In-space logistics provider Space Cargo Unlimited has closed a €27.5 million Series A funding round to continue the development of its BentoBox payload platform.
In late 2022, Space Cargo Unlimited partnered with Thales Alenia Space to develop a returnable space platform called REV-1, which is designed to support in-orbit manufacturing and microgravity experimentation. Alongside REV-1, the company began developing BentoBox, a modular payload platform capable of hosting up to 100 kilograms of customer payloads within the REV-1 cargo bay.
Although BentoBox is intended to operate within the REV-1 architecture, the company will initially offer it as a stand alone offering flown aboard an ATMOS Space Cargo Phoenix return capsule that is equipped with an inflatable heatshield to survive re-entry. An initial flight of the BentoBox payload platform is expected to take place in the second quarter of 2026.
On 15 September, the company announced that it had closed a €27.5 million Series A funding round led by Expansion Ventures and supported by Eurazeo. The round included participation from the European Innovation Council, the European Investment Bank, and the Luxembourg Future Fund II, which is managed by Société Nationale de Crédit et d’Investissement and the European Investment Fund. It also included contributions from numerous private investors who participated through the crowd-equity platform Tudigo.
The 15 September announcement comes just over two months after the company secured a €12.5 million blended investment from the European Innovation Council Accelerator programme. Although the company did not specify how this latest tranche of funding will be used, it will likely support the development of its BentoBox platform and the execution of seven missions scheduled to occur between 2026 and 2027 as part of the company’s partnership with ATMOS.
The Space Cargo Unlimited Series A is the third European space-industry investment round that Expansion Ventures has participated in in the past two weeks. The company also participated in ReOrbit’s €45 million Series A and co-led Messium’s €3.3 million Seed round.
Update: On 19 September the article was updated to make it clear that BentoBox is a payload platform that will initially be launched aboard Phoenix return capsule provided by ATMOS Space Cargo.
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