Exolaunch
Exolaunch provides rideshare launch services, mission management, and proprietary satellite deployment hardware for small satellites and cubesats, serving commercial satellite operators, government space agencies, and research institutions globally from its Berlin headquarters.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersBerlin, Germany
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Exolaunch does
Exolaunch GmbH, founded in 2010 in Berlin as a spin-off from the Technical University of Berlin's Department of Space Technology, provides rideshare launch services, mission management, and proprietary satellite deployment hardware for small satellites ranging from 0.25U cubesats to 1,400kg microsatellites. The company operates two interlocking revenue streams: professional services covering launch mission management, rideshare coordination with providers such as SpaceX, Rocket Lab, ESA, and ISRO, plus end-to-end integration including logistics, customs clearance, and environmental testing; and hardware sales of in-house separation and deployment systems including CarboNIX, CarboNIX NEO, EXOpod Nova, EXOpod Air, Quadro Arrow, Quadro Versa, EXOtube, EXOport, and EXObox.
The company's technology portfolio is built around mechanical and electromechanical engineering rather than software or AI: patented synchronous spring pusher systems achieving under 1°/sec post-release tumbling rates, modular payload adapters supporting up to 1,000kg, and cubesat deployers scaling from 6.5kg mass upward. By the company's own reporting, it has completed 47 missions deploying 790+ satellites with a 100% success rate and over 95% customer reuse rate, and claims to serve over 80% of commercial smallsat operators.
Exolaunch serves three primary customer segments: commercial satellite operators (Planet, Spire Global, ICEYE, Satellogic, Loft Orbital), government organizations and space agencies (NASA, DLR, JAXA, UAE Space Agency), and research institutions and universities (TU Berlin and others). The company operates from Berlin with regional offices in Denver, Washington DC, Toulouse, and Tokyo. In June 2026, EQT X agreed to acquire Exolaunch from founder Dmitriy Sternharz for approximately €300 million in EQT Private Equity's first space-sector investment, with closing expected Q4 2026.
Exolaunch firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Exolaunch
- Legal name
- EXOLAUNCH GmbH
- Website
- https://exolaunch.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2010
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Exolaunch provides rideshare launch services, mission management, and proprietary satellite deployment hardware for small satellites and cubesats, serving commercial satellite operators, government space agencies, and research institutions globally from its Berlin headquarters.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Exolaunch industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Satellite Launch Services
- NAICS
- Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing (336414), Other Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336419)
- SIC
- Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles & Parts (3760)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Spacecraft & Satellites (Civil/Commercial) (IMABACAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Space Logistics & In-Orbit Servicing (Refueling, Tug, Debris Removal) (IMABACAM)
Keywords
Where Exolaunch is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Berlin
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices5 records
Markets served
Exolaunch business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Launch Services: Launch mission management and rideshare coordination services for satellite operators, including launch capacity procurement with launch providers, mission planning, and deployment coordination.
- Hardware Sales: Sale of proprietary satellite separation systems and deployment technologies including CarboNIX, EXOpod, Quadro, and related products.
- Integration Services: End-to-end satellite integration services including logistics, customs clearance, environmental testing, and launch campaign operations.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels3 records
Exolaunch product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Exolaunch provides end-to-end launch mission management and integration services for small satellites and cubesats, offering both rideshare coordination with launch providers and dedicated launch campaigns. The company also designs and manufactures proprietary satellite deployment hardware, including the CarboNIX and CarboNIX NEO separation systems, EXOpod cubesat deployers, Quadro microsatellite separation systems, and supporting adapters and sequencers, sold both standalone and bundled with its launch services.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Launch Services End-to-end rideshare and dedicated launch mission management for satellite operators, including launch capacity procurement, mission planning, payload integration coordination, and deployment. Offered to commercial satellite operators, government organizations, and research institutions globally.
- Integration Services Mission management and satellite integration services covering logistics, customs clearance, environmental testing, and launch campaign operations for small satellites and cubesats. Sold as a standalone service or bundled with Launch Services.
- CarboNIX
Quantifiable outcome
- 100% mission reliability across 47 missions deploying 790+ satellites
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Exolaunch
Customer profileNamed customers12 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Exolaunch technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature9 records
Exolaunch partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and minor.
- SpaceXcoreExolaunch has maintained a strategic relationship with SpaceX since 2020, participating in every Falcon 9 Transporter and Bandwagon rideshare mission. In 2026, Exolaunch secured its first dedicated Falcon 9 launches (Exo-1 and Exo-2) scheduled for 2027 and 2028, marking a shift from passive rideshare participant to actively securing launch capacity.
- Rocket LabstrategicLaunch provider partnership for Electron rocket launches. Exolaunch has conducted multiple missions with Rocket Lab including the Baby Come Back mission deploying Telesat's LEO3 satellite.
