The Exploration Company, founded in 2021 and based near Munich, Germany, with teams in France, develops Nyx, a reusable capsule for carrying cargo to and from space stations. It raised a $450 million Series C led by Bessemer, Atomico and the Scaleup Europe Fund in September 2026.
At a glance
| Price from | Custom |
| Best for | Space station operators needing cargo delivery and return |
From The Exploration Company's own website.
What stands out
- Contracts with ESA and commercial station builders
- Reusable capsule design
Worth knowing
- Nyx has not flown yet
- First demonstrator was lost before splashdown
How it ranks
The Exploration Company is ranked 8th of 10 in Best Deep Tech Startups in Europe (Lister Score 88.4).
#8 in Best Deep Tech Startups in Europe · Lister Score 88.4
Its Mission Possible demonstrator reentered and sent data in June 2025 but lost contact before splashdown..
| Rank | Best Deep Tech Startups in Europe | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Helsing | 97.1 |
| 2 | Wayve | 95.9 |
| 3 | ICEYE | 94.7 |
| 4 | Quantum Systems | 93.4 |
| 5 | NEURA Robotics | 92.2 |
| 6 | Proxima Fusion | 90.9 |
| 7 | Isar Aerospace | 89.6 |
| 8 | The Exploration Company | 88.4 |
| 9 | IQM Quantum Computers | 87.1 |
| 10 | Verkor | 85.8 |
Frequently asked questions
How does The Exploration Company rank on Lister?
The Exploration Company is ranked 8th of 10 in Best Deep Tech Startups in Europe (Lister Score 88.4).
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