HyImpulse Raises €45 million in Funding for Rocket Technology “Made in Europe”

Heilbronn, Germany, October 16, 2025 – HyImpulse Technologies GmbH a European provider of hybrid propulsion systems for satellite transport, has raised €15 million in equity capital as part of its Series A funding round and secured an additional €30 million in financing. HyImpulse will use the new capital to drive forward the development and commercialization of the SL1 orbital rocket and expand its production capacities. Since its foundation in 2018, the company has raised around €74 million in capital.

The round is led by Campus Founders Ventures. Other investors include Helantic, GIMIC, the Global Resilience Innovation Fund (GRIF), Mittelständische Beteiligungsgesellschaft (MBG) BadenWürttemberg, Start-up BW Innovation Fonds, Sparkassen-Beteiligungsgesellschaft (SBG) HeilbronnFranken, Vienna Point and BTRON.

Dr. Christian Schmierer, co-founder and CEO of HyImpulse, said: “Europe does not have its own access to space. With this injection of capital we will accelerate the commercialization of our orbital rocket, making Europe more independent and competitive. While providers such as SpaceX offer a scheduled bus service to space, our solutions allow us to develop a flexible taxi service so that our customers can choose individual launch solutions and flexibly plan their schedules.”

Dr. Christian Schmierer adds: "We are grateful for the trust placed in us by Campus Founders and our other partners. Their commitment underscores the importance of our technology for European sovereignty.“

Oliver Hanisch, CEO of Campus Founders Ventures, said: “HyImpulse has already made space history. With extremely efficient use of resources, HyImpulse is the first privately financed German space company to develop a hybrid rocket and successfully complete a suborbital test flight. The company addresses a geopolitically crucial market. HyImpulse is a role model for how start-ups can successfully translate cutting-edge research and deep tech into marketable products. We have been supporting the team for more than three years, and I am delighted that HyImpulse is successfully using the platform we offer for start-ups here in Heilbronn. With Campus Founders Ventures, we have already invested in over 20 exciting teams ourselves, but this investment is special. We are delighted to be working with HyImpulse to build a company that will set international standards.”

Prof. Dr. Rudolf F. Schwarz, Managing Director of IABG and Investor of HyImpulse said: “I am pleased to see HyImpulse continuing to make progress in developing innovative and cost-efficient propulsion technologies for launch vehicles, strengthening the space sector in Germany, across Europe, and beyond.”

HyImpulse develops the SL1 orbital rocket based on hybrid technology

Ahead of other space tech start-ups, HyImpulse reached a historic milestone in 2024 with the successful test flight of the SR75 suborbital rocket which demonstrated the functionality of a commercial paraffin-based hybrid rocket engine for the first time. This flight is considered a technological breakthrough and proof of concept, forming the basis for further stages of development.

The first commercial launch of the SR75 with customers will take place as early as 2026. Building on the tests with the SR75, HyImpulse is working on the three-stage SL1 orbital rocket, which is expected to transport up to 600 kilograms of payload into low Earth orbit starting 2027.

A growing and geopolitically crucial market

Europe does not yet have independent access to space and is highly dependent on non-European providers. According to the Space Economy Report 2024, European providers accounted for less than one per cent of all global launches in 2024. HyImpulse is doing pioneering work in this area: The company's hybrid technology reduces the number of components by around 50 percent, lowers costs and increases reliability – a decisive factor in establishing cost-efficient and flexible launch services in the sub-ton payload range. HyImpulse is making a significant contribution to Europe's access to space by making the continent more independent, sustainable and competitive.

The market is growing dynamically: according to a McKinsey report, the global business with satellitebased technologies is expected to reach a volume of around €1.25 trillion by 2040 (Space: Investing in the Final Frontier). HyImpulse is positioning itself early in this environment, with orders already secured in the triple-digit million range and launch sites on several continents.

About HyImpulse

HyImpulse Technologies GmbH is a  German manufacturer and system provider of commercial rockets for suborbital and orbital launch services. Its small satellite launch vehicles with unique hybrid rocket propulsion using oxygen and paraffin set standards in the commercial space sector. With over 65 employees at locations in Neuenstadt, Ottobrunn and Glasgow, HyImpulse develops rockets to transport commercial payloads efficiently, sustainably and reliably into low Earth orbit and beyond.

About Campus Founders and Campus Founders Ventures

Campus Founders is a start-up and co-innovation hub located in Heilbronn. Campus Founders supports teams in all phases of their entrepreneurial journey – from initial idea development and validation to achieving market readiness for the product and subsequent sustainable scaling. Building on this foundation, Campus Founders Ventures acts as an active investor in startups from Heilbronn as well as those looking to establish their business within the Heilbronn ecosystem. In addition to pre-seed investments, founding teams also gain access to mentoring, workspace, infrastructure, corporate partners, and an investor network.

As part of the RISE Europe network, which connects 20 leading start-up ecosystems in 14 countries, Campus Founders builds important bridges to global markets and experts. In addition, Campus Founders is a partner of the NXTGN Startup Factory, which further strengthens the collaboration among Baden-Württemberg’s most research- and startup-intensive locations. Every year, Campus Founders hosts the Heilbronn Slush’D start-up festival, which attracts over 1,000 selected decisionmakers from the European innovation and start-up ecosystem.