Reaching New Heights

CASSINI Business Accelerator | December 12, 2024

The CASSINI Business Accelerator has successfully concluded its third cohort, with 19 European space-tech companies completing a six-month journey. This programme continues to build on its mission of equipping startups and scaleups with the tools needed to succeed in the competitive space industry.

Strengthening Sales Pipelines

Batch 3 companies demonstrated strong progress in expanding their sales pipelines. Together, they generated 1,492 sales leads and converted 237 qualified prospects into 95 sales deals, a testament to their strategic efforts and dedication.

Overall, the sales efforts resulted in a total cumulative value of €13.8 million, with €9.3 million coming from new customer sales, showcasing the importance of diversifying and expanding client bases.

Securing Funding

Securing funding was another area where Batch 3 excelled. Participants collectively raised €22.4 million in public funding and €2.9 million in equity-based funding. These numbers reflect the ability of Batch 3 participants to navigate both public and private financing landscapes, setting a strong foundation for future growth.

Fostering Employment & Societal Impact

Beyond sales and funding, the programme’s societal impact should not be overlooked. Batch 3 companies collectively added 108.7 new full-time positions, representing a 30% increase in their workforce. Notably, 28% of these employees identify as female, emphasising a commitment to diversity and inclusivity in the space-tech sector.

Expanding Global Reach

Batch 3 participants didn’t just focus on internal growth—they also expanded their networks and explored new markets. With over 10 customer meetings per company during international business trips, startups developed valuable partnerships and identified opportunities at major events in Europe, the U.S., and the APAC region.

These activities provided valuable insights into emerging markets, strengthened partnerships, and paved the way for future collaborations.

Looking Ahead

As we celebrate the successes of Batch 3, the achievements of these 19 companies underscore the value of targeted support, mentorship, and access to networks in accelerating growth. Their progress reflects the continued effectiveness of the CASSINI Business Accelerator in driving innovation and growth within Europe’s space-tech sector.

We look forward to seeing how Batch 3 companies build on this momentum in the months and years ahead. Thank you Batch 3 for your dedication, ambition, and hard work!

Aurora Team

"Aurora is grateful for the opportunity to be part of the CASSINI Business Accelerator, where especially the connections provided by the expert mentors have been valuable in propelling our growth."

Perttu Yli-Opas - CEO, Aurora Propulsion Technologies

“The Cassini Business Accelerator has been instrumental in boosting our investment readiness. Their coaching has significantly improved our marketing and sales strategies, driving us toward greater success.” 

Jordan Vannitsen - Co-Founder & CEO, Odysseus Space

Odysseus Team
Space4Good Team

“CASSINI Accelerator offers us valuable mentorship and tools to identify roadblocks, enhancing our efficiency in scaling and becoming more strategic”. 

Mathieu Aillerie - Product Lead, Space4Good

"Among the various acceleration programmes we have had the privilege to participate in, the CASSINI Accelerator played a key role at a strategic moment for us, as we began expanding our activities internationally. The online learning materials provided us with a valuable theoretical foundation, and the mentorship programme was particularly beneficial, offering personalised feedback to refine our strategies. We are grateful for this opportunity, which has enabled us to grow and make significant progress." 

Jean-Christophe Poisson (CPO) & Guillaume Valladeau (CEO), vorteX-io

Vortex-io Team
ZAITRA Team

"The CASSINI Business Accelerator was instrumental during ZAITRA's first investment round. The mentors provided invaluable support during negotiations, ultimately helping us successfully close our pre-seed round.”

Marek Marusin - CEO & Co-Founder, ZAITRA