Kreios Space announces €8M Seed financing to bring satellites closer to Earth and Europe closer to strategic autonomy

Led by the NATO Innovation Fund and JOIN Capital, this financing marks the largest-ever European round in Very Low Earth Orbit technology

Kreios’ breakthrough technology will unlock Europe’s surveillance capabilities and improve the region’s supranational communications infrastructure

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Sept. 18, 2025, Vigo, Spain — A new generation of satellites is coming closer to Earth than ever before — and Europe wants to be the one to build it. Spanish startup Kreios Space, whose breakthrough technology allows satellites to operate in Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO) - a region once considered unreachable, announces the largest ever European round in this space.

“We’re not just building satellites, we’re opening up an orbit that was written off as impossible,” said Adrián Senar, CEO and co-founder of Kreios Space. “Very Low Earth Orbit gives Europe sharper eyes, faster connectivity, and greater independence in space. With this funding, we’ll prove the technology in orbit and make VLEO a domain where Europe leads, not follows.”

David Ordonez, Senior Associate at the NATO Innovation Fund, said: “Kreios’ technology marks a decisive leap into the new frontier of Very Low Earth Orbit. By bringing satellites closer to Earth, they enable high-resolution imaging and direct-to-device connectivity at a level that was previously unfeasible - a critical security capability for Europe. This unlocks new possibilities in surveillance, tactical communications, and highly mobile satellites. Marking the NATO Innovation Fund’s first investment in Spain,, Kreios is not just multiplying satellite performance, they are redrawing the boundaries of space itself - opening a frontier rich in both strategic value and commercial opportunity ”

The new funding builds on €2.3 million Kreios raised in 2024 and will finance the company’s opening duo of test satellites, including the world’s first in-orbit demonstration of an ABEP engine. From there, Kreios will expand toward commercial deployment and dedicated constellations for Earth observation and direct-to-device communications.

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Headquartered in Vigo on Spain’s northwest coast, the company has grown from a lab project into a 17-person team with backing from European investors and advisors with pedigrees from Thales, JAXA, and ESA. With this Seed round, Kreios is positioned to become the European leader in VLEO — an orbit that could define the balance of commercial and strategic power in space for decades.

“Europe can’t afford to sit on the sidelines of the next orbital economy,” said Tobias Schirmer, Founding Partner at JOIN Capital. “What excites us about Kreios is the combination of strategic importance for Europe and the fact that the technology has matured. VLEO has been a research topic for years and now it’s ready to move out of the lab and into real-world deployment. That’s where JOIN wants to be: backing breakthroughs at the moment they become commercially unstoppable.”

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About Kreios Space

Founded in 2021, Kreios Space develops satellites designed for Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO). Its proprietary Air-Breathing Electric Propulsion system enables long-term operations below 400 km, unlocking ultra-high-resolution imaging and broadband direct-to-device connectivity. Kreios is headquartered in Vigo, Spain.

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About the NATO Innovation Fund

NATO Innovation Fund is a €1 billion venture capital fund backed by 24 NATO allies, investing in European deep tech to address challenges in defence, security, and resilience. The fund operates independently, with 24 nations supporting the success of its portfolio and facilitating deep tech entrepreneurs’ access to both commercial and government markets.

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About Join Capital

JOIN Capital is an early-stage, pan-European venture capital fund with offices in Berlin, London, and Milan. Since 2017, we’ve been backing founders whose technologies strengthen Europe’s resilience and strategic autonomy through an asymmetric technological advantage. Our focus is on deep tech across enterprise, industrial, space and defence sectors — solutions that strengthen economies, secure critical infrastructure, and create enduring strategic advantage.

JOIN Capital currently invests from its second fund generation, managing over €150 million in assets. Our investors include NATO Innovation Fund (NIF), Isomer Capital, KfW Capital and Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP), leading funds of funds, and prominent family offices. To date, we’ve backed 31 portfolio companies and successfully realised five exits.

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About Xesgalicia

Xesgalicia is the private equity and VC arm of the Galician Government, an investor that provides equity and convertible loans to companies. Xesgalicia invests through 4 specialized vehicles with a capital over 300 million euro, two of them focus on start-ups and innovative companies, from Seed to Series A phases.

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About Grow Venture Partners and FITA fund

Grow Venture Partners is a Venture Capital fund specialized in technology transfer, investing in early-stage companies originating from universities and research centers, primarily in the Deep Tech, MedTech, and Sustainability sectors. Grow, which manages the FITA fund — an initiative from the Generalitat of Catalonia designed to bridge the gap between research and market — has a diverse and committed team that works with a service-oriented mindset to help shape better founders and, together with them, create sustainable wealth and employment with a positive impact on the world.

About Tasivia Global

Tasivia Global is a family office dedicated to supporting high-potential companies across engineering and technology. With a long-term perspective, it provides strategic capital and guidance to help founders accelerate growth and foster innovation.

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