The Exploration Company logo — We build space vehicles for humanity.

The Exploration Company

We build space vehicles for humanity.

Founded 2021 Germany Gauting, Germany 527 employees Series C Total: $645.30M Manufacturing, Space +1

General Information

Company Name The Exploration Company
Founded Year 2021
Location Germany Gauting, Germany +6
Employees 527
Industries Manufacturing, Space, Transportation
Funding Stage Series C
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Recorded by Bounce Watch from public sources. Every entry below carries the date we observed it, and when we have not looked recently the page says so rather than leaving silence to imply nothing happened.

Homepage Update

Significant changes detected on company website (38.7% content change).

Actively Hiring Sep 13, 2026

Hiring for 41 positions in the last 30 days.

In The News Sep 11, 2026

Featured on Eu-startups: After €387 million raise, The Exploration Company wins ESA’s “ALADDIN” cargo cap...

In The News Sep 11, 2026

Featured on Thenextweb: Macron’s Paris space summit ends with €20bn in commitments and 51 signed deals

In The News Sep 11, 2026

Featured on Tech: Mistral secures €3B Series D, 100 days to save EU Inc, and early-stage funding c...

Event Participation Sep 11, 2026

The Exploration Company participated in the International Space Summit in Paris, announcing multiple major milestones.

+4 more signals in last 30 days

AI Insight

Bounce Watch AI
1 week ago

The Exploration Company recently closed a massive $450M Series C funding round, immediately followed by securing a monumental €760M ESA contract for its Nyx cargo capsule. This significant public sector validation, coupled with existing commercial pre-bookings and a deal with Arianespace, firmly positions TEC as a leader in European reusable space transportation. These developments indicate a rapid acceleration in product development and operational scaling, underscored by current extensive hiring efforts.

Signal Types
Funding Contract Win Partnership Hiring Product Development
Strategic Labels
European Space Leadership Commercial Validation Rapid Scaling
Next Move: Scaling
·
Impact: 10/10
·
Ideal For: Late-Stage Deep Tech Investors — Aerospace

About The Exploration Company

The Exploration Company, founded in 2021, is a pioneering entity in the Manufacturing, Space, and Transportation industries. With its compelling slogan, "We build space vehicles for humanity," the company is headquartered in Germany and is making significant strides in the space vehicle sector.

Recently, it attracted a substantial $450.00M in a Series C investment round on 08 September 2026, signaling strong investor confidence and growth potential. The round was led by prestigious investors, including Bessemer Venture Partners, Cherry Ventures, Atomico, Balderton Capital, Red River West, EQT, Scaleup Europe Fund, and Plural.

In a rapidly evolving sector, The Exploration Company stands out for its innovative approach to space transportation. Its vision aligns with humanity's growing need to explore and utilize space resources, making it an attractive prospect for venture capitalists seeking opportunities in next-generation transportation solutions.

Taxonomy: Space Vehicles, Modular Spaceships, Reusable Technology, Nyx Spaceships, Space Stations, Near-Earth Missions, Lunar Missions, In-Orbit Refueling, Green Propellants, Sustainable Space Technology, Open-Source Operating System, Space Exploration, Spacecraft Manufacturing, Space Operations, Aerospace Technology

Services & Products

Design and manufacture of space vehicles
Development of reusable rocket engines
Space transportation solutions
Mission booking and management services

Target Customers

Space agencies Private satellite companies International space station operators Aerospace contractors

Funding Rounds & Investors (8)

View All
Funding Stage Amount Investors Lead Investors Date
Series C •••••• 8
Investor Investor Investor Investor Investor Investor
•••• ••••
08 Sep 2026
Series B •••••• 21
Investor Investor Investor Investor Investor Investor Investor Investor Investor Investor Investor Investor Investor Investor Investor
•••• ••••
01 Nov 2024
Early VC •••••• 10
Investor Investor Investor Investor Investor Investor Investor Investor Investor
•••• ••••
01 Feb 2024
Convertible Note •••••• 1
Investor
01 Sep 2023
Series A •••••• 13
Investor Investor Investor Investor Investor Investor Investor Investor Investor Investor
•••• ••••
01 Feb 2023

View All 8 Funding Rounds

The Exploration Company Alternatives & Competitors

View All Alternatives
The Exploration Company vs

Diverse Payloads. Distinct Space Missions.

Series A
146 employees
Space, Telecom
The Exploration Company vs
Impulse Space
Impulse Space United States

Accelerating our future beyond Earth. In-space mobility for LEO, GEO, the Moon, Mars, and beyond.

Series D
334 employees
Manufacturing, Space
The Exploration Company vs

Opening Deep Space for Business: Advanced spacecraft technology propelling the world's fist private...

Series A
2 employees
Industrial, Space

FAQ About The Exploration Company

We build space vehicles for humanity.
The Exploration Company was founded in 2021.
The Exploration Company is headquartered in Gauting, Germany.
The Exploration Company operates in the following industries: Manufacturing, Space, Transportation.
The Exploration Company has approximately 527 employees.
The Exploration Company has completed 8 funding rounds, raising a total of $645.30M. The latest funding stage is Series C.
The Exploration Company offers: Design and manufacture of space vehicles, Development of reusable rocket engines, Space transportation solutions, Mission booking and management services.
Top alternatives and competitors to The Exploration Company include Dhruva Space, Impulse Space, Deep Space Industries, Inc., Promin Aerospace, Pythom Space. These companies operate in related industries and serve comparable markets. You can compare them side by side on Bounce Watch.
The Exploration Company and Dhruva Space are both companies in similar industries. Compare their funding, team size, growth signals, and market position on Bounce Watch to see which one fits your needs.

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