Germany’s HyImpulse raises €45M to fuel Europe’s space sovereignty with a ‘flexible taxi to space’

Germany’s HyImpulse Technologies has raised funding to continue developing its hybrid rocket systems and expand its launch operations.

Germany-based HyImpulse Technologies, a provider of hybrid propulsion systems for satellite transport, has raised €15M in equity capital as part of its Series A funding round and secured an additional €30M in financing.

Campus Founders Ventures led the round. Other participants include Helantic, GIMIC, the Global Resilience Innovation Fund (GRIF), Mittelständische Beteiligungsgesellschaft (MBG) Baden-Württemberg, Start-up BW Innovation Fonds, Sparkassen-Beteiligungsgesellschaft (SBG) Heilbronn-Franken, Vienna Point, and BTRON.

Oliver Hanisch, CEO of Campus Founders Ventures, says, “HyImpulse has already made space history. With extremely efficient use of resources, HyImpulse is the first privately financed German space company to develop a hybrid rocket and successfully complete a suborbital test flight. The company addresses a geopolitically crucial market.”

“HyImpulse is a role model for how startups can successfully translate cutting-edge research and deep tech into marketable products. We have been supporting the team for more than three years, and I am delighted that HyImpulse is successfully using the platform we offer for startups here in Heilbronn.”

Hanisch adds, “With Campus Founders Ventures, we have already invested in over 20 exciting teams ourselves, but this investment is special. We are delighted to be working with HyImpulse to build a company that will set international standards.”

Advancing hybrid rocket development for European space access

Founded in 2018, HyImpulse develops and operates rockets for suborbital and orbital launch services. The company builds launch vehicles powered by hybrid propulsion systems that use oxygen and paraffin, focusing on the transport of commercial payloads into low Earth orbit and beyond.

In 2024, HyImpulse conducted a test flight of the SR75 suborbital rocket, demonstrating the function of a paraffin-based hybrid rocket engine in a commercial setting. The flight marked a key step in the company’s development program. The first customer launch of the SR75 is planned for 2026.

Building on the SR75 program, HyImpulse is developing the SL1 orbital rocket, a three-stage vehicle designed to carry up to 600 kilograms of payload into low Earth orbit starting in 2027.

Europe continues to rely on non-European launch providers for space access. According to the Space Economy Report 2024, European companies accounted for less than one per cent of global launches that year.

HyImpulse’s hybrid propulsion systems simplify rocket design by reducing the number of components by about 50 per cent, cutting costs, and improving system performance. This work supports the creation of efficient launch services for small payloads and contributes to developing Europe’s own space launch capability.

The company reports that it has already secured orders worth several hundred million euros and is preparing to conduct launches from multiple international sites. 

Currently, HyImpulse employs more than 65 people across its locations in Neuenstadt, Ottobrunn, and Glasgow. Since its inception, the company has raised around €74M in capital.

Capital utilisation

HyImpulse will use the funds to advance the development and commercialisation of its SL1 orbital rocket and increase production capacity.

Dr. Christian Schmierer, co-founder and CEO of HyImpulse, says, “Europe does not have its own access to space. With this injection of capital, we will accelerate the commercialisation of our orbital rocket, making Europe more independent and competitive.”

“While providers such as SpaceX offer a scheduled bus service to space, our solutions allow us to develop a flexible taxi service so that our customers can choose individual launch solutions and flexibly plan their schedules.”

Schmierer adds, “We are grateful for the trust placed in us by Campus Founders and our other partners. Their commitment underscores the importance of our technology for European sovereignty.”

Brief about Campus Founders and Campus Founders Ventures

Campus Founders is a startup and co-innovation centre based in Heilbronn. It supports entrepreneurs from the early idea stage through product validation, market entry, and business growth. 

The firm invests in startups from Heilbronn and those joining the local ecosystem, offering pre-seed funding along with mentoring, workspace, infrastructure, and access to corporate and investor networks.

As part of the RISE Europe network, which links 20 startup ecosystems across 14 countries, Campus Founders connects teams with international markets and expertise. It also partners with the NXTGN Startup Factory to strengthen cooperation among research and startup hubs in Baden-Württemberg. 

Each year, Campus Founders organises the Heilbronn Slush’D event, which gathers more than 1,000 participants from the European startup and innovation community.