PPLD Space
PLD Space designs, manufactures and operates small reusable launch vehicles, vertically integrating engineering, testing, manufacturing and launch operations. Founded in 2011 and headquartered in Elche (Alicante), Spain, it flew MIURA 1 in October 2023 — the first privately developed European rocket to reach space — and is now preparing the maiden flight of its orbital MIURA 5 launcher from the Guiana Space Centre. In March 2026 it closed a €180M Series C led by Mitsubishi Electric, bringing total funding to over €350M with a team of 450+ people.
SectorsSpace, Launch Vehicles, Aerospace, Deeptech, Defence
Start-up MapDeeptech & Hardware › Space technology & satellite systems
Founders
J
José E. Martínez
Co-Founder
R
Raúl Torres
Co-Founder & CEO
R
Raúl Verdú
Co-Founder & Chief Business Development Officer
Global models 5
SSpaceX
United States · www.spacex.com ↗
Vertically integrated designer, manufacturer and operator of reusable orbital rockets that sells launch services to satellite operators and governments, the model PLD Space runs at a smaller payload class.
$12BComparable
RRelativity Space
United States · www.relativityspace.com ↗
Builds its own reusable Terran R launcher in-house, covering engines, manufacturing and testing, and sells dedicated launch capacity to commercial satellite customers.
$1.3BComparable
SStoke Space
United States · www.stokespace.com ↗
Start-up building a fully reusable medium-lift rocket with its own engines and launch site operations, selling launches to satellite constellations.
$990MComparable
FFirefly Aerospace
United States · fireflyspace.com ↗
Vertically integrated small-to-medium launcher maker (Alpha) that sells dedicated launches to commercial and defence customers, like MIURA 5.
$600MComparable
IIsar Aerospace
Germany · www.isaraerospace.com ↗
Europe's best-funded private small-launcher company; it builds and operates its Spectrum rocket in-house and sells dedicated launches to European satellite operators and institutions, making it PLD Space's closest peer.
$550MComparable
In the same niche 16 others
See all in the Start-ups Map →
Notes: Most funded first
Investors 12
Open as list →
AArcano Partners
www.arcanopartners.com
CCentro para el Desarrollo Tecnológico y la Innovación
www.cdti.es
EEuropean Investment Bank
www.eib.org
JJME Ventures
www.jme.vc
CCOFIDES
www.cofides.es
EEndeavor Catalyst
endeavor.org
MMCH Private Equity
www.mch.es
NNazca Capital
www.nazca.es
A
Aciturri
MMitsubishi Electric Corporation
A
ALZIS
G
GMV
Funding rounds 8
| Date | Round | Amount | Lead |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-07 | Venture Debt | €30M | European Investment Bank |
| 2026-03-04 | Series C | €288M |
Mitsubishi Electric
+5 more
|
| 2024-04 | Series B (estimated) | €40M |
Lead not disclosed
+2 more
|
| 2021-12-27 | Series B | €25M | Arcano Partners, Aciturri, CDTI (Innvierte) |
| 2020-12-17 | Series B (estimated) | €539K |
Lead not disclosed
+3 more
|
| 2020-09-15 | Series B | €7M | Arcano Partners |
| 2018-06-11 | Series A | €9M |
Lead not disclosed
+4 more
|
| 2017-01 | Series A | €7.8M incl. debt: equity and debt, the split was not disclosed |
Lead not disclosed
+2 more
|