Two ESA BIC UK companies come out on top!

The well attended Ignite Pitch Launchpad competition, hosted alongside UK Space Agency and Anchored In was a huge success at Ignite Space 2023. It was great to see representation from the ESA BIC community from both current incubatee and alumni.

We are delighted to announce that Lúnasa Space and Oshen were chosen as winners on the day.

Lúnasa Space envision accelerating the world’s transition to affordable, sustainable, and reliable in-space economy. They are developing a constellation of reusable and automated miniature orbital maintenance stations for the satellite industry, capable of offering quick and affordable in orbit services to the upstream space market. Lúnasa Space are part of the ESA Business Incubation Centre UK programme and are based at STFC’s Rutherford Appleton Laboratory.

“We had an exciting time at the Ignite Space conference this year. Many innovative space-tech start-ups were gathered under one roof, next to the supersonic passenger-carrying commercial aeroplane, the Concorde. We are also thrilled to know that Lúnasa was selected as the winner of the pitch competition. Our first-of-its-kind reusable vehicle for servicing satellites in space will ensure that humanity explores and benefits from the cosmos sustainably.” Amin Chabi, Founder and CEO at Lúnasa Space.

Oshen are also a current incubatee on the ESA BIC UK programme and are based in the north-west at STFC’s Daresbury Laboratory. Oshen works with downstream space technologies and their aim is to use autonomous micro-vessels for en-masse ocean data collection. Oshen wants to fill in the areas of the ocean where there is sparse data coverage.

“The Ignite Pitch Launchpad showcased 10 of the UK’s most promising new start-ups, who pitched their businesses to an esteemed judging panel from Octopus Ventures, Seraphim Capital, Innovate UK and the UK Space Agency.

The judges selected two start-ups – Oshen and Lunasa Space – as competition winners. Both start-ups are current incubatees at the ESA BIC UK incubation programme, operated by STFC.

Oshen and Lunasa Space will be welcomed by the UK Space Agency at the UK Space Conference in Belfast on 21-23 November. This will give both companies a unique platform to promote their businesses and connect with customers, peers and financers.

A huge congratulations to all of the companies who took part in this competition – Gravitilab, Space DOTS, Ambasat, Super-Sharp, B2Space, ODIN Space, Solsign, Satraka, Lunasa Space and Oshen.” Will Gault, ESA Business Incubation UK Manager.