What Hydra Space Systems SL does

Hydra Space Systems SL is a Spanish private space technology company, founded in 2021 and headquartered at Parque Científico UC3M in Leganés (Madrid), with an additional engineering office in Madrid. The company designs, manufactures and operates an in-house PocketQube satellite platform — compact 5x5x10 cm, approximately 400-gram spacecraft with a 2-3 year operational lifetime, a graceful-degradation zero-debris design, and 100% proprietary components with no commercial parts. Its core offering is satellite-based IoT connectivity for enterprises operating in remote or unconnected regions, complemented by in-orbit testing services, turn-key smallsat mission and constellation design, hosted payload integration, and expert space consulting covering regulatory licensing, subsystems (TTC, communications, on-board computer, energy, ground stations) and launch management.

The company targets enterprise customers in five primary verticals — agriculture, fishery, ocean/climate/environment monitoring, distributed infrastructure management, and research institutions — using direct enterprise sales with no intermediaries. Revenue is generated through a mix of recurring subscription-style connectivity services (dedicated or shared constellations, hosted IoT payloads, LoRa/NB-IoT integration with standard APIs to AWS and Azure) and project-based professional services for missions, constellations, and consulting. Pricing is stated to be aligned with terrestrial IoT connectivity but is not publicly disclosed.

Hydra Space has established flight heritage through five satellite missions: GENESIS (Sept 2021 on Firefly Alpha), EASAT-2 and Hades (Jan 2022 on SpaceX Transporter 3, with Universidad Europea), ASTROLAND-1 and ASTROLAND-2 (Jan 2022, for AMSAT-EA), and SpinnyOne (Apr 2026 on SpaceX Transporter 16). Capitalisation rests on a June 2022 seed round from strategic and angel investors (BTS, ACORDE TECHNOLOGIES, Usyncro, business angels, facilitated by Scaphari Ventures and ScaleUp Finances), supplemented by non-dilutive public funding from ESA-BIC Madrid, CDTI-Neotec, ENISA, the EU Horizon 2020 Go2Space/Cassini programme, the Comunidad de Madrid FSE+ 2021-2027 programme, and a 2023 R&D contract with Carlos III University of Madrid under the UNICO 5G/6G-Xtreme program. The team comprises four key members covering product/business, technology/R&D, software/satellite operations, and networking/communications.

Name

Hydra Space Systems SL

Legal name

HYDRA SPACE SYSTEMS SL

Website

https://hydra-space.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Hydra Space Systems SL is a Spanish space technology company that designs and operates proprietary PocketQube satellites to deliver affordable IoT connectivity, in-orbit testing, and turn-key smallsat mission services for enterprises in agriculture, fishery, environment, and distributed infrastructure sectors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Satellite IoT Connectivity

NAICS

Satellite Telecommunications (517410), Satellite Telecommunications (5174), Satellite Telecommunications (51741)

SIC

Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles & Parts (3760)

akta.pro primary industry

Satellite IoT & Machine-to-Machine (M2M) Connectivity (LPWAN over Satellite) (HDAIAJAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Satellite Network Operations & Capacity Services (NOC, Capacity Leasing, Managed Payload Services) (HDAIAJAI), Satellite Broadband Terminals & Gateways (VSAT/LEO CPE) (HDAFAIAM)

Keywords

• Satellite IoT connectivity
• PocketQube satellites
• Turn-key space missions
• In-orbit testing services
• Space consultancy services

Headquarters

HQ city

Madrid

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Satellite IoT Connectivity Services: Dedicated or shared constellations, hosted IoT payloads providing wide-area massive connectivity. Includes optimised satellite revisit and latency times, 3rd party networks (LoRa, NB-IoT) integration.
2. In-Orbit Testing Services: Helping clients test their technology and business model in real space conditions. Includes affordable prototyping and de-risking, experimental payload testing, and space-based business model prototyping.
3. Turn-Key Space Missions and Constellations: End-to-end mission design and implementation including regulatory aspects, manufacturing, payload integration, testing, launch, ground segment design and operation. Includes hosted payload integration in 3rd party platforms.
4. Expert Space Consulting and Subsystems Development: Regulatory/licensing consulting, business and technology consulting, tests and qualification management, launch management, and satellite subsystems development (TTC and communications modules, on-board computer, energy management, ground stations).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Hydra Space Systems SL designs, manufactures, and operates its own PocketQube-class satellites and provides satellite IoT connectivity services for enterprise customers. Its commercial portfolio includes IoT wide-area massive connectivity (dedicated or shared constellations, hosted IoT payloads), in-orbit testing services, turn-key smallsat mission and constellation design/implementation, and expert space consulting plus satellite subsystem development. The offering is built around a 100% proprietary PocketQube platform (5x5x10 cm, ~400g) with zero space-debris footprint and standard APIs for cloud integration.

