RISE - UT/VU Student Team

What RISE - UT/VU Student Team does

RISE - UT/VU Student Team is a Dutch non-profit foundation (Stichting Rocketry Innovations and Space Engineering, KvK 85179205) operating a multidisciplinary student rocketry programme across the University of Twente (Enschede), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and Saxion University of Applied Sciences. The team is staffed by 34-40+ bachelor and master students per academic year and runs three programmes: Project Alpha, which builds and iteratively launches biofuel-powered sounding rockets culminating in a retropropulsive vertical-landing demonstration; Project Phoenix, which develops the Green Phoenix experimental hybrid rocket motor using a novel biofuel fuel combined with a nitrous-oxide-based oxidiser and features throttling and mid-flight restart; and Project Clean Space, an outreach competition that engages high school and undergraduate students in space-debris ideation.

The technical stack centres on a 3-metre, 8.4 kg dry-mass Alpha-class rocket (Mk4 reached 1,022 m altitude, 500 km/h, 6.4 g peak, 500 N thrust) with an integrated descent system: active airbrakes, thrust vector control, a retropropulsive landing concept, NASA's F' flight software framework, SDR-based onboard video downlink, and full 6-DOF simulation for control development. The team operates from a workshop at the University of Twente Bastille building (Room B324, De Hems 10) with a secondary coordination office at VU Amsterdam, and conducts flight tests at Army Camp Oldebroek in the Veluwe.

The operating model is sponsorship- and grant-funded rather than commercial. Revenue streams comprise corporate sponsorships (tiered Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze, Core: Ansys, Dalvoorde Techniek, RIGOL, Althen, ALTEN, Demcon, VDL ETG Almelo, Würth Elektronik, Altium, CAD2M, Fraunhofer Innovation Platform, with ClusterVision as Main Partner), direct financial support from the University of Twente and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, public donations via SteunUTwente crowdfunding, and in-kind contributions of equipment, software licences and supercomputer access. The team does not sell products or services; its primary "output" delivery channels are alumni placement into European aerospace (RFA, Dawn Aerospace, SPHERICAL, MaxQ Industries, Filametric, ASML) and the yearly TINA and upcoming Mk5 rocket reveals.

Name

RISE - UT/VU Student Team

Legal name

Stichting Rocketry Innovations and Space Engineering

Website

https://riseteam.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

RISE is a Dutch non-profit student rocketry team of 34-40+ students from the University of Twente, VU Amsterdam and Saxion, developing a biofuel-powered hybrid rocket (Green Phoenix) targeting the world's first biofuel retropropulsive vertical landing, with TINA and Mk5 vehicles on the roadmap.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Student Aerospace Research

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)

akta.pro primary industry

Launch Vehicles & Orbital Rockets (IMABACAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Rocket Engines (Liquid) (IMABADAE)

Keywords

• Student rocketry teams
• Hybrid rocket propulsion
• Biofuel rocket engines
• Reusable launch vehicles
• Space sustainability education

Headquarters

HQ city

Enschede

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Corporate Sponsorships: Financial support from corporate sponsors at various tiers (Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze) including direct monetary contributions, equipment loans, software licensing, and technical expertise.
2. University Financial Support: Direct financial support from partner universities (University of Twente and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam) for project operations.
3. Crowdfunding: Public donations through platforms like SteunUTwente for specific project funding.
4. In-Kind Support: Provision of equipment, software licenses, supercomputer access, and technical consulting from partners as non-monetary support.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

RISE is a multidisciplinary student rocketry team that designs, builds, and tests experimental rockets and propulsion systems. Its core technical work centers on Project Alpha (biofuel-powered reusable rockets with retropropulsive landing) and Project Phoenix (Green Phoenix hybrid rocket motor using biofuels with nitrous-oxide oxidizer). The team also runs Project Clean Space, an educational outreach competition engaging students in space debris solutions.

Product overview

RISE is a student rocketry team developing sustainable space technology through two main projects: Project Alpha and Project Clean Space. Project Alpha aims to achieve the world's first landing of a biofuel-powered rocket using the proprietary Green Phoenix hybrid engine. The Alpha Mk4 is their current rocket (3m length, 8.4kg dry mass, 500N thrust), with TINA serving as an intermediate development vehicle. The Phoenix Propulsion Program (PPP) researches and develops the Green Phoenix engine - a novel biofuel/nitrous oxide hybrid motor with throttling and mid-flight restart capabilities. Project Clean Space is an educational outreach program that runs yearly competitions engaging students in space debris solutions. The team operates from the University of Twente and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, working across multiple technical disciplines including mechanics, electronics, software, propulsion, and control systems.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Alpha Mk4 Rocket A 3-meter biofuel-powered rocket with retro-propulsion landing capability. Specs: 8.4 kg dry mass, 9.1 kg wet mass, 1022 m max altitude, 500 km/h max velocity, 6.4 g max acceleration, 500 N max thrust.
• TINA (Thrust, Integrity, Navigation, Avionics) An intermediate rocket vehicle developed while working toward the full Project Phoenix goal, representing the core subsystems of thrust, structural integrity, navigation, and avionics.
• Green Phoenix Engine A hybrid rocket motor using biofuels and nitrous oxide-based oxidizer. Features throttling and mid-flight restart capabilities for complex landing maneuvers. Named 'Green' for its sustainable biofuel usage and reusability design emphasis.
• Project Clean Space A space debris awareness and solution program that engages high school and undergraduate students in generating creative ideas through yearly competitions to tackle space debris problems.

