IIENAI SPACE
IENAI SPACE is a Madrid-based deeptech company that builds space mobility products for small satellites, combining ATHENA electrospray electric propulsion thrusters with the 360 mission-analysis SaaS platform and the ORBITAL operations suite. Spun out of the Electric Propulsion and Plasmas group at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid in 2019, it has raised roughly €7-8M to date (Series A) from investors including Inveready, Conexo Ventures and CDTI Innvierte. Its propulsion technology is backed by over €1M in ESA contracts and the €2.3M ATALAIA industrialisation project, with customers including INTA, the Spanish Air Force Academy and the US Department of Defense.
SectorsSpace Technology, Satellite Propulsion, Deeptech, Aerospace, SaaS
Start-up MapDeeptech & Hardware › Space technology & satellite systems
Founders
D
Daniel Pérez Grande
Co-founder & Chief Executive Officer
M
Mick Wijnen
Co-founder & Chief Technical Officer
S
Sara Correyero Plaza
Co-founder & Chief Operating Officer
Global models 5
EExotrail
France · exotrail.com ↗
Pairs Hall-effect electric thrusters for small satellites with mission-design and operations software, much like IENAI's thruster, 360 and ORBITAL mix.
$90MComparable
P
Phase Four
United States · phasefour.io ↗
Sells compact RF plasma electric propulsion systems to small-satellite makers and operators.
$50MComparable
AAccion Systems
United States · accion-systems.com ↗
Builds ion electrospray thrusters for small satellites, the same technology family as IENAI's ATHENA.
$45MComparable
MMorpheus Space
United States · morpheus-space.com ↗
Sells modular electric propulsion for small satellites together with software for autonomous mobility and fleet operations.
$40MComparable
B
Benchmark Space Systems
United States · benchmarkspacesystems.com ↗
Sells in-space mobility propulsion systems plus mission-planning support to small-satellite builders and operators.
$35MComparable
In the same niche 16 others
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Notes: Most funded first
Investors 7
Open as list →
Funding rounds 2
| Date | Round | Amount | Lead |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-06-06 | Series A | €3.9M |
GED Conexo Ventures
+4 more
|
| 2021-04-28 | Seed | €1M | Inveready |
News 4
Open as list →| Published | Article |
|---|---|
| 2026-10-23 |
Seaya arranca el megafondo con los primeros €600M. Más gestoras se rearman. Las tripas del pacto Factorial-General Catalyst ↗
Ecotechers
2026-10-23 |
| 2026-09-30 |
La Luna como banco de pruebas para impulsar el tejido aeroespacial español y mejorar su competitividad global ↗
El Español / Invertia
2026-09-30 |
| 2026-07-16 |
CDTI Innvierte destina en junio €96M a 7 nuevas coinversiones en capital riesgo y 1 vehículo de inversión ↗
Webcapitalriesgo
2026-07-16 |
| 2024-06-17 |
Spanish IENAI Space raises €3.9M for small satellites ↗
Tech.eu
2024-06-17 |