Orbitalis

The new space race is not driven by government agencies but by private companies building constellations of hundreds or thousands of satellites in low Earth orbit. Starlink is the most visible example, but the ecosystem is much broader: communications operators, Earth observation, precision navigation, national security. All of these players need reliable satellites, built quickly and at scalable costs. Orbitalis is a European startup specializing in the infrastructure of this new commercial space. It does not develop complete satellites, but designs and manufactures the systems and components that make them functional: propulsion subsystems, structures, power management components, communications technologies, and other critical elements for LEO constellations. This vertical focus is a deliberate strategic choice: the components and subsystems market is less visible than the launch market, but it is foundational and grows in parallel with demand for new constellations. The business model is B2B with two main revenue streams. On one side, custom supply contracts with satellite operators and prime space contractors that require solutions designed to specification; on the other, serial production of standardized components for LEO constellations, where volume and repeatability become the critical factors for competitiveness. The European space market is in a phase of accelerated expansion, supported by institutional investment from ESA and a rapidly growing private ecosystem. Europe wants to reduce dependence on non-European suppliers for critical space components — a geopolitical dynamic that creates significant opportunities for startups like Orbitalis positioning themselves as trusted suppliers within the continent. Working on space hardware involves long development and certification cycles, but delivers high barriers to entry and long-term contracts — exactly the kind of defensible positioning that deep tech investors look for.