What Zephalto does

Zephalto SAS is a French stratospheric balloon tourism company founded in 2016 by Vincent Farret d'Astiès and headquartered in Le Pouget, France, with engineering operations in the Toulouse aerospace ecosystem (Escalquens), a presence at Station F in Paris, and a planned production factory near Muret aerodrome by 2028. The company designs, engineers and operates a pressurized stratospheric capsule lifted by a hydrogen balloon to a target altitude of 25 km, exposing paying passengers to the "Overview Effect" via 7 sqm of panoramic windows delivering a 1,400 km horizon view during a 6-hour flight (1.5 hours ascent, 3 hours at apogee, 1.5 hours descent) at a controlled 4 m/s vertical speed.

The product portfolio centers on two capsules: Céleste, a larger tourist vessel carrying up to 6 passengers in three private cabins plus 2 pilots with interior design by Joseph Dirand, and Altaïr, a more agile capsule carrying 4 passengers plus 1 pilot and up to 2 tonnes of payload, unveiled in April 2026 and positioned for scientific, industrial and defense missions in addition to tourism. Core technology rests on an exclusive technology-transfer agreement with CNES (the French space agency), a reusable balloon envelope, 11 patents pending and over 200 operational procedures registered with INPI, and a design and certification process being pursued to EASA Type Certificate standard.

Zephalto sells tickets at €180,000 per guest on a direct-to-consumer basis through book.zephalto.com and [email protected], supplemented by certified resellers and a packaging partnership with Sabbatical.Travel; a 20% deposit (€36,000) secures a seat with the balance due six months before flight. The company targets ultra-high-net-worth individuals in Europe and the United States, with secondary segments in scientific research (CNES, CREST, GSMA UMR CNRS) and industrial/defense payload customers. Approximately 100 customers had placed deposits as of April 2026, first flights are sold out through autumn 2027, and commercial passenger operations are scheduled to begin in 2027 with a first-year capacity of 360 travelers, supported by €8 million of equity funding from Magellim, Bpifrance, M Capital, the Occitanie region and Airbus Développement.

Name

Zephalto

Legal name

ZEPHALTO SAS

Website

https://zephalto.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Zephalto is a French stratospheric balloon company that sells €180,000 per-seat flights to 25 km altitude for ultra-high-net-worth individuals, with secondary revenue from scientific, industrial and defense payloads via its Altaïr capsule. First commercial flights are scheduled for 2027.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Luxury Stratospheric Tourism

NAICS

Nonscheduled Chartered Passenger Air Transportation (481211), Tour Operators (561520)

SIC

Aircraft & Parts (3720), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Helicopter Sightseeing & Scenic Tours (TLAFACAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Glider & Sailplane Manufacturing (IMABAAAG)

Keywords

• Stratospheric balloon flights
• Luxury space tourism
• Pressurized capsule aerospace
• Hydrogen balloon technology
• High-altitude scientific missions

Headquarters

HQ city

Le Pouget

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Stratospheric passenger flights: Primary revenue stream from selling tickets for 6-hour stratospheric balloon journeys to 25 km altitude. Ticket price of €180,000 per participant includes welcome at take-off site, flight preparation, the stratospheric balloon travel, landing ceremony, and exclusive local experiences. First flights sold out until Autumn 2027.
2. Capsule privatization and events: Revenue from privatizing the capsule for personal or professional events (weddings, business meetings, birthdays). Customers can book multiple tickets or the entire capsule for exclusive use.
3. Scientific missions and research flights: Revenue from providing the capsule as a research platform for scientific experiments, atmospheric data collection, and high-altitude testing. The company has partnered with CNES, CREST, and GSMA UMR CNRS for scientific missions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Zephalto designs, manufactures, and operates stratospheric balloon flight experiences, selling 6-hour journeys to 25 km altitude aboard pressurized capsules (Céleste and Altaïr) lifted by hydrogen balloons. The full experience package is priced at €180,000 per participant, including welcome at take-off site, flight preparation, the stratospheric journey, landing ceremony, and exclusive local experiences, with first flights sold out until Autumn 2027.

Product overview

Zephalto offers a portfolio of two stratospheric balloon flight products: Céleste, the larger capsule accommodating up to 8 people (6 passengers plus 2 pilots), and Altaïr, the more agile counterpart carrying 5 people (4 passengers plus 1 pilot). Both capsules are pressurized vessels lifted by hydrogen balloons to 25 km altitude, providing a 6-hour experience featuring the 'Overview Effect'—the cognitive shift experienced when viewing Earth from space. Tickets are priced at €180,000 per guest, with commercial flights targeting early 2027. The company also provides scientific mission capabilities, with each flight serving as a platform for atmospheric data collection and research.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Céleste: The larger passenger capsule designed for commercial stratospheric flights, carrying up to 8 people (6 passengers and 2 pilots) with three private cabins for two guests each.
• Altaïr

