The Exploration Company valuation, funding and investors
The Exploration Company works in reusable spacecraft manufacturing, based in Planegg, Germany. Founded in 2021, it has about 527 employees.
- Last round
- Series C · $450M · Sep 2026
- Valuation at last round
- $3.18B · implied
- Headcount
- 530 · growing
- Grade
- B
- Founded
- 2021
The Exploration Company valuation today
VCMC values The Exploration Company at $3.3B today, with a range of $2.2B to $5.9B and a grade of B. The valuation starts from its last funding round, a Series C round in Sep 2026.
Valuation by date (75 rows)
Each point is what the model would have shown on that date, using only what was known then; before its first round, a company is valued as a startup because it later raised.
| Date | Valuation | Range | Predicted in 1 yr | Phase | Headcount | Trend | Grade | Winding-down probability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Jan 2021 | $11.4M | $4.14M – $31.2M | $12.7M (+11%) | before first round | – | unknown | D | 0% |
| 1 Feb 2021 | $11.5M | $4.18M – $31.5M | $12.8M (+11%) | before first round | – | unknown | D | 0% |
| 1 Mar 2021 | $11.6M | $4.21M – $31.8M | $12.8M (+11%) | before first round | – | unknown | D | 0% |
| 1 Apr 2021 | $11.7M | $4.25M – $32.1M | $12.9M (+11%) | before first round | – | unknown | D | 0% |
| 1 May 2021 | $11.8M | $4.29M – $32.4M | $13.0M (+11%) | before first round | – | unknown | D | 0% |
| 1 Jun 2021 | $11.9M | $4.33M – $32.7M | $13.1M (+10%) | before first round | – | unknown | D | 0% |
| 1 Jul 2021 | $12.0M | $4.37M – $33.0M | $13.2M (+10%) | before first round | – | unknown | D | 0% |
| 1 Aug 2021 | $12.1M | $4.41M – $33.3M | $13.3M (+10%) | before first round | – | unknown | D | 0% |
| 1 Sep 2021 | $12.2M | $4.45M – $33.6M | $13.4M (+10%) | before first round | – | unknown | D | 0% |
| 1 Oct 2021 | $12.3M | $4.49M – $33.9M | $13.5M (+10%) | before first round | – | unknown | D | 0% |
| 1 Nov 2021 | $12.4M | $4.53M – $34.2M | $13.6M (+10%) | before first round | – | unknown | D | 0% |
| 19 Nov 2021 | $30.6M | $20.1M – $93.1M | $61.2M (+100%) | after a round | – | unknown | C | 0% |
| 1 Dec 2021 | $31.3M | $20.1M – $93.1M | $61.2M (+95%) | after a round | – | unknown | C | 0% |
| 1 Jan 2022 | $33.2M | $20.1M – $93.1M | $61.2M (+84%) | after a round | – | unknown | C | 0% |
| 1 Feb 2022 | $35.3M | $20.1M – $93.1M | $61.2M (+73%) | after a round | – | unknown | C | 0% |
| 1 Mar 2022 | $37.2M | $20.1M – $93.1M | $61.2M (+64%) | after a round | – | unknown | C | 0% |
| 1 Apr 2022 | $39.4M | $20.1M – $93.1M | $61.2M (+55%) | after a round | – | unknown | C | 0% |
| 1 May 2022 | $41.7M | $20.1M – $93.1M | $61.2M (+47%) | after a round | – | unknown | C | 0% |
| 1 Jun 2022 | $44.3M | $20.1M – $93.1M | $61.2M (+38%) | after a round | – | unknown | C | 0% |
| 1 Jul 2022 | $46.9M | $20.1M – $93.1M | $61.2M (+30%) | after a round | – | unknown | C | 0% |
