Exobotics
Exobotics is a UK-based space-technology start-up that designs modular XO-BUS nanosatellite platforms (1U-27U CubeSat) and desktop thermal-vacuum and vibration testing equipment, delivering end-to-end rideshare mission services and custom payload development to satellite operators and hardware developers globally.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Exobotics does
Exobotics is a UK-based, private space-technology start-up founded in 2018, focused on nanosatellite/CubeSat hardware and adjacent ground support equipment. The company designs and integrates modular satellite platforms under the XO-BUS brand, covering 1U to 27U form factors with integrated flight software, avionics, radios, navigation, and attitude determination and control (ADCS), marketed with a 12-month fast-track delivery guarantee and built around an X-band communications subsystem capable of up to 120 Mbps with AES-256 encryption. Its commercial portfolio also includes the XO-VAC and XO-VAC-PLUS desktop thermal vacuum chambers, the XO-SHAKE desktop vibration testing system, and the XO-RIDE rideshare mission service, with the testing-as-standard philosophy explicitly tied to reducing the approximately 70% CubeSat mission failure rate attributed to insufficient ground testing.
Revenue is generated across four streams: hardware sales of XO-BUS platforms and XO-VAC/XO-SHAKE ground support equipment (with ground-test pricing publicly listed from GBP48,000 for the entry XO-VAC and from GBP65,000 for XO-VAC-PLUS), managed services for rideshare missions spanning L-9 to L+13 months, custom payload development, and engineering and mission consultancy. Pricing for buses and rideshare services is quote-based, reflecting the bespoke nature of mission work, while standardized ground-test equipment is sold as one-time perpetual hardware. The customer base is comprised of satellite mission operators and satellite hardware developers, with named 2023 missions including Moxy-1 (6U, Canada), GenMat-1 (6U hyperspectral, USA), NoClip-1 (6U VR streaming), and DOGE-1 (12U to translunar injection).
Exobotics operates a sales-led, event-supported go-to-market, distributing through direct engagement, its website, and industry conferences and trade shows. The company is headquartered in London with additional offices in Cambridge and Cornwall (the latter associated with Cornwall Innovation and ERDF regional development funding). Key partnerships span Goonhilly Earth Station (satellite communications infrastructure), Intuitive Machines (space technology), Mavericks Space, Cambridge University Engineering Department, and the UK Space Agency (the latter two via advisory relationships with Ian Jones and Dr Alice Bunn respectively). Firmographics list 1-10 employees, and no funding rounds are disclosed.
Exobotics firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Exobotics
- Legal name
- Exobotics
- Website
- https://exobotics.space
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Exobotics is a UK-based space-technology start-up that designs modular XO-BUS nanosatellite platforms (1U-27U CubeSat) and desktop thermal-vacuum and vibration testing equipment, delivering end-to-end rideshare mission services and custom payload development to satellite operators and hardware developers globally.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Exobotics industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Nanosatellite and CubeSat Platforms
- NAICS
- Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511), Other Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336419), Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing (336414)
- SIC
- Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812), Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles & Parts (3760)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Spacecraft Avionics, Flight Computers & Software (IMABACAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Spacecraft Integration, Assembly & Test (IAT) (IMABACAK), Avionics Test, Simulation & Calibration Equipment (IMABAFAN), Autonomous Flight Control & Guidance Systems (UAS/Urban Air Mobility) (IMABAFAO)
Keywords
Where Exobotics is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Exobotics business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Hardware Sales - Nano-satellite Platforms: Sale of XO-BUS nano-satellite platforms (1-27U CubeSat) and XO-SHAKE vibration testing systems. One-time hardware purchase with optional customization.
- Hardware Sales - Ground Support Equipment: Sale of XO-VAC and XO-VAC-PLUS desktop thermal vacuum chambers for ground testing of satellites and payloads.
- Rideshare Mission Services: End-to-end rideshare mission services including mission design, integration, environmental testing, launch procurement, licensing, and mission operations. Covers L-9 months to L+13 months mission lifecycle.
