Reflex Aerospace

📂 Hardware & Deep Tech📍 Munich🗓️ Founded: 2021

Reflex Aerospace builds customised satellite platforms in a micro-factory in Munich. In October 2026 it announced a minority investment from Nvidia.

Europe's most interesting startup stories. Every week.

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

About Reflex Aerospace

Reflex Aerospace GmbH is a German satellite company founded in 2021 by Walter Ballheimer, CEO, and Alexander Genzel, COO. According to Munich Startup it is based in Munich and Berlin; production takes place in a Micro Factory in Munich, which the funding is meant to expand. The company develops satellite platforms, or buses, tailored to each customer with its Praetora platform, which relies on generative design and additive manufacturing. The satellites are meant for optical payloads, synthetic aperture radar, space domain awareness and signals intelligence. The first satellite, SIGI, launched in January 2025 on a SpaceX Falcon 9. The stated aim is to demonstrate all capabilities in orbit by 2027. The seed round started with €7 million in December 2022 from Alpine Space Ventures and High-Tech Gründerfonds and was extended in 2023 with Bayern Kapital. On 4 November 2025 it closed a €50 million Series A led by Human Element, with Alpine Space Ventures, Bayern Kapital, HTGF and Renovatio Financial Investments. In 2026 Nvidia announced a minority investment, of undisclosed size, to support production expansion in Bavaria and platforms for very-high-resolution stereo imaging and orbital data-centre constellations.

The Story

Founded in 2021 by Walter Ballheimer and Alexander Genzel, it raised its seed in December 2022 and launched its first satellite in January 2025.

How Reflex Aerospace works

Business Model

B2B and institutional sales of tailored satellite platforms, with production in a micro-factory in Munich.

Revenue Model

Sales of platforms and satellites; revenue and contracts are not disclosed.

Products & Services

Key Products

  • Praetora (piattaforma satellitare)
  • Bus satellitari personalizzati
  • Satelliti per carichi utili ottici, SAR, SDA e SIGINT

Core Use Cases

  • Optical and radar observation constellations
  • Space domain awareness and signals intelligence
  • Very-high-resolution stereo imaging and orbital data centres

Market & Clients

Key Customers

No customers named. Sources tie demand to German and allied intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance needs.

Geographic Presence

DE

How Reflex Aerospace competes

Competitive Advantages

  • Generative design and additive manufacturing
  • Micro-factory in Munich for fast production without large plants

How Reflex Aerospace grows

Growth Strategy

Expand production in Bavaria, advance the platform architecture and demonstrate capabilities in orbit by 2027.

Distribution Model

Direct projects with institutional and commercial customers.

Key Risks

  • The first satellite is a demonstrator: the company aims to demonstrate all capabilities in orbit by 2027.
  • Customers are not named in the sources.

Strategic Insights

  • The Praetora platform uses generative design and 3D printing to shorten lead times.
  • Munich Startup described the €50 million Series A as the largest in European New Space.

Funding & Investors

Total Funding

€58,75M di round con importo noto (seed €7M, estensione €1,75M, Series A €50M). Il secondo closing del seed fino a 12 milioni previsto nel 2023 non è verificato oltre l'estensione di 1,75 milioni.

Funding Rounds

  • 2022 - Seed: €7M
    Lead: Alpine Space Ventures, High-Tech Gründerfonds
  • 2023 - Seed (estensione): €1.75M
    Lead: Bayern Kapital
  • 2025 - Series A: €50M
    Lead: Human Element

Key Investors

Human ElementAlpine Space VenturesBayern KapitalHigh-Tech GründerfondsRenovatio Financial InvestmentsNvidia

Founding Team

Founders

Walter BallheimerCo-founder; CEO
Alexander GenzelCo-founder; COO

Key Executives

  • Walter Ballheimer - CEO
  • Alexander Genzel - COO

Similar Startups

📍 Munich

Helsing

Munich company founded in 2021 building autonomous systems and AI software for defence, from the HX-2 drone to the SG-1 underwater system. $1.8B Series E in 07/2026, at $18B.

Read Analysis
📍 Munich

RobCo

Munich company founded in 2020 out of TUM research offering manufacturers modular industrial robots with software and a monthly fee. Valued above $1B in the October 2026 transaction.

Read Analysis
📍 Munich

Quantum Systems

German company based in Gilching making vertical-takeoff drones and autonomous systems with mission software. $1.2B Series D signed on 02/07/2026 at about $8B post-money.

Read Analysis

Sources

🎙️ Scalable Podcast — European startup stories · 🇮🇹 in Italian
Spotify 🎧 Apple