What SolarXplorers does

SolarXplorers SA is a Swiss private company headquartered in Yverdon-les-Bains and operating from Payerne Swiss Aeropole, founded in 2014 by eco-explorer Raphaël Domjan to pursue the SolarStratos mission: demonstrating that a manned aircraft can reach the stratosphere using only solar energy. The company developed the HB-SXA, a two-seater solar-electric stratospheric aircraft featuring photovoltaic cells, advanced battery systems, a newly installed variable-pitch propeller, an aero brake system, and a 5G/Starlink-switchable telemetry link. On August 12, 2025, the HB-SXA reached 9,521 meters, confirmed by FAI as the highest altitude achieved by any solar-electric crewed aircraft in history, with over 100 flights logged by November 2024.

The business operates a hybrid revenue model anchored by a six-tier club membership program (SolarFriend free through SolarVoyager at 60,000 CHF annually), supplemented by corporate sponsorships led by Longines and Bordier & Cie, media rights from the documentary "Chasing the Dream," merchandise sales, and premium flight and simulator experiences delivered at the Payerne operational base. Scientific and technical partners include CSEM, ONERA, HEIG-VD, DLR, ESA, Zvezda, and Elektra Solar GmbH (formerly PC-Aero, which designed the airframe). The customer base consists of eco-conscious aviation enthusiasts, Swiss-rooted corporate sponsors seeking sustainability association, and research institutions contributing technical expertise.

Strategic posture centers on incremental technical validation, regulatory clearance (FOCA, OFAC), and brand-led community building rather than rapid commercial scaling. Headcount is stated at 1-10 employees with a broader mission team exceeding 20 named contributors, reflecting a lean, founder-led organization dependent on sponsor capital and in-kind partner contributions. Revenue is not publicly disclosed, and there are no disclosed external funding rounds, indicating an organic, sponsorship-funded growth model characteristic of an eco-exploration project rather than a venture-scale technology company.

Name

SolarXplorers

Legal name

SolarXplorers SA

Website

https://solarstratos.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

SolarXplorers SA is a Swiss private company operating the SolarStratos mission, developing and flying the HB-SXA, the world's highest-altitude solar-electric two-seater crewed aircraft. It generates revenue through a tiered club membership program, corporate sponsorships led by Longines and Bordier & Cie, media rights, and premium flight experiences.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Solar Aviation

NAICS

Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing (336414), Other Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336419)

SIC

Aircraft & Parts (3720), Aircraft Parts & Auxiliary Equipment, Nec (3728), Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles & Parts (3760)

akta.pro primary industry

Space Power Systems (Solar Arrays, Batteries, EPS) (IMABACAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Space Structures, Mechanisms & Thermal Control (IMABACAF), Next-Gen Photovoltaics R&D (Perovskite, Tandem, Organic, BIPV Materials) (EUAMAOAA)

Keywords

• Solar aviation
• Stratospheric aircraft
• Solar-powered flight
• Manned solar aircraft
• Aerospace engineering

Headquarters

HQ city

Yverdon-les-bains

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Club memberships: Recurring membership revenue from the SolarStratos club with tiered levels (SolarFriend, SolarSupporter, SolarMember, SolarPilot, SolarNavigator, SolarVoyager) providing progressively exclusive benefits and experiences in exchange for annual fees ranging from 0 to 60,000 CHF.
2. Corporate sponsorships: Partnerships with Swiss and international companies providing financial and in-kind support in exchange for brand visibility and association with the solar aviation project. Includes main partners (Longines, Bordier & Cie), official partners, official suppliers, and institutional partners.
3. Media and content rights: Revenue from documentary films (Chasing the Dream), TV broadcasts (Canal+, RTS), and media partnerships for covering the SolarStratos mission.
4. Merchandise and experiences: Sales of merchandise including SolarStratos jackets, mission badges, and branded items. Premium experiences include flights in electric aircraft, simulator rides, and VIP event access.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

SolarXplorers SA, operating as SolarStratos, develops and operates the HB-SXA, a stratospheric solar-powered two-seater aircraft designed to reach the stratosphere using solar energy. The company sells stratospheric aviation experiences and operates an Explorers Club membership program supporting its mission of zero-emission stratospheric flight.

Product overview

SolarXplorers SA operates the SolarStratos mission, a pioneering eco-exploration project featuring a stratospheric solar-powered aircraft (HB-SXA). The company offers a tiered membership program (Solarfriend to Solarvoyager) providing varying levels of engagement from newsletter access to actual flights. Supporting products include a live cockpit virtual experience, an online pilot game, a 3-axis flight simulator for training, and documentary media content about the mission. The portfolio centers on demonstrating solar energy potential through aviation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SolarStratos Club Membership Tiers: Membership program with tiers: Solarfriend, Solarsupporter, Solarmember, Solarpilot, Solarnavigator, and Solarvoyager offering various benefits and access levels.

Products and services

• HB-SXA SolarStratos Aircraft A two-seater stratospheric solar-powered aircraft designed to fly in the stratosphere using solar energy, used as the platform for the company's stratospheric aviation experiences.
• SolarStratos Explorers Club Membership A membership subscription program for individual supporters and aviation enthusiasts backing the SolarStratos zero-emission stratospheric flight mission.
• Stratospheric Aviation Experience

Quantifiable outcome

• 9,521 meters altitude achieved on August 12, 2025 - highest solar-electric crewed aircraft in history
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered main partner, core, official partner, official supplier, scientific partner, institutional, media partner and official supporter.