Products and services

• Stratospheric Balloon Flight Experience 6-hour stratospheric journey aboard a pressurized capsule lifted by a hydrogen balloon, reaching 25 km altitude. The experience includes 1.5-hour ascent, 3 hours at apogee viewing Earth's curvature from space darkness, and 1.5-hour descent. Priced at €180,000 per guest with cancellation insurance included, designed to induce the Overview Effect in passengers.
• Capsule Privatization and Private Events Private capsule bookings for personal or professional events including weddings, business meetings, and birthdays. Customers can book multiple tickets together or privatize the entire capsule for exclusive use, enabling customized business experiences for company employees and special celebrations at 25 km altitude.
• Scientific and Research Missions Reusable research platform for atmospheric data collection, greenhouse gas concentration measurements (CO2 and methane), material testing in extreme conditions (-50°C and radiation exposure), high-altitude scientific experiments, and imaging and observation missions. Capsules are designed to carry scientific instruments inside and outside the hull, with stability and altitude control making them ideal for atmospheric research. Existing partnerships include CNES, CREST (Belgium), and GSMA UMR CNRS at University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne.
• Céleste Capsule (passenger platform) The larger of two stratospheric capsules, designed to carry up to 8 people (6 passengers in three private cabins of two guests each, plus 2 pilots) to 25 km altitude. Features panoramic windows, a pressurized module, and luxury interior designed by Joseph Dirand. Functions as both a tourism vessel and a scientific research platform for the commercial Zephalto flight experience.
• Altaïr Capsule (commercial platform) The first commercial stratospheric capsule unveiled in April 2026, designed to carry 5 people (4 passengers and 1 pilot) to 25 km altitude. Represents the production-ready model for regular stratospheric flights and can carry up to 2 tonnes of payload. Serves both tourism and scientific, industrial, and defense mission purposes.

Quantifiable outcome

• 26.6 kg CO2 per passenger per flight (vs 4.5 tonnes for suborbital rocket flights)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CNES (Centre National d'Études Spatiales)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner60-year partnership providing exclusive technology transfer and ongoing support. CNES shares ballooning expertise, operational procedures, and technical knowledge. CNES has conducted thousands of stratospheric balloon flights, up to 60 per year, and serves as coordinator for French scientific research related to stratospheric data collection.
• AirbuscoreTechnology or IntegrationMajor aerospace partner providing technical and engineering expertise. Jean-Luc Diemunsch, ex-Airbus, serves as Technical & Engineering Advisor to Zephalto. Airbus provides engineering support and industry credibility.
• Dassault AviationcoreTechnology or IntegrationEngineering expertise partner. Florent Contamine, ex-Dassault, serves as Engineering Advisor. Contributes to capsule design and aerospace engineering standards.
• Occitanie RegioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional government partner providing financial support and political backing. Supported test flights from Albi and overall company development in the Toulouse aerospace ecosystem.
• CREST (Centre de Recherche et d'Ingénierie en Technologies Spatiales)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBelgian space research center partnered for October 2024 test flight. Provided material testing equipment for thermochromic and photochromic materials evaluation in stratospheric conditions (-50°C and radiation exposure).
• GSMA UMR CNRS - Université de Reims Champagne-ArdennecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench research laboratory partnered to test AMULSE greenhouse gas sensor during October 2024 flight. Sensor measures CO2 and methane concentration in ambient air in situ for atmospheric research.
• Ville d'AlbiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity of Albi partnered with Occitanie region for October 2024 test flight from local aerodrome. Demonstrates local government support for aerospace innovation.
• ISAE-SUPAEROminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrestigious French aerospace engineering school. Stéphanie Lisy-Destrez serves as Scientific Advisor to Zephalto. Provides academic expertise and talent pipeline.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Skydweller Aero: Solar-powered stratospheric UAS for persistent telecommunications and intelligence missions. Adjacent in offering sustained stratospheric platforms for commercial and defense applications at ~25 km.
• Aerostar (Raven Aerostar): Stratospheric balloon manufacturer and operator with Thunderhead high-altitude pseudo-satellite platform. Comparable in aerospace manufacturing of lighter-than-air vehicles and stratospheric flight operations.
• Virgin Galactic: Suborbital rocket-plane space tourism company selling premium weightless flights to UHNWIs. Competes for the same discretionary luxury travel budget at a higher altitude/ticket price point.
• Reaction Engines: UK company developing SABRE air-breathing engine and Skydweller stratospheric platform. Thematically adjacent in enabling sustained high-altitude commercial operations.

Direct peers

• World View: US stratospheric balloon company with Voyager tourism capsule and longer-duration stratospheric platforms for science and defense. Directly overlaps with Zephalto across tourism and non-tourism use cases.
• Space Perspective: US-based stratospheric balloon tourism company offering Spaceship Neptune flights to ~30 km with premium capsule experience. Closest direct competitor to Zephalto, targeting similar UHNWI customer with capsule+bundle model.
• Zero 2 Infinity: Spanish stratospheric balloon venture developing the Bloon capsule for high-altitude tourism and research payloads. Same core platform (pressurized capsule + helium/hydrogen balloon) targeting the same premium segment.

Broad incumbents

• Blue Origin: Suborbital New Shepard tourism plus broader orbital space systems. Overlaps with Zephalto as an alternative premium space-experience for UHNWIs, with much greater resources and brand reach.
• Thales Alenia Space: Large European aerospace prime with pressurized module and space habitat heritage comparable to Zephalto's pressurized capsule engineering. Not a direct competitor but a relevant benchmark in commercial aerospace certification.

Others

• CNES: French national space agency and Zephalto's core technology partner providing 60 years of stratospheric balloon expertise. An adjacent ecosystem enabler and potential supplier of research demand rather than a competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/zephalto
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@zephalto
• Facebookfacebook.com/Zephalto/?locale=fr_FR
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/zephalto/?originalSubdomain=fr
• Instagraminstagram.com/zephalto/?hl=fr

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Zephalto