| 1 Aug 2022 | $49.7M | $20.1M – $93.1M | $61.2M (+23%) | after a round | – | unknown | C | 0% |
| 1 Sep 2022 | $52.7M | $20.1M – $93.1M | $61.2M (+16%) | after a round | – | unknown | C | 0% |
| 1 Oct 2022 | $55.8M | $20.1M – $93.1M | $61.2M (+10%) | after a round | – | unknown | C | 0% |
| 1 Nov 2022 | $59.2M | $20.1M – $93.1M | $61.2M (+3%) | after a round | 50 | unknown | C | 0% |
| 1 Dec 2022 | $61.2M | $19.7M – $93.1M | $61.2M (0%) | after a round | 50 | unknown | C | 0% |
| 1 Jan 2023 | $61.2M | $18.7M – $93.1M | $61.2M (0%) | after a round | 50 | unknown | C | 0% |
| 1 Feb 2023 | $151M | $106M – $385M | $271M (+80%) | after a round | 50 | unknown | C | 0% |
| 2 Feb 2023 | $151M | $106M – $385M | $271M (+80%) | after a round | 50 | unknown | C | 0% |
| 1 Mar 2023 | $158M | $106M – $385M | $271M (+72%) | after a round | 50 | unknown | C | 0% |
| 1 Apr 2023 | $166M | $106M – $385M | $271M (+64%) | after a round | 50 | unknown | C | 0% |
| 1 May 2023 | $174M | $106M – $385M | $271M (+56%) | after a round | 50 | unknown | C | 0% |
| 1 Jun 2023 | $183M | $106M – $385M | $271M (+48%) | after a round | 50 | unknown | C | 0% |
| 1 Jul 2023 | $192M | $106M – $385M | $271M (+41%) | after a round | 50 | unknown | C | 0% |
| 1 Aug 2023 | $202M | $106M – $385M | $271M (+35%) | after a round | 50 | unknown | C | 0% |
| 1 Sep 2023 | $212M | $106M – $385M | $271M (+28%) | after a round | 50 | unknown | C | 0% |
| 1 Oct 2023 | $223M | $106M – $385M | $271M (+22%) | after a round | 50 | unknown | C | 0% |
| 1 Nov 2023 | $234M | $106M – $385M | $271M (+16%) | after a round | 50 | unknown | C | 0% |
| 1 Dec 2023 | $246M | $106M – $385M | $271M (+11%) | after a round | 50 | unknown | C | 0% |
| 1 Jan 2024 | $258M | $106M – $385M | $271M (+5%) | after a round | 50 | unknown | C | 0% |
| 1 Feb 2024 | $329M | $129M – $467M | $329M (0%) | after a round | 120 | growing | C | 0% |
| 1 Mar 2024 | $329M | $131M – $467M | $329M (0%) | after a round | 120 | growing | C | 0% |
| 1 Apr 2024 | $329M | $132M – $467M | $329M (0%) | after a round | 120 | growing | C | 0% |
| 1 May 2024 | $329M | $134M – $467M | $329M (0%) | after a round | 120 | growing | C | 0% |
| 1 Jun 2024 | $329M | $106M – $467M | $329M (0%) | after a round | 120 | flat | C | 0% |
| 1 Jul 2024 | $329M | $101M – $467M | $329M (0%) | after a round | 120 | flat | C | 0% |
| 1 Aug 2024 | $340M | $126M – $483M | $340M (0%) | after a round | 140 | up | C | 0% |
| 1 Sep 2024 | $340M | $125M – $483M | $340M (0%) | after a round | 140 | up | C | 0% |
| 1 Oct 2024 | $340M | $124M – $483M | $340M (0%) | after a round | 140 | up | C | 0% |
| 1 Nov 2024 | $351M | $126M – $498M | $351M (0%) | after a round | 160 | up | C | 0% |
| 19 Nov 2024 | $843M | $593M – $1.8B | $1.3B (+50%) | after a round | 160 | up | B | 0% |
| 1 Dec 2024 | $854M | $593M – $1.8B | $1.3B (+48%) | after a round | 160 | up | B | 0% |
