Bessemer and Atomico are negotiating to lead a $2 billion valuation round for The Exploration Company, potentially setting a new benchmark for European space‑tech financing
Executive summary: Bessemer Venture Partners and Atomico are in discussions to lead a funding round for The Exploration Company that would value the startup at approximately $2 billion. Such a valuation would mark one of the largest ever for a European space‑tech startup, signaling strong investor confidence in the sector and potentially raising the bar for future funding rounds.
Who is involved: Bessemer Venture Partners, Atomico, and The Exploration Company.
Likely next: The parties are expected to finalize terms and announce the closing of the round in the coming months.
The talks indicate that two prominent venture firms see substantial upside in The Exploration Company’s reusable spacecraft ambitions. A $2 billion pre‑money valuation would place the startup among the most highly valued European space ventures to date, surpassing many recent satellite and launch providers. If the deal closes, it could signal renewed investor appetite for deep‑tech capital-intensive projects and influence pricing in subsequent funding rounds across the sector.
Timeline
- — Bessemer, Atomico in talks to lead The Exploration Company funding at $2bn valuation (Sifted — EU startups)
Analysis — what this means
Sectors affected
- Space exploration
- Venture capital
Key entities
Sources
- Bessemer, Atomico in talks to lead The Exploration Company funding at $2bn valuation — Sifted — EU startups