Madrid-based startup Orbital Paradigm has secured over €1.5 million in Pre-Seed funding to advance its reusable orbital re-entry capsules, addressing a significant challenge in space logistics—safely returning delicate materials to Earth. This funding round features contributions from Akka, Demium Capital, id4 Ventures, and other investors, with additional details anticipated during the company’s first mission announcement in early September.
“This round enables us to launch our first vehicle. We aim for the first mission to lift off by the year’s end, facilitating faster design and development of our next mission, slated for late 2026,” stated Francesco Cacciatore, Orbital Paradigm’s Founder and CEO, to EU-Startups.
Established in 2023 by aerospace engineer Francesco Cacciatore, Orbital Paradigm is crafting a new generation of small, highly autonomous capsules for safely returning sensitive payloads like BioTech materials, pharmaceuticals, or precision-engineered substances from orbit.
The inaugural model, “KID,” is nearing the end of its development phase and is scheduled for launch by year-end. A subsequent mission is planned for late 2026.
Bringing nearly 20 years of ESA (European Space Agency) mission experience, Cacciatore has worked on projects including Space Rider and Euclid. His vision for Orbital Paradigm extends beyond technology to cultural impact—making space logistics more accessible to a wider audience of users and investors.
“To me, ensuring space is accessible beyond industry insiders is crucial. The space sector is often perceived as elitist and remote, but it generates revenue as any other industry. Opening it to more people is beneficial, which is why I’m pleased that Akka is on board, despite not being a specialized space fund. Relying solely on specialized funds limits resources,” added Cacciatore.
The Spanish investment platform Akka invested €470k, driven by Orbital Paradigm’s commercial and technical strengths. Akka sees the startup addressing a vital strategic gap, as Europe lags behind US companies like Inversion Space and Space Forge in private-sector orbital return logistics.
Akka Spain’s CEO, Javier Desantes, views the investment as aligning with the platform’s goal of providing private investors access to impactful DeepTech opportunities: “Orbital Paradigm is a unique investment in the unseen infrastructure vital for the orbital economy.”
Orbital Paradigm’s reusable capsule technology features a ceramic thermal shield and proprietary guidance software, enabling low-G re-entries and precise continental European land recovery. The startup is generating significant commercial interest, with commitments from 18 clients totaling €81 million. The first mission is fully booked, and the second is 80% pre-sold.
With proven technical leadership, increasing demand, and a globally accessible market, Orbital Paradigm is poised to bring space closer and make it more practical for all.