| 1 Jan 2025 | $884M | $593M – $1.8B | $1.3B (+43%) | after a round | 160 | up | B | 0% |
| 1 Feb 2025 | $915M | $593M – $1.8B | $1.3B (+38%) | after a round | 160 | up | B | 0% |
| 1 Mar 2025 | $944M | $593M – $1.8B | $1.3B (+34%) | after a round | 160 | up | B | 0% |
| 1 Apr 2025 | $977M | $593M – $1.8B | $1.3B (+29%) | after a round | 160 | up | B | 0% |
| 1 May 2025 | $1.0B | $593M – $1.8B | $1.3B (+25%) | after a round | 160 | up | B | 0% |
| 1 Jun 2025 | $1.0B | $593M – $1.8B | $1.3B (+21%) | after a round | 160 | up | B | 0% |
| 1 Jul 2025 | $1.2B | $673M – $2.0B | $1.4B (+23%) | after a round | 284 | growing | B | 0% |
| 1 Aug 2025 | $1.2B | $680M – $2.1B | $1.4B (+18%) | after a round | 297 | growing | B | 0% |
| 1 Sep 2025 | $1.3B | $680M – $2.1B | $1.4B (+12%) | after a round | 297 | growing | B | 0% |
| 1 Oct 2025 | $1.3B | $680M – $2.1B | $1.4B (+7%) | after a round | 297 | growing | B | 0% |
| 1 Nov 2025 | $1.5B | $700M – $2.1B | $1.5B (+3%) | after a round | 341 | growing | B | 0% |
| 1 Dec 2025 | $1.5B | $704M – $2.1B | $1.5B (0%) | after a round | 341 | growing | B | 0% |
| 1 Jan 2026 | $1.5B | $726M – $2.2B | $1.5B (0%) | after a round | 372 | growing | B | 0% |
| 1 Feb 2026 | $1.5B | $735M – $2.2B | $1.5B (0%) | after a round | 372 | growing | B | 0% |
| 1 Mar 2026 | $1.5B | $743M – $2.2B | $1.5B (0%) | after a round | 372 | growing | B | 0% |
| 1 Apr 2026 | $1.6B | $772M – $2.2B | $1.6B (0%) | after a round | 418 | growing | B | 0% |
| 1 May 2026 | $1.6B | $789M – $2.2B | $1.6B (0%) | after a round | 439 | growing | B | 0% |
| 1 Jun 2026 | $1.6B | $799M – $2.2B | $1.6B (0%) | after a round | 439 | growing | B | 0% |
| 1 Jul 2026 | $1.6B | $808M – $2.2B | $1.6B (0%) | after a round | 439 | growing | B | 0% |
| 1 Aug 2026 | $1.6B | $835M – $2.3B | $1.6B (0%) | after a round | 481 | growing | B | 0% |
| 1 Sep 2026 | $1.6B | $858M – $2.3B | $1.6B (0%) | after a round | 515 | growing | B | 0% |
| 9 Sep 2026 | $3.2B | $2.2B – $5.9B | $4.1B (+30%) | after a round | 515 | growing | B | 0% |
| 1 Oct 2026 | $3.2B | $2.2B – $5.9B | $4.1B (+28%) | after a round | 530 | growing | B | 0% |
| 24 Oct 2026 | $3.3B | $2.2B – $5.9B | $4.1B (+26%) | after a round | 530 | growing | B | 0% |
Key facts about The Exploration Company
- Founded
- 2021
- Headquarters
- Planegg, Germany
- Employees
- about 527 +55% in a year
- Total raised
- $660M
- Funding rounds
- 4
- Last round
- Series C Sep 2026
The Exploration Company was founded in 2021 by Artur Koop, Hélène Huby, Jon Reijneveld, Pierre Vinet and Sébastien Reichstadt.
The Exploration Company funding history
The Exploration Company has 4 funding rounds on record, from Nov 2021 to Sep 2026, $660M in total. None disclosed a valuation.
Series C 8 Sep 2026
Led by Bessemer Venture Partners, Atomico, EQT; with Balderton Capital, Plural, Cherry Ventures, Red River West, Scaleup Europe Fund.
