The UK spaceflight company
Orbex, which is based in Scotland, has received £16.7 million from a group of six significant investors in an update to its Series C funding round. The funding takes the total funds raised by the company to £102 million.
With pre-launch testing now underway, the funding will help Orbex ramp up the development of Prime, its 19m long, two-stage rocket designed to transport small satellites into Low Earth Orbit (LEO). The aim is to ensure full readiness and scalability for its launch period.
Orbex now has two active patents in a number of European countries and the USA covering various parts of its rocket technology. It is powered by a renewable biofuel which produces significantly less carbon emissions compared to other similar-size rockets being developed elsewhere around the world.
Investors involved in the deal include £10.5 million of follow-on investment from the Scottish National Investment Bank, venture capital firms Octopus Ventures, BGF, Heartcore, the Export and Investment Fund of Denmark (EIFO) and corporate and angel investors.
The funding injection comes after scale-up expert Phillip Chambers and former director general of the Spanish Space Agency Miguel Belló Mora joined to form a new leadership team in January. Chambers himself became an investor in the company’s £40 million Series C funding round in 2022. The new funding continues Orbex’s growth journey, following £3.3 million in funding from the UK Space Agency in December last year.
Orbex CEO Phillip Chambers said: “Orbex is one of only two space rocket manufacturers in the UK, and the only one to also operate its own spaceport. Our technology is pivotal in making the UK a hub for European orbital launch, and we are entering a critical phase of development. We are building a sustainable, cost-effective launch vehicle to compete with the best of Europe’s spaceflight manufacturers. This additional funding will support our goal to push on into an operational launch phase and scale our business when the time comes.”
Nicola Douglas, executive director of innovation at the Scottish National Investment Bank, said: “The Bank recognises the unique potential the space industry offers for Scotland. We are perfectly placed to leverage our geographical location, vibrant business and innovation landscape, and our skilled workers to be one of the most significant global players in this growing industry.
“At the Bank, we have been particularly drawn to Orbex’s commitment to sustainability through its use of renewable biofuel and launch technology, all working towards the goal of carbon neutrality. Its approach perfectly aligns to our ‘net zero’ and innovation missions. This follow-on investment comes at an exciting time as Orbex expands its manufacturing and looks to complete its Sutherland Spaceport this year.”
Simon King, a partner at Octopus Ventures, said: “We are delighted to continue supporting Orbex on their journey as Europe’s leading private launch services company. We have been incredibly impressed with the new leadership team and wider team’s progress, and we are particularly excited about the progress towards first launch. At Octopus Ventures we invest in the people, ideas and industries that will change the world ─ Orbex is a fantastic example of a business doing exactly that.”
With testing and launch now in its sights, Orbex will soon enter a new phase of growth with a Series D funding round, which will aim to secure its long-term prospects as the leading orbital launch business in Europe.