PAVE Space, a Swiss space infrastructure startup, has secured $40 million in seed funding to develop next-generation spacecraft designed for rapid satellite transfers across orbits.
The round was led by Visionaries Club and Creandum, with participation from Lombard Odier Investment Managers, Atlantic Labs, Sistafund, b2venture, ACE Investment Partners, Ilavaska Vuillermoz Capital, and Pareto & Motier Ventures.
Rethinking Satellite Mobility
As the number of satellites in orbit continues to surge, the need for efficient and flexible in-space transportation is becoming increasingly critical. Traditional propulsion systems often result in long transfer times and higher operational costs.
PAVE Space is addressing this challenge by developing a new class of orbital transfer vehicles (OTVs) capable of moving satellites from low Earth orbit to geostationary or even lunar orbits in less than 24 hours.
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A New Generation of Space Logistics
At the core of the company’s offering is its flagship “kickstage” vehicle, which uses storable bipropellant propulsion to significantly reduce mission duration while improving cost efficiency.
In parallel, PAVE is building a smaller, agile platform designed for fast and flexible satellite repositioning, enabling operators to respond quickly to changing mission requirements.
Building The Logistics Layer Of Space
PAVE aims to establish a launcher-agnostic logistics infrastructure, acting as a critical layer between launch providers and satellite operators. Its solutions are designed to support a wide range of customers, including telecom companies, satellite operators, and defence organisations.
The company has already secured initial reservations from customers and is preparing for its first in-space demonstration mission.
Scaling Toward Commercial Deployment
The newly raised capital will be used to accelerate the development of its orbital logistics platforms, fund early demonstration missions, and expand its engineering team.
These efforts are intended to position PAVE Space for its first commercial deployments in the near future.
The Industrialisation Of Space
According to CEO and co-founder Julie Böhning, the space economy is entering a new phase where orbital logistics will become as essential as logistics on Earth.
The company’s long-term vision is to build the infrastructure that enables industries to operate, scale, and move assets efficiently in space—while also strengthening Europe’s strategic independence in this critical domain.
About PAVE Space
Founded in 2023, PAVE Space is a Swiss company focused on building high-performance orbital transfer vehicles. Leveraging expertise in propulsion systems, control algorithms, and rapid integration, the company is developing spacecraft capable of transporting multi-ton satellites to any orbit within 24 hours, enabling a new era of fast and flexible space logistics.
