Italian startup Astradyne has secured €2 million in seed funding to accelerate the development of its Solar-Z product, a lightweight solar array designed to enhance the capabilities of small satellites.
Astradyne was founded in 2021 with the aim of developing an off-the-shelf deployable solar array for small satellites that is lighter, more compact, and more efficient than what is currently available. In parallel with the development of its Solar-Z offering, the company is also working on a complementary product line, Solar-Y, which will be used for applications here on Earth. The company secured an initial €400,000 in pre-seed funding in 2023 with contributions from Galaxia and Obloo.
On 8 September, the company announced it had closed a €2 million seed round to accelerate preparations for the in-orbit qualification of its solar array. This process includes reaching Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 9, defined as a system being fully tested, qualified, and proven in an operational environment, before completing in-orbit testing to fully qualify the product. The company added that the funding would also support efforts to secure initial agreements with satellite integrators and manufacturers.
“Thanks to this round, we can accelerate towards in-orbit qualification and strengthen our technology roadmap,” said Astradyne CEO Davide Vittori. “At the same time, we are exploring selective technology transfer paths to Earth in sectors where lightness and portability of photovoltaic solutions are critical.”
Milan-based venture capital firm Primo Capital led the €2 million seed round through its Primo Space fund. The firm has invested in a number of European launch startups, including AIKO, Apgeo Space, Astrocast, D-Orbit, Leaf Space, and Pangea Aerospace.
“We decided to lead this investment because we consider Astradyne an extremely promising company, driven by a team with excellent engineering capabilities and a clear product and market vision,” said Matteo Cascinari, General Partner of Primo Space Fund.
The round also included participation from Galaxia, the National Technology Transfer Hub for Aerospace, which is run by CDP Venture Capital, and Obloo Ventures, the Eureka! Venture SGR-managed Fund I – Technology Transfer and Puglia funds.
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