Sources: techfundingnews.com, grantoffice.athenauni.eu, techcrunch.com and 3 more
$450M
Series B 18 Nov 2024
Led by Balderton Capital, Plural; with Bessemer Venture Partners, NGP Capital, French Tech Souveraineté, DeepTech & Climate Fonds, Bayern Kapital, EQT Ventures, Red River West, Cherry Ventures, Promus Ventures, Omnes Capital, Orbit Ventures.
Sources: frenchtechupdates.beehiiv.com, omnescapital.com, leanspacetech.com and 2 more
$160M
$44M
Seed 18 Nov 2021
Led by Promus Ventures; with Vsquared, Cherry Ventures.
$6.0M
The Exploration Company investors
17 investors have backed The Exploration Company; Balderton Capital, Bessemer Venture Partners and Plural and 3 more led at least one round.
- Balderton Capital lead, 2 rounds
- Bessemer Venture Partners lead, 2 rounds
- Atomico lead
- EQT lead
- EQT Ventures
- French Tech Souveraineté
- Scaleup Europe Fund
What The Exploration Company does
The Exploration Company works in aerospace and defence, with 15 recorded offerings and customers in space exploration and aerospace.
The Exploration Company GmbH is a German aerospace company engaged in the design, development, and manufacturing of modular, reusable, and in-orbit refillable space vehicles. The company specializes in spacecraft for cargo transport, re-entry missions, and lunar and lunar orbit missions, serving space stations, lunar missions, and destinations in low-Earth orbit. Its operations include research and development, supply chain and logistics management, and the provision of private spaceflight services. The company operates internationally, with offices in Germany, France, Italy, the United States, and the MENA region, and is certified for its activities.
Description from Veridion's company data.
Products and services
- Reusable Spacecraft Manufacturing
- Modular Space Vehicle Engineering
- Cargo Transport Vehicle Production
- Lunar Orbit Vehicle Manufacturing
- Low-Earth Orbit Vehicle Manufacturing
- In-Orbit Refillable Vehicle Development
- Orbital Propulsion System Integration
- Docking and Re-Entry System Integration
- Recovery System Integration
- Space Vehicle Research and Development
- Space Technology Innovation Services
- Space Infrastructure Development Services
- Space Exploration Accessibility Solutions
- Space Mission Management Services
- Space Logistics and Delivery Services
Markets
- Space Exploration
- Aerospace
Technology
- Orbital Propulsion Systems
- Docking Systems
- Re-Entry and Recovery Systems
- Modular Space Vehicle Architecture
- Reusable Space Vehicle Architecture
- In-Orbit Refillable Space Vehicles
Business model
- Business-to-Business
- Manufacturing
- Enterprise
Industry codes (NAICS)
- 336414 Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing 100% match
Questions about The Exploration Company
What is The Exploration Company worth?
Valuation $3.3B (range $2.2B to $5.9B), as of 24 Oct 2026.
Has The Exploration Company raised money?
The Exploration Company has 4 funding rounds on record, from Nov 2021 to Sep 2026, $660M in total. None disclosed a valuation.
Who has invested in The Exploration Company?
Balderton Capital, Bessemer Venture Partners, Plural, Promus Ventures, Atomico and EQT, and 11 more. Lead investors include Balderton Capital, Bessemer Venture Partners, Plural and Promus Ventures.
How many people work at The Exploration Company?
About 527, up 55% over the last year. Headcount grew from 50 in Nov 2022 to 530 in Sep 2026.
What does The Exploration Company do?
The Exploration Company works in aerospace and defence, with 15 recorded offerings and customers in space exploration and aerospace. Its main offerings are reusable spacecraft manufacturing, modular space vehicle engineering and cargo transport vehicle production.
When was The Exploration Company founded, and where is it based?
The Exploration Company was founded in 2021 and is based in Planegg, Germany. It has about 527 employees, up 55% over the last year.