- Custom Payload Development Services: Custom payload development services compatible with XO-BUS platforms. Engineering and mission consultancy services also offered.
- Engineering and Mission Consultancy: Consultancy services for spacecraft subsystems, mission design, and operational support.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | XO-VAC base model - Entry-level desktop TVAC |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | XO-VAC-PLUS - Enhanced customization and connectivity |
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | External TVAC facility rental comparison |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels2 records
Exobotics product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Exobotics designs, manufactures, and sells modular nanosatellite platforms (XO-BUS 1U to 27U CubeSat buses) with integrated flight software, avionics, radios, navigation, and ADCS. The company also produces desktop ground support equipment including XO-VAC thermal vacuum chambers and XO-SHAKE vibration testing systems, and provides end-to-end rideshare mission services (XO-RIDE) covering design, integration, testing, launch procurement, licensing, and operations for commercial and government customers.
Product overview
Exobotics is a space technology company offering a modular product ecosystem for nanosatellite and CubeSat missions, comprising the XO-BUS platform family (1U-27U modular satellite buses with flight heritage), XO-VAC/XO-VAC-PLUS desktop thermal vacuum chambers, and XO-SHAKE vibration testing systems. Services include the XO-RIDE rideshare mission program (full end-to-end service from requirements to operations), custom payload development, and engineering consultancy. The company philosophy emphasizes customization-as-standard and testing-as-standard, with cloud-based ground segment and operations capabilities.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- XO-BUS: Nano-satellite platforms (1-27U CubeSat / Nanosatellite Buses) with flight-heritage, modular design, and CubeSat compatibility.
- XO-VAC
- XO-SHAKE
- XO-RIDE
Products and services
- XO-BUS Modular nanosatellite platform providing CubeSat-compatible buses from 1U to 27U form factors with integrated flight software, avionics, radios, navigation, and ADCS. Offers industry-leading mass, volume, and power characteristics with guaranteed 12-month fast-track delivery. For commercial and government organizations deploying CubeSat missions.
- XO-VAC Low-cost desktop thermal vacuum chamber (TVAC) for CubeSats, nanosatellites, and small payloads. Simulates space conditions with temperature range from -25C to 125C and vacuum down to 1E-7 mbar. Base model starting from GBP48,000. For satellite hardware developers needing ground testing equipment.
- XO-VAC-PLUS Enhanced version of XO-VAC offering advanced customization options and connectivity features (extra power pins, viewports, optical fibre, high voltage feedthroughs) for thermal vacuum testing without engineering fees. Starting from GBP65,000. For satellite hardware developers needing enhanced ground testing capabilities.
- XO-SHAKE Desktop vibration testing system designed for satellite qualification testing, providing environmental simulation capabilities complementary to XO-VAC. For satellite hardware developers and mission operators requiring vibration qualification.
- XO-RIDE Rideshare Mission Service End-to-end rideshare mission service for CubeSats and nanosatellites covering the L-9 to L+13 months mission lifecycle, including requirements analysis, flatsat testing, XO-BUS integration, environmental testing, launch procurement, licensing, and post-launch mission operations via ground station partners. For commercial and government satellite mission operators.
- Custom Payload Development Bespoke payload development service compatible with XO-BUS platforms, enabling customers to design and integrate custom payloads for specific mission requirements. Includes engineering and mission consultancy services for spacecraft subsystems, mission design, and operational support. For organizations requiring custom mission-specific satellite payloads.
Quantifiable outcome
- ~70% of CubeSat mission failures attributed to lack of ground testing (per NASA reports)
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Exobotics
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Exobotics technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
Feature8 records
Exobotics partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Mavericks SpaceminorPartner organization with logo displayed on Exobotics About page.
- Intuitive MachinesminorPartner organization with logo displayed on Exobotics About page. Space technology company.
- Cornwall InnovationminorInnovation center in Cornwall associated with Exobotics, supporting the Cornwall office location.
- Cambridge University Engineering DepartmentminorAcademic partner with logo displayed on Exobotics About page. Associated with Cambridge location.
