France-based space technology firm Look Up has secured €50 million (US$57.9 million) in a series A funding round.

This includes a mix of equity, debt, and non-dilutive public funding.

The equity portion of €24 million (US$27.8 million) was led by UK-based ETF Partners, with participation from Spain’s Leadwind, the EU’s EIC Fund, and existing investors like Germany’s MIG Capital and France’s Karista and Expansion funds.

The European Union also contributed €15 million (US$17.4 million) in non-dilutive funding to support the installation of two radars in French Polynesia.

The funding will help Look Up expand its radar network and enhance its Space Traffic Management and Space Operations-as-a-Service offerings.

Founded in 2022 in Toulouse, France, Look Up focuses on orbital safety and protecting space infrastructure.

🔗 Source: Look Up

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ European space autonomy gets a boost amid rising geopolitical tensions

Look Up’s €50 million funding round reflects a broader European strategy to establish technological independence in space during a period of increased global competition.

This investment aligns with calls from European space leaders for greater autonomy, as ESA’s director recently emphasized the need for increased space investment to ensure Europe’s self-sufficiency amid geopolitical volatility 1.

The participation of European national funds and an EU institutional fund in Look Up’s capital demonstrates how public and private European entities are collaborating to reduce dependency on non-European technology providers 2.

Look Up’s focus on orbital safety and space infrastructure protection addresses a critical security concern, as Europe’s push for autonomous space capabilities is driven by geopolitical tensions and the need to reduce reliance on U.S. technologies 3.

This funding represents more than just business growth. It’s part of Europe’s strategic response to fragmentation in its space sector that has historically hampered competitiveness against American and Chinese space capabilities 3, 4.

2️⃣ Space tech investments accelerate with unprecedented momentum

Look Up’s €50 million Series A is part of a remarkable growth trend in space technology investment, with Q1 2025 alone seeing $1.6 billion invested across 56 funding rounds globally 5.