ATMOS on Track to Assemble its Space Cargo Return Capsule Prototype to fly into Space with an additional €1.3M in Funding

February 8, 2024

• ATMOS successfully extends its initial seed financing round from June 2023, which was oversubscribed at €4 million, in preparation for assembling the first prototype of its Phoenix return capsule to fly into space and back
• OTB Ventures, leading European SpaceTech investor, is joining the consortium of experienced space tech investors High-Tech Gründerfonds, the Amadeus APEX Technology Fund, Seraphim, E2MC, VENTIS and another.vc in showing continued strong support of ATMOS’ groundbreaking space cargo return technology
• The new investment will broaden ATMOS’ access to alternative launch providers, shortening the time to market for its sustainable IOD (In-Orbit Demonstration) service
• ATMOS is currently partaking in ESA’s Commercial Cargo Initiative tender, which seeks to support demonstration missions that deliver cargo back from low Earth orbit (LEO) before the end of 2028

Lichtenau, Germany – February 07, 2024 – ATMOS Space Cargo (ATMOS), a pioneering NewSpace startup, has raised an additional €1.3M after successfully closing its initial €4M seed funding round in June 2023. OTB Ventures, a leading European SpaceTech investor, is joining renowned SpaceTech investors High-Tech Gründerfonds, the Amadeus APEX Technology Fund (which also increased their initial investment in this extension), Seraphim, E2MC, VENTIS, and another.vc. ATMOS is on track to assemble the first prototype of its Phoenix return capsule for a demonstration mission to LEO.

ATMOS develops and manufactures space capsules capable of safely returning any cargo from space, representing the first sustainable solution for many payloads and experiments. The capsules have been designed to offer microgravity on-demand, ranging from three hours to three months in orbit. These capsules open up unprecedented opportunities for a wide array of applications, including biomedical and material sciences research, In-Orbit Demonstration and Verification (IOD/IOV), and manufacturing products in space.

The additional funding is strengthening ATMOS’ current participation in ESA’s Commercial Cargo Initiative tender. Assuring the space agency’s financial requirements are met while accelerating the time to market for ATMOS’  Phoenix space capsule to fly into LEO and return a microgravity experiment for its first demonstration mission.

OTB is a very experienced space and deeptech investor with successful portfolio companies like ICEYE or ClearSpace. I met Wojtek first at an ESA Investor Forum, and while OTB usually invests at Series A, this early investment into ATMOS is a great sign of trust. This seed extension will accelerate our time to market for our life sciences service with Phoenix and larger projects like LEO Cargo Return.

Sebastian Klaus, CEO and Co-Founder of ATMOS Space Cargo

As part of our in-space economy strategy we have been thoroughly analyzing future enabling platforms which decisively shape and grow this emerging sector. ATMOS Space Cargo struck us as one of the most compelling and innovative new companies, in a market ripe for dynamic growth. This technology, through a unique combination of cost, frequency and flexibility, intends to “close the loop” for commercially-viable access to space-based R&D and manufacturing, with the ability to spur a new wave of innovation in pharma, semiconductors, material sciences, and other areas. The founders of ATMOS are a group of visionaries and effective executors teamed up around inspiring shared mission. We are extremely happy to join forces with this exceptional consortium of investors to support this Team at a crucial development stage.

Wojciech Walniczek, Partner at OTB Ventures

Access to orbit is the foundation of a blooming space economy. It encompasses the capability to deploy payloads into space and the critical ability to safely and cost-effectively retrieve them back to Earth. This two-way logistical capacity is essential for harnessing space’s unique microgravity conditions to foster breakthrough technologies in fields such as biotechnology and manufacturing. ATMOS Space Cargo is working on critical capabilities that make the promise of a flourishing space economy come true. I am extremely pleased that APEX Ventures has been part of its early journey and look forward to significant milestones from them in realising the promise of a thriving space economy.

Andreas Riegler, Founding Partner at the Amadeus APEX Technology Fund

About ATMOS Space Cargo
ATMOS Space Cargo GmbH specializes in developing and manufacturing technology to return cargo of any size from space, from microgravity experiments and commercial products to entire rocket stages.

About OTB Ventures
OTB Ventures is a leading venture capital firm focused on DeepTech in Europe with a unique access to Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) talent pool, investing in early growth, high-tech start-ups developing unique and defensible technologies. OTB Ventures believes that transparent, deep and constant dialogue with founders is essential for effective cooperation and support. The VC fund is constantly searching for the next investment opportunity – and encourages ambitious, driven disruptors to reach out and get in touch with them. OTB Ventures was established in 2017 by Gregory Jankilevitsch, Marcin Hejka and Adam Niewinski, and is currently the largest VC originating from the CEE, managing over $350m. OTB Ventures has offices in Amsterdam (Netherlands) and Warsaw (Poland). OTB’s portfolio companies include Iceye, Silent Eight, Hydrosat, Clearspace, SpaceKnow, Kevin, and many others.

About The Amadeus APEX Technology Fund
The Amadeus APEX Technology Fund is a partnership between Amadeus Capital Partners and APEX Ventures to support deep tech early-stage startups. The fund invests in seed and series A deep tech ventures with innovative technology and engineering based on significant scientific advances.

About High-Tech Gründerfonds  
The seed investor High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF) finances tech start-ups with growth potential and has supported more than 700 start-ups since 2005. With the launch of its fourth fund, HTGF now has about 1.4 billion euros under management. Its team of experienced investment managers and start-up experts support young companies with expertise, entrepreneurial spirit and passion. HTGF’s focus is on high-tech start-ups in the fields of digital tech, industrial tech, life sciences, chemistry and related business areas. To date, external investors have injected about 5 billion euros of capital into the HTGF portfolio via more than 2,000 follow-on financing rounds. In addition, HTGF has already successfully sold shares in more than 170 companies. 
Fund investors in this public-private partnership include the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, KfW Capital and 45 companies from a wide range of industries. 

Media contact 
High-Tech Gründerfonds Management GmbH 
Tobias Jacob, Senior Marketing & Communications Manager
T.: +49 228 – 82300 – 121
t.jacob@htgf.de