SWISSto12 secures $70 million for national space infrastructure.

      Most space-hardware startups secure funding because they are consuming cash rapidly. SWISSto12 successfully raised $70 million while achieving profitability, which is rare in the satellite industry.

      The Swiss company announced the closing of a €61 million funding round just days after member states of the European Space Agency contributed $84.8 million to its HummingSat initiative. This totals over $150 million in new funding within a month, although the company did not disclose the identities of its investors.

      A profitable space startup

      These figures are unusual for the industry. SWISSto12 reported $140 million in revenue for 2025, has more than $500 million in signed contracts, and has experienced annual growth of 110% since 2022. The company anticipates being EBITDA-positive this year.

      Established in 2011 as a spin-off from Switzerland’s EPFL, the company currently employs approximately 224 individuals. Its advantage lies in its manufacturing process. It utilizes 3D printing for the radio-frequency components of its products, making them lighter and quicker to produce.

      What it builds

      SWISSto12 offers two main products. HummingSat is a compact geostationary satellite, roughly one-tenth the size of a conventional satellite, designed to accompany larger spacecraft into orbit. HummingLink comprises a range of payloads and antennas that can be attached to other operators’ satellites across various orbits.

      This approach has allowed SWISSto12 to collaborate with established companies rather than competing against them. The company holds seven contracts for HummingSat, including partnerships with SES and Viasat, and has over 2,000 HummingLink units in orbit. Its offerings extend to direct-to-device connectivity, broadcasting, and sovereign communications.

      Europe’s investment in space

      This funding aligns with a broader trend. European capital is increasingly flowing into the space and deep tech sectors as the continent seeks to cultivate its own champions, exemplified by ICEYE’s €450 million funding round and a series of smaller investments. Government funding typically leads the charge, with private investments following closely.

      The motivation behind this trend is sovereignty. Governments are looking for communication solutions that rely neither on a single orbit, a single operator, nor a foreign power. “Space is increasingly regarded as essential infrastructure for the global economy,” stated founder and CEO Emile de Rijk in the announcement.

      The challenges ahead

      However, this strategy is not without risks. Orders for geostationary satellites are diminishing as low-orbit constellations increasingly dominate broadband and maritime services, putting SWISSto12 in a volatile market. The company also faces competition from better-funded, more established rivals.

      One of the primary competitors is Astranis, a US company developing similar small geostationary satellites, which has raised around $1.2 billion, according to TechFundingNews. The question of whether “any payload, any orbit” can outperform a more focused strategy may prove to be more significant than the funding raised. For now, SWISSto12 possesses what many space-hardware companies lack: profitability.

      Published July 16, 2026 - 4:48 pm UTC