Hypersonica
An Anglo-German company developing hypersonic deep-strike systems controlled and manufactured in Europe, headquartered in Munich with a London subsidiary.
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Podcast Episode
🎙️ Deep Dive
Hypersonica, Gallium Defense, Creandum — €100M for missiles, counter-drone radar and a $750M fund — Daily News November 2, 2026
Listen to the episodeAbout Hypersonica
Founded in 2023 by Philipp Kerth (CEO) and Marc Ewenz (CTO), Hypersonica develops long-range hypersonic systems for European defence, headquartered in Munich with a subsidiary in London. In February 2026 its HS-1 prototype exceeded Mach 6 over more than 300 km: according to the company, it is the first privately funded European defence company to reach this milestone, at development costs more than 80% lower than conventional approaches (company figures). Also in February 2026 it closed a €23.2 million Series A led by Plural; on November 2, 2026 it announced a €100 million Series B co-led by Lightspeed and General Catalyst, with Plural and 201 Ventures. The funds will accelerate development, increase testing and expand industrial operations in Europe, targeting deep-strike systems by 2029 and hundreds of jobs across the UK and Germany.
The Story
Founded in 2023 by CEO Philipp Kerth and CTO Marc Ewenz.
How Hypersonica works
Business Model
Development and supply of systems for governments and defence programmes; commercial terms undisclosed.
Products & Services
Key Products
- Prototipo HS-1
- Sistema deep-strike ipersonico
Core Use Cases
- Long-range deterrence
- Hypersonic deep-strike systems
Market & Clients
Key Customers
European governments, armed forces and multinational defence programmes.
Geographic Presence
How Hypersonica competes
Competitive Advantages
- Technology developed and controlled in Europe
- Development costs reported as lower than conventional approaches
How Hypersonica grows
Growth Strategy
Increase testing, develop the system and build manufacturing capacity in Germany and the UK.
Distribution Model
Direct contracts and participation in public defence programmes.
Moat (Defensibility)
Integration of materials, avionics, controls and hypersonic flight validation.
Regulatory Context
Defence procurement, export controls and national and multinational approvals.
Key Risks
- Technical and testing risk
- Long procurement cycles
- Export controls
- Dependence on public programmes
Strategic Insights
- European manufacturing capacity is central to the positioning.
- Repeatable tests and public-programme integration will matter more than claimed performance alone.
Funding & Investors
Total Funding
Funding Rounds
- 2026 - Series A: €23,2M
Lead: Plural - 2026 - Series B: €100M
Lead: Lightspeed, General Catalyst
Key Investors
Founding Team
Founders
Key Metrics
Lessons from Hypersonica
- In strategic technologies, technical validation, supply chains and public procurement must progress together.
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Read AnalysisSources
- Hypersonica raises €100M Series B — Hypersonica
- British-German defence startup Hypersonica raises €100M — Tech.eu