ESA and UnternehmerTUM launch first space scale-up accelerator program
Munich, December 10, 2025. The European Space Agency (ESA) and UnternehmerTUM, Europe's leading center for innovation and founding, are launching the ESA Business Accelerator Germany together with TUM Venture Lab Aerospace and acitoflux. The program is aimed at highly innovative German scale-ups, i.e. fast-growing companies, in the space industry. The goal is to strengthen the competitiveness of the German space industry through individual support in the areas of business model development, market penetration, and financing. The program starts immediately in Munich with representations in Stuttgart and Hamburg.
The ESA Business Accelerator Germany builds on the ESA Business Incubator, which supports startups in earlier phases, and focuses on the strong growth and market penetration of the participating companies. It is the first program of its kind in Europe.
The program offers:
Tailored support through a three-stage program in the areas of business development, market penetration, and investment - optimized for the success of space scale-ups
Access to a broad network of investors, industry partners, public stakeholders, and experts
Building a community of innovative space companies
The ESA Business Accelerator Germany will be presented today at the ESA Investor Forum 2024 in Frankfurt am Main. Scale-ups and interested industry stakeholders can join the program immediately. For more information, please check here.
ESA, the space agency for Europe
The ESA is an intergovernmental organization founded in 1975 with the mission to shape the development of Europe's space capabilities and ensure that investment in space brings benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world. ESA has 22 Member States: Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Switzerland, Spain, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and the United Kingdom. Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia and Slovenia are associate members. ESA has established formal cooperation with four other EU member states. Canada participates in some ESA programs under a cooperation agreement. By coordinating the financial and intellectual resources of its members, ESA can undertake programs and activities far beyond the scope of any single European country. It is working in particular with the EU on implementing the Galileo and Copernicus programs and with Eumetsat in developing meteorological missions.
acitoflux – innovation capital
acitoflux is an independent and international company builder & innovation capital partner located in Stuttgart [HQ] and Hamburg, Germany. Founded in 2018, acitoflux enables startups, investors and corporate ventures in future technology domains to grow and to stay ahead in their markets. Based on an industry-established process, the acitoflux Investor Office recommends validated investment opportunities to its international partners. On top, the Investor Office advices institutional investors and limited partners [LPs] in strategically allocating resources across a reliable venture capital network. Active in several ecosystems including New Space, Future Mobility and Digital Health, the multi-disciplinary crew combines technology, creativity and capital to scale innovative products and services in Germany and Europe.
TUM Venture Lab Aerospace
Technische Universität München (TUM) and UnternehmerTUM are driving a Europe-wide unique initiative for research-based company founding with the TUM Venture Labs. The industry-specific innovation centers offer tailored support services, incubation space, laboratories and technical infrastructure, training and venturing programs, as well as access to global networks of companies and capital providers. The TUM Venture Lab Aerospace is the central platform for aerospace, geodesy and high-speed transport in the Munich metropolitan area and promotes innovations in areas such as AI and miniaturization to support developments in mobility, space travel and earth observation.
UnternehmerTUM – Europe's leading center for innovation and founding
UnternehmerTUM is a unique platform for the development of innovations. UnternehmerTUM offers startups a comprehensive service from first idea to IPO. A team of over 400 employees supports the establishment of companies, market entry and financing - also with venture capital. For established companies, a team of experienced consultants offers optimal access to the UnternehmerTUM ecosystem. UnternehmerTUM has many years of experience in developing innovation strategies and implementing and spinning off technology-driven business ideas. Founded in 2002 by the entrepreneur Susanne Klatten, the non-profit UnternehmerTUM GmbH is, with more than 50 fast-growing technology startups each year - including Celonis, Konux and Isar Aerospace - the leading center for entrepreneurship and innovation in Europe.