• Longinesmain partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerMain partner and sponsor of SolarStratos. Longines, the Swiss watch company, provides financial support and brand visibility association with the pioneering solar aviation project.
• Bordier & Ciemain partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerMain partner and sponsor. Swiss private bank providing financial support and association with the innovation and sustainability mission of SolarStratos.
• ZvezdacoreTechnology or IntegrationRussian spacesuit manufacturer partnered with SolarStratos for development and testing of the Sokol spacesuit that Raphaël Domjan will wear during stratospheric flights.
• Fischer Connectorsofficial partnerTechnology or IntegrationSwiss company specializing in high-performance connectors providing technical components for the aircraft.
• Active Solarofficial partnerTechnology or IntegrationSwiss solar energy company providing expertise and potentially solar components for the aircraft.
• Horus Energy SAofficial supplierTechnology or IntegrationSwiss solar hosting company providing website hosting services. Founded by Raphaël Domjan's brother Alexis Domjan.
• CSEM (Swiss Center for Electronics and Microtechnology)coreTechnology or IntegrationScientific and technical partner that developed photovoltaic cells and biomedical telemetry system for SolarStratos. Partnership with ESA for technology development.
• Elektra Solar GmbHcoreTechnology or IntegrationGerman company founded by Calin Gologan, creator and designer of the HB-SXA aircraft. Co-developed with PC-Aero.
• HEIG-VDscientific partnerTechnology or IntegrationSwiss engineering school providing technical expertise and research support for the project.
• ONERA (French Aerospace Research Center)coreTechnology or IntegrationFrench aerospace research center that conducted flutter tests on HB-SXA to calculate structural limits and ensure safe flight operations.
• Canton de VaudinstitutionalOthersSwiss canton providing institutional support and recognition for the SolarStratos project as a pioneering regional initiative.
• Swiss AeropoleinstitutionalOthersAviation cluster in Payerne providing operational base and infrastructure for SolarStratos aircraft operations.
• Viteos SAofficial partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss energy company supporting SolarStratos events and round table discussions on climate and sustainability.
• Alto groupeofficial supplierTechnology or IntegrationSwiss company providing services or components as an official supplier to SolarStratos.
• Genève Aéroportofficial supplierOthersGeneva Airport providing operational support and infrastructure access.
• DLR (German Aerospace Center)scientific partnerTechnology or IntegrationGerman space agency supporting SolarStratos on issues related to very high-altitude flights.
• RSC Film Productionsmedia partnerOthersFilm production company co-producing documentary 'Chasing the Dream' about the SolarStratos mission.
• Gédéon Programmesmedia partnerOthersMedia company co-producing documentary content about the SolarStratos mission for television broadcast.
• Helix Propellersofficial supporterTechnology or IntegrationGerman company providing propeller technology for the SolarStratos aircraft.
• Planzerofficial supplierOthersSwiss logistics company providing transportation services for the project.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Eviation Aircraft: Developer of the Alice, a nine-passenger all-electric commuter aircraft. Comparable as a high-profile electric-aviation startup pursuing type certification and commercial service, though at a larger commercial scale than SolarStratos.
• ZeroAvia: UK/US hydrogen-electric propulsion developer for regional aircraft. Comparable as a clean-propulsion aviation venture, though using hydrogen rather than solar power.
• Bye Aerospace: US-based developer of the Sun Flyer family of solar/electric training aircraft. Comparable as a small electric-aviation OEM targeting pilot training and short-range flight, though focused on training rather than stratospheric records.
• Heart Aerospace: Swedish startup developing the ES-30 hybrid-electric regional aircraft. Comparable as a European clean-aviation venture pairing novel propulsion with commercial airline partnerships, but at the regional-aircraft scale.

Direct peers

• Elektra Solar GmbH: Founded by Calin Gologan (the designer of HB-SXA). Develops solar-electric manned aircraft including the Elektra One and Elektra Trainer. Direct technological lineage and overlapping engineering DNA with SolarStratos.
• PC-Aéro GmbH: Calin Gologan's design house that co-developed the HB-SXA airframe with SolarStratos. Closely comparable as a small German aerostructure firm specializing in solar-electric light aircraft.
• Solar Impulse: Bertrand Piccard's solar-powered circumnavigation project completed in 2015–2016. The most direct peer to SolarStratos: manned, solar-electric aircraft designed for record endurance/altitude, comparable mission narrative, Swiss origins, and similar sponsorship-driven funding model.

Broad incumbents

• Lilium: German eVTOL developer of the Lilium Jet. Comparable as a European clean-aviation OEM with both aviation and battery-electric engineering expertise, though serving the urban air mobility market.
• Joby Aviation: Leading eVTOL developer pursuing FAA type certification and commercial air-taxi service. Comparable as a high-profile electric-aviation company, but operates at vastly greater scale and capitalization.
• Airbus (ZEROe / solar UAV programs): Major airframer with hydrogen-electric ZEROe roadmap and prior solar UAV (Zephyr) activity. Comparable as a broad incumbent in clean commercial aviation, with vastly greater resources and a different go-to-market.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCHlKomeXxUmKQkRNq53cGuQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/SolarStratos
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/solarstratos-sa
• Instagraminstagram.com/solarstratos
• Xx.com/solarstratos

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 SolarXplorers