EPFL Rocket Team
EPFL Rocket Team is a non-profit student association at EPFL in Lausanne, Switzerland, comprising 200+ students who design and manufacture rockets across four projects (Firehorn/Firehorn II bi-liquid rockets, Space Race training, Icarus GNC algorithms, Plasma electric propulsion), funded by a tiered corporate sponsorship program.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersLausanne, Switzerland
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What EPFL Rocket Team does
EPFL Rocket Team is a non-profit student association hosted at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) in Lausanne, Switzerland, comprising 200+ students drawn from Swiss universities. Its stated mission is to design and manufacture rockets and provide hands-on training in space technologies to cultivate the next generation of space-industry talent. The organization operates as a community-led entity rather than a commercial enterprise, with no product revenue.
Its technical portfolio spans four projects: Firehorn and Firehorn II are supersonic bi-liquid propellant rockets for international competitions (Firehorn completed in 2025 at 3 km altitude; Firehorn II targeted for 2026 with a 30 km objective); Space Race is a student training program in rocketry fundamentals; Icarus develops guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) algorithms for re-entry and re-landing systems; and Plasma develops student-built electric propulsion, including Hall Effect thrusters and hollow cathode electron guns. Engineering tools include ANSYS (via CADFEM sponsorship) and SOLIDWORKS.
The organization's revenue model is sponsorship-driven, structured in tiers (Main, Gold, Silver, Bronze, Support) anchored by Main partners EPFL, Apco Technologies, Constellium, Linde, and Kistler, supplemented by Gold partners (Swagelok, maxon), Silver (CADFEM), Bronze (Jane Street, SOLIDWORKS), and Support partners (eSpace, Empa, LPAC, Space Innovation). Additional income may derive from competition prize money. The primary beneficiary segment is the student membership itself, with outputs (50+ launches, 7 competition awards, 4 research papers) functioning as reputational and recruiting assets rather than commercial deliverables. The stated long-term goal is to become the first European student team to reach space (100 km altitude) by 2030.
EPFL Rocket Team firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- EPFL Rocket Team
- Legal name
- EPFL Rocket Team
- Website
- https://epflrocketteam.ch
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- EPFL Rocket Team is a non-profit student association at EPFL in Lausanne, Switzerland, comprising 200+ students who design and manufacture rockets across four projects (Firehorn/Firehorn II bi-liquid rockets, Space Race training, Icarus GNC algorithms, Plasma electric propulsion), funded by a tiered corporate sponsorship program.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
EPFL Rocket Team industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Aerospace Engineering and Rocketry Education
- NAICS
- Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing (336414), Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Propulsion Unit and Propulsion Unit Parts Manufacturing (336415)
- SIC
- Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles & Parts (3760), Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Launch Vehicles & Orbital Rockets (IMABACAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Rocket Engines (Liquid) (IMABADAE), Space Payloads & Instruments (Sensors, Comms, EO/IR) (IMABACAD)
Keywords
Where EPFL Rocket Team is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lausanne
- HQ country
- Switzerland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
EPFL Rocket Team business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Materials and Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Personnel
Revenue model
- Sponsorship and Partner Support: The team operates primarily through financial and in-kind support from corporate sponsors ranging from main partners (EPFL, Apco, Constellium, Linde, Kistler) to gold, silver, bronze, and support-tier sponsors. These partnerships provide funding, equipment, materials, and professional services.
- Competition Awards and Prize Money: The team participates in international rocketry competitions and has won 7 awards, which may include prize money and scholarships.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
EPFL Rocket Team product offering
Product offeringCore offering
EPFL Rocket Team is a non-profit student association that designs, manufactures, and launches student-built rockets as a platform for hands-on training in space technologies. The team's portfolio includes competition bi-liquid rockets (Firehorn, Firehorn II), a student training program (Space Race), a guidance/navigation/control algorithm project for re-landing systems (Icarus), and a plasma electric propulsion project (Plasma). Participants gain practical aerospace engineering experience through semester projects credited at EPFL and other Swiss universities, with a stated goal of becoming the first European student team to reach space (100 km altitude) by 2030.
Product overview
EPFL Rocket Team is a student association developing multiple rocket and space technology projects. The portfolio consists of five distinct offerings: Firehorn and Firehorn II are bi-liquid propellant rockets for competition and altitude milestones; Space Race is a training program for student education; Icarus focuses on guidance and control algorithms for re-entry systems; and Plasma develops electric propulsion technology. The team aims to become the first European student team to reach space (100 km altitude) by 2030.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Firehorn: Bi-liquid rocket project for competition (Firehorn II being developed)
- Space Race
- Icarus
- Plasma
Products and services
- Firehorn A supersonic bi-liquid rocket designed and manufactured by EPFL Rocket Team students for international competitions. Completed in 2025, the project achieved a 3 km altitude target. It is built to train students in rocket design, propulsion, and flight while competing in international rocketry competitions.
- Firehorn II Third generation supersonic bi-liquid rocket being designed and manufactured by EPFL Rocket Team students for upcoming international competitions, targeting a 30 km altitude objective.
- Space Race Student training project that teaches Swiss university students the fundamentals of rocketry and aerospace technologies, providing hands-on experience as part of the EPFL Rocket Team's educational mission.
- Icarus Project developing efficient guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) algorithms for re-landing systems, applied by EPFL Rocket Team students to advance reusable or recoverable rocket technologies.
- Plasma Project developing and testing student-built plasma propulsion systems for space applications, including Hall Effect Thrusters and hollow cathode electron guns built and validated in-house by EPFL Rocket Team students.
Quantifiable outcome
- 200+ students trained in space technologies
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use EPFL Rocket Team
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
EPFL Rocket Team technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
EPFL Rocket Team partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered main, gold, silver, bronze and support.
