With each of our innovator stories, we get a chance to meet the people behind EU-funded ideas, which have the potential to change our future for the better.
This time, we discovered Pangea Aerospace, a Spanish startup developing the most effective propulsion systems for next generation space vehicles.
Pangea Aerospace was selected by the jury as the best pitch from Dealflow.eu’s E-pitching Event dedicated to Space Tech.
Pangea Aerospace received €765K in EU funding (from the EIC and EUSPA).
“The expertise we gained in cooling systems, advanced materials and manufacturing, green propellants and testing, paved our way to keep on developing the most advanced propulsion systems on the market.”
Tell us more about yourself and your work?
Pangea Aerospace, founded in Spain in 2018, is an aerospace startup specialising in the development of advanced propulsion systems for the space industry, ranging from the Newton to the Mega Newton. Our work is guided by three key principles: high efficiency, sustainability, and reusability. We are currently developing propulsion systems for launchers, satellites and OTVs (Orbital Transfer Vehicles).
We have mastered key technologies that enable us to offer one of the most efficient, sustainable, reusable, scalable, and competitive propulsion solutions in the industry.
What problem is your product solving and what makes its solution unique?
Engines are the most critical system in the space industry, as they are complex and expensive to build. For launchers, the propulsion subsystem makes up for roughly 50% of the costs. Additionally, half of launch failures are caused by engine-related issues. Despite their complexity, propulsion systems are a key differentiator in aerospace technology. Innovation, new manufacturing methods, and fuels used can make an engine to be a breakthrough, gaining efficiency and making it cost-effective, reusable, and environmentally friendly, as well as a competitive solution.
We focus on propulsion systems because unbundling the value chain is inevitable to be able to innovate and create reliable solutions, as well as de-risk operations and cut costs. We began with the Aerospike engine, the most complex rocket engine in the world, which required us to master key technologies. We successfully hot-fired it in 2021. The expertise we gained in cooling systems, advanced materials and manufacturing, green propellants and testing, paved our way to keep on developing the most advanced propulsion systems on the market.
How did you start your journey, and where are you now on the road to achieving your ambition?
The company was founded in 2018 in Catalunya, where our six co-founders left their jobs to build advanced engines. Today, after securing €6.8M in funding, our team has grown to over 45 exceptional individuals based in Barcelona and Toulouse. In 2021, we successfully fired DemoP1, the world’s first Methalox aerospike rocket engine. Building on this success, we are now developing ARCOS, a scalable aerospike platform scheduled for launch in 2027. As part of ARCOS development, in 2023 we hot-fire tested the propulsion building block of this engine, featuring the first bi-material additive manufactured combustion chamber in Europe and 3D printed injector heads. We are also making significant progress with our satellite propulsion system, which is set to launch next year.
What is the biggest impact EU-funding has had on your journey so far, and can you specify an outcome?
Thanks to EU funding, we have made significant advancements in our technology and achieved major innovations for the aerospace sector. This includes developing and testing disruptive technology that will enhance the global competitiveness of the industry and reposition Europe in the aerospace market.
Have you already tested your product with clients? What was it like?
We have a strong commercial traction. We have already secured several institutional as well as private contracts and have many more in the works. On the commercial side, U-NYX will launch next year, with a pipeline valued at €50M, while the aerospike engine has a €300M pipeline projected to 2030.
What is Pangea’s greatest achievement to date?
Pangea Aerospace has made history by hot fire testing the world’s first Methalox Aerospike engine in 2021, three years after our foundation and with less than 2M euros; this engine was the starting point and baseline that paved the way to develop and offer a wider range of advanced propulsion solutions. We can seise the validated knowledge and technologies to develop faster, better and cost-effective solutions.
How do you see Pangea making a difference in the future?
We will transform the aerospace market from a vertically integrated industry that spends significant time and money developing everything in-house. We will demonstrate that it makes much more sense to unbundle the value chain and rely on specialists to achieve better propulsion technologies and address the challenges of the future industry, such as sustainability, cost, launch frequency, and competitiveness.
We will provide our advanced and validated engines to the industry, offering top performance at a fraction of the cost, allowing space companies to focus on operations and expand their margins.
Why is participating in Dealflow.eu’s e-pitching event and receiving their coaching important to you?
At Pangea, we constantly seek to enhance our work and expand our network. The support from Dealflow.eu aligns perfectly with our goals.
How would you define success and what keeps you going in the pursuit of it?
Success for us means seeing our engines powering European launchers and satellites, contributing to Europe’s sovereignty and global positioning through innovation and breakthrough technologies. What drives us is the unwavering confidence shown by our clients, both private and institutional. Their trust reinforces our mission and motivates us to push the boundaries of space technologies and business models in Europe.
Article published by EurA AG.
About Innovator Spotlight Stories
The aim of innovator stories is to highlight and share with investors and relevant stakeholders in the industry, insights, and unique stories from some of the most innovative EU-funded project that Dealflow.eu is proud to support.
If you are an investor who wants to connect with Pangea Aerospace, please feel free to reach out at [email protected]
More about Dealflow.eu
Supported by the European Commission, Dealflow.eu discovers and supports the most promising EU-funded innovators and connects them with relevant investors and corporates. The initiative was launched to help groundbreaking innovations secure the funding needed for their future commercialisation by offering them tailored support and matchmaking services.
To learn more about Dealflow.eu, visit https://dealflow.eu/
Disclaimer: Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