- Gilmour Space TechnologiesstrategicAustralian rocket company partnership for launch and deployment services using Gilmour's Eris launch vehicle. Exolaunch gains access to low-inclination missions from Australian launch sites while Gilmour accesses Exolaunch's flight-proven deployment technologies.
- ESA (European Space Agency)strategicPartnership for European launch missions including ESA's LEO-PNT constellation and various research satellite deployments.
- SEOPSstrategicUS-based launch broker partnership where both Exolaunch and SEOPS purchased dedicated Falcon 9 launches for rideshare missions in 2027-2028, addressing strong customer demand amid SpaceX's heavily booked manifest.
- Interstellar Technologies Inc.minorJapanese partnership agreement signed July 2025 making Exolaunch the preferred provider of satellite separation systems for Interstellar's ZERO launch vehicle. Exolaunch receives priority access to multi-launch contracts and unused capacity on Interstellar's missions.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Exolaunch competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- SEOPS: US-based launch broker that procures rideshare and dedicated launches for smallsat operators. SEOPS jointly purchased dedicated Falcon 9 capacity with Exolaunch for 2027-2028, making it the closest direct head-to-head competitor in the rideshare brokering market.
- D-Orbit: Italian space logistics company providing satellite deployment and in-orbit transportation services. Competes with Exolaunch in the orbital deployment services layer, particularly for hosted payloads and last-mile delivery.
- Spaceflight Inc. Pioneer in rideshare launch services for smallsats, providing mission management and integration similar to Exolaunch. Acquired by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in 2022 but continues to operate in the same rideshare brokering segment.
- ISISpace (Innovative Solutions In Space): Dutch cubesat and smallsat hardware manufacturer offering deployers, separation systems, and launch integration services that overlap directly with Exolaunch's CarboNIX/EXOpod product lines and rideshare offering.
- Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems (Terran Orbital): Smallsat manufacturer and operator that also produces cubesat deployers and separation systems, competing directly with Exolaunch's hardware product lines and offering adjacent mission integration services.
Broad incumbents
- NanoRacks (Voyager Space): Space services company offering payload integration, deployment systems, and in-space services. Competes with Exolaunch in cubesat deployment hardware and rideshare mission management.
- Rocket Lab: Launch provider (Electron, Neutron) and satellite operator/manufacturer (Photon, Sinclair) that also integrates and deploys customer payloads. Partner and competitor to Exolaunch across the smallsat value chain.
- Firefly Aerospace: Launch provider (Alpha, MLV) and now broader space services company. Both a launch partner for Exolaunch's emerging smallsat customers and a potential competitor as it expands into mission integration.
- Arianespace: European launch services incumbent operating Ariane 6 and Vega. Both a launch partner for Exolaunch and a competing end-to-end launch provider serving the same commercial and institutional smallsat customer base.
Emerging players
- Momentus: US space services company developing in-space transportation and hosted payload services. Overlaps with Exolaunch on satellite deployment mission management, though more focused on in-orbit transfer vehicles.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Exolaunch social profiles
Digital presenceExolaunch financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Exolaunch leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Exolaunch funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Exolaunch M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Exolaunch
What does Exolaunch do?
Exolaunch provides end-to-end launch mission management and integration services for small satellites and cubesats, offering both rideshare coordination with launch providers and dedicated launch campaigns. The company also designs and manufactures proprietary satellite deployment hardware, including the CarboNIX and CarboNIX NEO separation systems, EXOpod cubesat deployers, Quadro microsatellite separation systems, and supporting adapters and sequencers, sold both standalone and bundled with its launch services.
Is Exolaunch a public or private company?
Exolaunch is a private company. It is classified as private equity controlled and is currently operating.
When was Exolaunch founded?
Exolaunch was founded in 2010. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Exolaunch based?
Exolaunch is headquartered in Berlin, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Exolaunch make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Launch Services are the primary driver. The others are hardware Sales and integration Services.
Who are Exolaunch's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are SEOPS, D-Orbit, Spaceflight Inc., ISISpace (Innovative Solutions In Space) and Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems (Terran Orbital). Broad incumbents are NanoRacks (Voyager Space), Rocket Lab, Firefly Aerospace and Arianespace. Momentus is listed as an emerging player.
Does Exolaunch have an API?
No public API is recorded for Exolaunch.
What industry is Exolaunch in?
Exolaunch's product category is Satellite Launch Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABACAB, Spacecraft & Satellites (Civil/Commercial), with a secondary code of IMABACAM, Space Logistics & In-Orbit Servicing (Refueling, Tug, Debris Removal). Its NAICS code is 336414 and its SIC code is 3760.