U-Space

Headquarters

Toulouse, France

Founded

2018

Employees

~105 (PitchBook, 2026; Tracxn ~108; up from 20-49 in 2022 and ~80 in Nov 2025 press coverage)

Total funding

~$34M

Stage

Series A

Status

active

Domains

Small satellite manufacturing, Satellite constellations, Ground segment software

Website

www.u-space.fr

• FounderFabien ApperFabien Apper is the CEO and co-founder of U-Space, a Toulouse-based nanosatellite manufacturer he launched in 2018 after working as a systems engineer on ISAE-SUPAERO's student CubeSat missions.
• FounderAntoine RessoucheCo-founder and CTO / General Manager of U-Space, a Toulouse-based nanosatellite manufacturer.
• FounderNicolas HumeauCo-founder and COO / General Manager of U-Space, a Toulouse-based nanosatellite manufacturer he helped launch in 2018 as a spin-off of the ISAE-SUPAERO Innospace incubator.

• FundBlastParis-based private investment club co-led by Anthony Bourbon and Samuel Guez, giving members access to co-invest in vetted early-stage rounds; co-led U-Space's €24M Series A (November 2025).
• FundDefinvestDefinvest is a French state-backed equity fund, created by the Ministry of Armed Forces and managed by Bpifrance in partnership with the DGA, that takes minority equity stakes in strategic defense-sector SMEs to keep critical technologies under French control.
• FundExpansionPan-European Aerospace & Defence VC fund (Paris/Stockholm), launched 2023 by Audacia and Rymdkapital; participated in U-Space's €24M Series A (Nov 2025).
• FundPrimo SpaceContinental Europe's first dedicated space-tech VC fund (Milan), managed by Primo Capital SGR; participated in U-Space's €24M Series A (Nov 2025).
• FundKarot CapitalParis-based early-stage VC with no fixed sector bias; participated in U-Space's €24M Series A.
• FundARISAgence Regionale des Investissements Strategiques (ARIS) is a public-private regional strategic-investment agency backed by Region Occitanie, France; participated in U-Space's 24 million euro Series A (November 2025).
• FundVertech FinanceVertech Finance is a French impact-investment vehicle (SAS, Bron/Lyon area) that invests primarily in greentech and national-sovereignty-focused companies; participated in U-Space's 24 million euro Series A (November 2025).

Approximate ownership by holder. Indexed holders link to their records.

• ContractCNES NESS/NESS+ interference-detection satellitesCNES contracted French smallsat maker U-Space to build the NESS technology-demonstrator nanosatellite (launched 2023) and, in a follow-on December 2024 award, two additional operational 'NESS+' satellites, to detect and locate ground-based sources of GNSS interference.
• ContractNSSTC (UAE) turnkey satellite contractNSSTC (UAE) contracted French smallsat manufacturer U-Space to design and build a turnkey 12U satellite with a dual Earth-observation/LEO-PNT payload, serving as the technology precursor to the Emirati LEONAV constellation program.

• ProgramFrench Tech 2030French Tech 2030 is a French government support program, launched under the France 2030 investment plan, that selects and accompanies high-growth deep-tech startups in sectors deemed strategic for France.

What does U-Space do?

U-Space builds a modular 'FreeForm' small-satellite platform and 16U CubeSats plus a ground-segment/mission-operations software stack, aiming to produce satellites at rates approaching one per week. Founded Feb 2018 as an ISAE-SUPAERO 'Innovspace' spin-off by Fabien Apper (CEO), Antoine Ressouche (CTO/GM), and Nicolas Humeau (COO/GM), who met via CNES's Janus program and collaborated on the Eyesat CubeSat (launched Dec 2019) before founding the company. Headquartered in Toulouse, with a 1,000+ sqm 'U-Zine' production facility on the Toulouse Aerospace campus (inaugurated spring 2024); a 2023 French Tech 2030 winner. Raised a €7M seed round (2022) and a €24M (~$27.8M) Series A (Nov 2025) led by Blast and Definvest (France's MoD-backed, Bpifrance-managed defense investment fund) with Expansion, Primo Space, Karot Capital, ARIS, and Vertech Finance participating — total raised roughly $34M. Won a 2019 CNES contract to build NESS, an interference-source detection satellite demonstrator (launched Oct 2023), with CNES since commissioning a NESS+ follow-on of two recurring satellites targeting a 2027 launch. Note: distinct from the unrelated EU 'U-space' airspace-management regulatory framework.

Where is U-Space headquartered?

U-Space is headquartered in Toulouse, France and was founded in 2018.

How much funding has U-Space raised?

U-Space has raised ~$34M in disclosed funding.

What does U-Space specialize in?

U-Space works across Small satellite manufacturing, Satellite constellations, Ground segment software.

Does U-Space hold government contracts?

Defense Tech Atlas links U-Space to 2 government contracts and 1 program.

Each claim links to its underlying source. Confidence reflects how directly the source supports the claim.