Quantifiable outcome

• World's first biofuel-powered rocket with retropropulsive landing (planned)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered main partner, platinum, gold, bronze and core.

• ClusterVisionmain partnerStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean HPC and AI solutions provider headquartered in the Netherlands. Provides RISE with access to supercomputer clusters for running simulations faster, technical support, exposure, and monetary support for rocket development.
• AnsysplatinumTechnology or IntegrationGlobal leader in engineering simulation software. Helps RISE simulate complex fluid dynamics to assess rocket performance in real-world conditions through advanced modeling and analysis tools.
• Dalvoorde TechniekplatinumStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeader in machine construction, machining, and industrial automation based in Nijverdal. Critical role in manufacturing RISE's Hybrid Rocket Engine and additional smaller parts with precision and quality.
• RIGOLplatinumTechnology or IntegrationLeading provider of innovative test and measurement devices. Loaning RISE advanced tools including power supply, oscilloscope, function waveform generator, and multimeter, plus user training.
• University of TwentegoldStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading Dutch public research university with entrepreneurial spirit and interdisciplinary approach. Home to over 12,000 students. Provides RISE with financial support for the project.
• Vrije Universiteit AmsterdamgoldStrategic or Co-development PartnerProminent Dutch public research university committed to social responsibility and interdisciplinary research. Home to 31,000 students. Provides RISE financial support for the project.
• Althen Sensors & ControlsgoldTechnology or IntegrationSensor technology company focused on sensors and measurement systems. Supplying RISE with four cylindrical force sensors for use during rocket testing phase.
• ALTENgoldImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerWorld leader in Engineering and IT Services operating in 30 countries since over 30 years. Provides RISE with consultancy services with technical expertise on various problems, in addition to financial support.
• Fraunhofer Innovation PlatformgoldStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading applied research collaboration at University of Twente bridging German Fraunhofer expertise with Dutch academic excellence. Provides RISE technical support for the project.
• Würth ElektronikbronzeTechnology or IntegrationGlobal manufacturer and distributor of electronic and electromechanical components. Provides RISE with yearly budget to order necessary parts through their online platform.
• AltiumcoreTechnology or IntegrationProvides software tools that empower and connect PCB designers, part suppliers, and manufacturers to develop and manufacture electronic products faster. Supports RISE electronics design workflow.
• CAD2McoreTechnology or IntegrationCompany specializing in software solutions and services for product development including consulting services. New partnership to support RISE design processes.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• ARIS - Aerospace Research in Innovation and Science (Politecnico di Milano): Italian student rocketry team pursuing hybrid-propulsion small launch vehicles with European industry sponsor network. Comparable in propulsion strategy, scale, and reusable-launch research goals.
• Cambridge University Spaceflight: UK student rocketry society developing hybrid rockets and pursuing high-altitude amateur launches. Directly comparable as a European university team targeting hybrid propulsion and reusability milestones.
• EPFL Rocket Team: Swiss student rocketry team at EPFL developing hybrid-propulsion rockets with reusability goals. Comparable in scale (30-50 students), European university setting, and hybrid propulsion + landing research mandate.
• STERN - Student Experimental Rocket Team Stuttgart: German student rocket team at University of Stuttgart building hybrid engines with reusable-landing objectives. Comparable in technical scope, German-Dutch regional ecosystem, and hybrid motor research program.
• DARE - Delft Aerospace Rocket Engineering: Dutch student rocketry team at TU Delft building hybrid and liquid-propellant rockets reaching stratospheric altitudes. Most directly comparable to RISE given shared Dutch university ecosystem, hybrid propulsion focus, and reusable-launch ambitions.
• MIT Rocket Team: US-based student liquid-propellant rocketry team pursuing high-power amateur launches with strong industry sponsor base. Comparable in team scale, sponsor tiering model, and ambitious propulsion development trajectory.
• WARR - Wissenschaftliche Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Raketentechnik und Raumfahrt: Student rocketry team at TU Munich, one of Europe's longest-running university rocket projects with hybrid and liquid propulsion programs. Directly comparable multi-decade student engineering organization pursuing reusable launch vehicles.

Broad incumbents

• Dawn Aerospace: NZ/Netherlands-based sustainable space propulsion company developing green-propellant rocket engines and reusable spacecraft. RISE alumni placed here; comparable in biofuel/sustainable propulsion focus but operates commercially at much larger scale.
• Rocket Factory Augsburg (RFA): German commercial small-launch vehicle company developing hybrid-derivative propulsion architecture. RISE alumni placed here as propulsion engineers; comparable in hybrid engine ambition but operates as a venture-backed commercial entity.

Emerging players

• MaxQ Industries: Netherlands-based space startup co-founded by RISE co-founder Nathan Jacques, developing propulsion and spacecraft components. Directly comparable as a RISE alumni spin-out working in adjacent Dutch propulsion ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths2 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rise-student-team

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 RISE - UT/VU Student Team