SpaceUp

What SpaceUp does

SpaceUp was a European Union Horizon 2020 funded research and innovation project (grant agreement NO 776356) that operated from 2018 to 2021 with the objective of accelerating European space startups. The project's core deliverable was the Space Academy, a two-day intensive program offering customized business coaching, one-to-one expert consultations, feasibility studies on business models, intellectual property, access to finance, and human resources, alongside direct matchmaking with business angels, crowdfunders, investors, and corporate executives. Across its project lifetime, SpaceUp organized six Space Academies in Helsinki (June 2019), Bremen (November 2019), Rome (December 2020), Paris (March 2021), and Europe (June 2021, virtual), selecting 10 startups per cohort through an open application process and serving 60 startups in total.

The program was delivered by a consortium of European partners including the European Business Angel Network (EBAN), the International Association of Science Parks and Areas of Innovation (IASP), Fraunhofer Institute, SME4Space, Lazio Innova, Hypatia Consortium, Aviaspace Bremen, and IBS Consulting. Space Academies were strategically embedded within larger industry events such as the EBAN Annual Congress, Paris Space Week, and Space Tech Expo Europe to maximize investor and partner exposure. Free services were made possible entirely through EU Horizon 2020 grant funding, with no commercial pricing or revenue model.

SpaceUp's geographic scope was restricted to European startups, with primary markets in Finland, Germany, Italy, France, and Ireland. Reported outcomes included 98% of startups finding services useful, an average of 11 industry contacts per startup, 73% of participating startups growing headcount, and an average headcount growth of 3 employees per company post-program. The project is now closed, with its website functioning as an archive of completed activities and selected startup portfolios.

Name

SpaceUp

Legal name

SpaceUp

Website

https://space-academy.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Closed

Short description

SpaceUp was an EU Horizon 2020 funded project (2018-2021) that ran Space Academy programs to accelerate European space startups via coaching, feasibility studies, and investor matchmaking, serving 60 startups across six cohorts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Space Startup Accelerator

NAICS

Space Research and Technology (927)

SIC

Federal & Federally-Sponsored Credit Agencies (6111)

akta.pro primary industry

Space & Astronomy Programs (EDAMABAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Science Camps & Field Programs (Nature, Space, Marine, Geology) (EDAMABAB)

Keywords

• Space startup accelerator
• Business acceleration services
• Space industry coaching
• Startup feasibility studies
• Investor matchmaking services

Headquarters

HQ city

Málaga

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. EU Horizon 2020 Funding: SpaceUp is entirely funded by the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 776356. The project ran from 2018-2021 and provided free services to selected space startups including customized business coaching, feasibility studies, and networking opportunities.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

SpaceUp runs the Space Academy program, a two-day intensive acceleration event for European space start-ups that delivers customized coaching, one-to-one expert consultation meetings, feasibility studies, pitching opportunities, and direct matchmaking with business angels, crowdfunders, investors, and corporate executives. Ten startups per academy are selected through an open application process and receive travel reimbursement and full access to all program services at no cost, funded by the EU Horizon 2020 grant.

Product overview

SpaceUp is a startup acceleration project (not a software product) that assists European space startups in scaling up through its Space Academy program. The core offering is a two-day Space Academy event combined with customized coaching services, one-to-one consultation meetings, feasibility studies on business models, intellectual property rights, access to finance, and human resources. The program facilitates direct matchmaking between startups and investors, business angels, and corporate leaders. SpaceUp is financed by the EU Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (grant agreement NO 776356) and operates through consortium partners including SME4space, Lazio Innova, IASP, Hypatia, Fraunhofer, EBAN, Aviaspace Bremen, and others.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Space Academy Two-day intensive acceleration program for European space-tech entrepreneurs that delivers customized coaching services, one-to-one expert consultation meetings, feasibility studies, pitching opportunities, and direct matchmaking with business angels, investors, and corporate executives. Ten start-ups per academy are selected through an open call and receive travel reimbursement and full access to services funded by the EU Horizon 2020 grant.

Quantifiable outcome

• 98% of startups found services useful
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered supporting and core.

• AstropreneurssupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 February 2019MOU signed between SpaceUp and Astropreneurs (another EU-funded H2020 project) to formalize partnership in promoting space tech companies and assisting their growth and development.
• EBAN (European Business Angel Network)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018EBAN is a key consortium partner organizing Space Academies and hosting them within their Annual Congress events. They bring together early-stage investors, business angels, VCs, entrepreneurs, and startups. Space Academy Europe 2021 was fully embedded into the EBAN 2021 Annual Congress.
• IASP (International Association of Science Parks and Areas of Innovation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIASP co-organized Space Academy Paris 2021, bringing their network of science parks and innovation areas into the SpaceUp ecosystem.
• Fondazione E. AmaldicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the SpaceUp consortium providing expertise and coordination. Dr. Lorenzo Scatena serves as Secretary General and participates in panel sessions.
• SME4SpacesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsortium partner supporting the SpaceUp project and European space SME ecosystem development.
• Lazio InnovasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional innovation agency part of the SpaceUp consortium supporting startups in the Lazio region and beyond.
• Hypatia ConsortiumsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the SpaceUp consortium bringing expertise and network connections to the project.
• FraunhofersupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFraunhofer Institute part of the SpaceUp consortium providing technical expertise and research capabilities.
• Aviaspace BremensupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpace industry cluster in Bremen, Germany, supporting Space Academy Bremen and connecting with local space ecosystem.
• Paris Space WeekcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSpace Academy Paris 2021 was held back-to-back with Paris Space Week, an online conference bringing together space industry actors including agencies, organizations, startups and investors, attracting 660 visitors.
• IBS ConsultingsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the SpaceUp consortium providing business consulting expertise.
• Space Tech Expo EuropecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSpace Academy Bremen was embedded in Space Tech Expo Europe, providing access to hundreds of space tech industry participants and investors.
• Amazon Web Services (AWS)supportingTechnology or IntegrationGuido Baraglia, Principal Business Development Manager - Satellite Solutions at AWS, participated as speaker in SpaceUp panel sessions.
• BoschsupportingTechnology or IntegrationEbru Kanat from Bosch Divisional Business Transformation participated as speaker in SpaceUp panel on 'Space as an Enabler'.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Market position

Competitive moat3 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/spaceupproject
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCBwfHUYJEJSfy1JFokv4Gcg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/spaceupeu

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

Investments1 record

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

Frequently asked questions about SpaceUp