- Goonhilly Earth StationcoreIan Jones, founder of Goonhilly Earth Station, serves as an advisor to Exobotics. Goonhilly provides satellite communication infrastructure potentially supporting mission operations.
- UK Space AgencyminorDr Alice Bunn, International Director at UK Space Agency, serves as an advisor to Exobotics.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Exobotics competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Rocket Lab (Space Systems): Via its Sinclair and Photon/Explorer lines, Rocket Lab offers complete smallsat buses plus launch. Broader incumbent competing with both XO-BUS platforms and the rideshare access bundled in XO-RIDE.
- Spire Global: Operator of a large smallsat constellation and provider of space-based data. Comparable on smallsat bus architecture and rideshare mission economics, though operating at much larger scale.
- Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL): Established UK smallsat manufacturer owned by Airbus, offering a broad portfolio of smallsat platforms and mission services. A much larger incumbent in the same smallsat category as Exobotics.
Direct peers
- NanoAvionics: SmallSat bus manufacturer (3U-12U+) and mission integrator offering end-to-end rideshare services. Directly comparable to Exobotics' XO-BUS and XO-RIDE offerings.
- AAC Clyde Space: Public smallsat/CubeSat bus manufacturer offering 1U-12U platforms and mission services with deep flight heritage. Closest direct competitor to XO-BUS, also serving rideshare customers.
- Open Cosmos: UK-based smallsat mission services provider offering end-to-end design, build, launch, and operations. Direct rival to XO-RIDE and increasingly XO-BUS for UK and ESA customers.
- GomSpace: CubeSat platform, subsystem, and mission services provider with a long flight history. Competes head-on with XO-BUS for smallsat bus sales and rideshare mission work.
- Innovative Solutions In Space (ISIS): Dutch smallsat components and platforms specialist with CubeSat structures and launch services. Comparable to Exobotics across both XO-BUS platforms and smallsat integration tooling.
Emerging players
- Pumpkin Space Systems: CubeSat structures and kit provider (1U-6U) historically used by universities and smallsat developers. Adjacent competitor in the modular CubeSat bus space where Exobotics competes.
Others
- Intuitive Machines: Listed Exobotics partner and lunar lander/space services company. Relevant as an ecosystem peer given the explicit partnership and the DOGE-1 mission's translunar trajectory.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Exobotics social profiles
Digital presenceExobotics financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Exobotics leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Exobotics funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Exobotics 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 Exobotics
What does Exobotics do?
Exobotics designs, manufactures, and sells modular nanosatellite platforms (XO-BUS 1U to 27U CubeSat buses) with integrated flight software, avionics, radios, navigation, and ADCS. The company also produces desktop ground support equipment including XO-VAC thermal vacuum chambers and XO-SHAKE vibration testing systems, and provides end-to-end rideshare mission services (XO-RIDE) covering design, integration, testing, launch procurement, licensing, and operations for commercial and government customers.
Is Exobotics a public or private company?
Exobotics is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Exobotics founded?
Exobotics was founded in 2018. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Exobotics based?
Exobotics is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Exobotics make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Hardware Sales - Nano-satellite Platforms are the primary driver. The others are hardware Sales - Ground Support Equipment, rideshare Mission Services, custom Payload Development Services and engineering and Mission Consultancy.
Who are Exobotics's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Rocket Lab (Space Systems), Spire Global and Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL). Direct peers are NanoAvionics, AAC Clyde Space, Open Cosmos, GomSpace and Innovative Solutions In Space (ISIS). Pumpkin Space Systems is listed as an emerging player. Intuitive Machines is listed as an others.
Does Exobotics have an API?
No public API is recorded for Exobotics.
What industry is Exobotics in?
Exobotics's product category is Nanosatellite and CubeSat Platforms. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABACAI, Spacecraft Avionics, Flight Computers & Software, with a secondary code of IMABACAK, Spacecraft Integration, Assembly & Test (IAT). Its NAICS code is 334511 and its SIC code is 3812.