- EPFLmainÉcole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne as the host institution providing resources, facilities, and academic framework for the student association.
- Apco TechnologiesmainSwiss aerospace company providing industry expertise and potentially components or technical support for rocket development.
- ConstelliummainGlobal aluminum and aerospace materials supplier providing specialized materials for rocket structures.
- LindemainIndustrial gases company providing liquid oxygen and other propellants for bi-liquid rocket systems.
- KistlermainSwiss sensor and measurement technology company providing testing and measurement equipment.
- Swagelok SwitzerlandgoldFluid systems components supplier supporting rocket propulsion testing infrastructure.
- maxongoldPrecision motor manufacturer providing motors and actuators for rocket systems.
- CADFEMsilverEngineering simulation software provider offering ANSYS and simulation tools for structural and fluid dynamics analysis.
- Jane StreetbronzeQuantitative trading firm providing financial sponsorship support.
- SOLIDWORKSbronzeCAD software provider offering design tools for rocket component modeling.
- eSpacesupportEPFL's space center providing academic guidance and research collaboration opportunities.
- EmpasupportSwiss materials science institute providing advanced materials expertise.
- LPACsupportEPFL Laboratory for Processing of Advanced Composites providing composite materials knowledge.
- Space InnovationsupportSwiss space innovation initiative supporting student space projects.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
EPFL Rocket Team competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- eSpace (EPFL Space Center): eSpace is EPFL's space research center and a direct supporting partner of EPFL Rocket Team. It is comparable as the academic ecosystem and talent feeder that surrounds the team, and as a comparable Swiss space R&D organization.
Direct peers
- TU Delft DARE: DARE is TU Delft's student society for aerospace projects, including sounding rocket development and stratospheric balloons. It competes with EPFL Rocket Team in international competitions and shares the student-led propulsion focus.
- TU Munich WARR: WARR is the student-run aerospace and rocketry team at TU Munich, building sounding rockets and satellite systems. It is the most direct European analogue to EPFL Rocket Team, competing in the same international competitions and developing student-built propulsion.
- Polito AeroSpace: Polito AeroSpace is Politecnico di Torino's student association developing rockets and small satellite platforms. It is a leading Italian student aerospace team with comparable scope to EPFL Rocket Team's competition and propulsion work.
- Imperial College Space Society: Imperial College Space Society runs student rocketry projects at Imperial College London, including competition entries at Spaceport America Cup and propulsion development. Comparable scale and ambition to EPFL Rocket Team.
- Cambridge University Spaceflight: Cambridge University Spaceflight is a UK student society developing high-powered rockets and competing at events like Spaceport America Cup. It shares EPFL Rocket Team's profile of European university student rocketry with comparable technical ambitions.
- Sheffield University Rocketry: Sheffield University Rocketry is a UK student team competing in international rocketry competitions with sounding rockets and student-built propulsion systems. Comparable to EPFL Rocket Team in scale, competition focus, and propulsion development.
Broad incumbents
- Isar Aerospace: Isar Aerospace is a Munich-based small-launch provider and prominent European NewSpace employer. It is comparable as the destination of EPFL Rocket Team alumni and competes for the same industrial sponsors (e.g., aerospace materials suppliers).
- Rocket Factory Augsburg: Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA) is a German small-launch startup and a direct competitor for European aerospace talent and industrial sponsors. It is comparable as a destination for EPFL Rocket Team alumni and a competitor for the same supplier relationships.
Emerging players
- HyImpulse: HyImpulse is a German small-launch startup founded from the University of Stuttgart's student rocketry environment. It is comparable as the commercial outgrowth of the European student-rocket ecosystem in which EPFL Rocket Team operates.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
EPFL Rocket Team social profiles
Digital presenceEPFL Rocket Team financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
EPFL Rocket Team leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles16 records
EPFL Rocket Team funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
EPFL Rocket Team 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 EPFL Rocket Team
What does EPFL Rocket Team do?
EPFL Rocket Team is a non-profit student association that designs, manufactures, and launches student-built rockets as a platform for hands-on training in space technologies. The team's portfolio includes competition bi-liquid rockets (Firehorn, Firehorn II), a student training program (Space Race), a guidance/navigation/control algorithm project for re-landing systems (Icarus), and a plasma electric propulsion project (Plasma). Participants gain practical aerospace engineering experience through semester projects credited at EPFL and other Swiss universities, with a stated goal of becoming the first European student team to reach space (100 km altitude) by 2030.
Is EPFL Rocket Team a public or private company?
EPFL Rocket Team is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was EPFL Rocket Team founded?
EPFL Rocket Team was founded in -1. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is EPFL Rocket Team based?
EPFL Rocket Team is headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, in the Europe region.
How does EPFL Rocket Team make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Sponsorship and Partner Support is the primary driver. The others are competition Awards and Prize Money.
Who are EPFL Rocket Team's main competitors?
eSpace (EPFL Space Center) is listed as an others. Direct peers are TU Delft DARE, TU Munich WARR, Polito AeroSpace, Imperial College Space Society, Cambridge University Spaceflight and Sheffield University Rocketry. Broad incumbents are Isar Aerospace and Rocket Factory Augsburg. HyImpulse is listed as an emerging player.
Does EPFL Rocket Team have an API?
No public API is recorded for EPFL Rocket Team.
What industry is EPFL Rocket Team in?
EPFL Rocket Team's product category is Aerospace Engineering and Rocketry Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABACAA, Launch Vehicles & Orbital Rockets, with a secondary code of IMABADAE, Rocket Engines (Liquid). Its NAICS code is 336414 and its SIC code is 3760.