look forward to seeing their portfolio of companies transform the space  industry.” 

The announcement of this investment comes at a moment when Europe stands on the cusp of significant developments in strengthening its infrastructure, leading to a rapidly evolving climate as well as a geopolitical environment.

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