Product overview

Hydra Space Systems SL is a Spanish satellite technology company offering a portfolio of products and services centered on affordable satellite IoT connectivity and space access. The core offering consists of their proprietary PocketQube satellite platform (5x5x10 cm, ~400g) combined with IoT Wide-Area, Massive Connectivity services. These integrate with third-party networks (LoRa, NB-IoT, Mioty) and cloud platforms (AWS, Azure) via standard APIs. The company also provides In Orbit Testing services, Turn-Key Space Missions and Constellations, and Expert Space Consulting and Subsystems Development. The product line has been validated through multiple launched satellites including EASAT-2, Hades, ASTROLAND-1/2, and SpinnyOne.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• IoT Wide-Area, Massive Connectivity Service

Quantifiable outcome

• Satellite developed in 6 months
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered strategic, core and minor.

• Acorde TechnologiesstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2023Awarded 6G-Xtreme project contract with Carlos III University of Madrid. Acorde Technologies is an aerospace and defense company expert in high-performance RF subsystems.
• La NavecoreOthers · 1 June 2022Selected for La Nave acceleration program in Madrid. Doubled technical and innovation facilities at La Nave following successful space technology deployment. Supported by Fundación para el Conocimiento madrid and Keiretsu Forum Spain.
• UsyncrostrategicTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2022Agreement signed for improving mission traceability using Blockchain technology. Usyncro will test its Blockchain-based technology to track Hydra Space future missions from design to delivery at launch facilities.
• AstrolandminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Partnership for launching Astroland-1 and Astroland-2 satellites developed with Hydra Space technology.
• AMSAT-EAstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2021Non-profit organization for which Hydra Space carried out platform engineering and mission design for ASTROLAND-1 and ASTROLAND-2 satellites. Satellites are open for use to the scientific and radio community.
• Ienai SpacestrategicTechnology or Integration · 1 October 2021Partnership to integrate Athena thruster from Ienai Space into PocketQube satellites. Worked together to integrate the thruster for satellites to be launched.
• UARXminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2021Will deliver satellite kits for the Europe to Space challenge organized by UARX, allowing university students to fully integrate and test satellites for launch.
• FireflyminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 September 2021GENESIS satellites launched aboard Firefly Alpha rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.
• Go2Space / Cassini ProgrammestrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2021Selected to participate in Go2Space acceleration programme, part of Cassini Programme - European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme.
• European Space Agency - Business Incubation Centre in Madrid (ESA-BIC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProudly supported by ESA-BIC through their startup incubation program. ESA-BIC is the European Space Agency's business incubation initiative supporting space-related startups.
• Madrid Innovation and New Space Cluster (MINSC)minorOthersMember of Madrid Innovation and New Space Cluster industry organization.
• Madrid Space Technologies Cluster (CITT-Espacio)minorOthersMember of Madrid Space Technologies Cluster industry organization.
• Spain Aerospace Platform (Plataforma Aeroespacial)minorOthersMember of Spain Aerospace Platform industry organization.
• Universidad EuropeastrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with Universidad Europea for building EASAT-2 and Hades satellites. Tested and qualified at Instituto Universitario de Microgravedad (IDR/UPM).

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Sateliot: Spain-based satellite IoT operator using smallsat constellations for NB-IoT connectivity. Most direct competitor given shared geography, customer segments (agriculture, logistics, infrastructure), and overlapping LEO IoT connectivity proposition.
• Astrocast: Switzerland-based satellite IoT provider operating a LEO nanosatellite constellation for asset tracking, agriculture, and remote monitoring — directly comparable technology stack, customer verticals, and recurring subscription revenue model.
• Swarm Technologies (SpaceX): Lowest-cost satellite IoT connectivity provider, acquired by SpaceX. Targets the same low-bandwidth, device-agnostic IoT use cases as Hydra Space and represents the lower bound on price competition.
• Kepler Communications: Toronto-based operator of a LEO nanosatellite constellation providing store-and-forward IoT and data connectivity for enterprise and government — comparable scale, technology (smallsats), and vertical focus.
• Myriota: Australia-based direct-to-satellite IoT connectivity provider targeting agriculture, logistics, and environmental monitoring — comparable business model, LPWAN-style IoT, and recurring subscription pricing.
• OQ Technology: Luxembourg-based 5G NB-IoT satellite operator targeting the same enterprise IoT opportunity (agriculture, logistics, infrastructure) with a 5G-native connectivity stack, comparable to Hydra's NB-IoT integration ambition.

Emerging players

• Lacuna Space: UK-based LoRa-direct-to-satellite IoT provider; comparable technology and target verticals (agriculture, asset tracking, environmental monitoring) but earlier-stage constellation deployment.

Broad incumbents

• GomSpace: Denmark-based commercial supplier of smallsat platforms and subsystems; comparable in being a PocketQube/CubeSat platform provider, but with a broader product portfolio and established customer base.
• Iridium Communications: Established LEO satellite communications operator with global IoT and asset-tracking services; comparable end-user IoT connectivity proposition but at much larger scale, longer-lived constellation, and premium pricing.

Regional players

• Elecnor Deimos: Spanish space systems provider offering satellite systems, ground segment, and space operations; comparable Spanish ecosystem player serving similar commercial and institutional customers, though with broader capabilities.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks3 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hydra-space

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Hydra Space Systems SL