Eutelsat is investing in Seraphim Space Ventures’ new fund for space-based investments. Eutelsat is joining Japan’s SkyPerfect JSAT and Japanese telco NEC to form the new space-based venture fund.
Seraphim SSV III will focus on Seed and Series-A stage companies. Seraphim stated that the SSV II Fund aims to create a portfolio consisting of 30 companies. It has invested in nine firms, including Bluetooth IoT Company Hubble, space data wildfire insurance provider Delos, space cargo return company Atmos, and Auriga which is working on an electro-magnetic rocket system.
Included in the themes of this new fund are AI processing satellite data derived from studies on climate change and global security.
Investors increasingly recognise the outlier potential of space technology, with a record number of VC investment being made every quarter. James Bruegger, Chief Investment Officer at Seraphim Space said that this is in sharp contrast with the recent decline in venture capital investment. We believe the space technology will have a profound impact on the future of our world.
We have invested in Seraphim Space’s fund to help us grow and expand our business by collaborating with space startups around the globe. Seraphim Space is one of the leading venture capital funds for space. SKY Perfect JSAT, as a space company will promote new business and undertake the challenge to produce new value by collaborating with startups in space and other companies,” stated Sky Perfect JSAT’s CEO Eiichi Yonekura.
Etsuko Hirose is the general manager for NEC’s Aerospace and National Security Business Planning Department. She said: “NEC, as a company, has been in space related business since its beginning, which includes satellite development and manufacturing.” NEC wants to expand business by collaborating with Seraphim Space’s portfolio companies in both the upstream and downstream sectors.
Seraphim has invested in many businesses, including AST SpaceMobile (Space Mobile), Array Labs (Astroscale), Atmos Space Cargo (Space Cargo), D-Orbit HawkEye 360 ICEYE, and others.
Seraphim is convinced that SpaceTech has been at the heart of some megatrends that have reshaped the world in a positive way.