La start-up new space d’Occitanie Loft Orbital. DR – DR
Loft Orbital, a Toulouse-based New Space start-up, announces a €170 million round of funding, becoming the second unicorn in the Occitanie region. Specializing in modular satellite infrastructure, it simplifies access to space for environmental, defense, or agricultural missions.
Loft Orbital, founded in 2017, has established itself as a key player in New Space, the emerging sector that is democratizing access to space. Based in Toulouse and San Francisco, the company recently raised €170 million, bringing its total funding to over €300 million. With over €500 million in signed contracts and 30 satellites in production, the start-up is positioning itself as a world leader in space infrastructure.
The tool proposed by Loft Orbital is inspired by the cloud computing model. The company offers a modular and ready-to-use satellite infrastructure, allowing its customers to rapidly deploy space missions without worrying about technical complexities. “We are a space infrastructure company. Our goal is to enable our customers to deploy missions in space in a simple, fast and standardized way” explains Emmanuelle Meric, the company's Managing Director for Europe & Africa (EMEA).
The missions cover various fields. “We will obtain missions for monitoring maritime pollution, deforestation, monitoring pollution zones, or detecting forest fires. They can also concern defense issues, GPS jammers, or many other areas of interest monitoring” she adds.
200% Deposit Bonus up to €3,000 180% First Deposit Bonus up to $20,000Resource pooling and unprecedented flexibility
The start-up pools resources by carrying several payloads on the same satellite, thus reducing costs and deadlines for its customers. “On the same satellite, we can accommodate several customers and several missions”says the manager. This approach allows customers to focus on their objectives, while benefiting from a turnkey space infrastructure. Loft Orbital’s satellites are equipped with sensors and advanced technologies, such as artificial intelligence, to process data in real time. A notable feature is that missions can be ordered even after the satellite is launched, providing flexibility that is rare in the industry.
Loft Orbital has established itself in a rapidly expanding market, driven by the security and sovereignty issues of nations, as well as by the climate emergency. The company works with prestigious clients, such as NASA, CNES, and Microsoft. It has also established a subsidiary dedicated to classified US Defense programs, Loft Federal, and signed a strategic partnership worth more than €100 million in the United Arab Emirates, including the launch of a joint venture with Marlan Space, including the construction of a 5,000 m² factory in Abu Dhabi, intended to serve the Middle Eastern market.
A strong presence in France and Occitanie
The start-up, which has more than 250 employees, relies on a largely “Made in France” supply chain. “We spent more than a hundred million euros in the French supply chain” emphasizes the manager. This strategy strengthens European technological sovereignty and supports the local space ecosystem. Toulouse, where the company employs nearly 100 people, plays a central role in its development. “We chose to set up in this city for its talent pool, and the support of the Occitanie region” she adds.
Loft Orbital, now described as a unicorn (the second in the Occitanie region, after Swile in Montpellier), intends to play a role as a world leader in the technological revolution in the space sector. With its two main headquarters, American and French, the company embodies an international ambition while remaining anchored in the French ecosystem. “We want to be a world leader, but we want to maintain a balance between our activities in France and abroad” concludes the manager.
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