Look Up Secures €50m to Expand Space Surveillance Network

Deal News | Jun 12, 2025 | Karista SAS

Look Up, a European SpaceTech company, has successfully secured €50 million in funding to enhance its global deployment of space surveillance radar networks. The funding round, an amalgamation of equity, bank debt, and public funding from the European Union, represents one of the largest Series A investments in European SpaceTech, placing Look Up among the top contenders in this sector. It includes a €24 million equity investment led by UK's ETF Partners, contributions from Spain's KFund, EU’s EIC Fund, and non-dilutive financial support from the European Union, geared towards deploying radars in French Polynesia. The funding will aid Look Up's plans to expand its SORASYS radar network, develop Space Traffic Management services, and bolster international growth. Founded by Michel Friedling and Juan Carlos Dolado Perez, Look Up is setting a European dimension against the backdrop of rising space risk and geopolitical tensions. With the growing demand for space safety and operations, Look Up's SYNAPSE platform is instrumental in providing real-time data and analytics for space operations. The company's comprehensive strategy aims to address the burgeoning challenge of congested orbital environments while striving for a consolidated presence in the European and global markets.

Sectors

  • Space Technology
  • Private Equity and Investment

Geography

  • Europe – Look Up is a European company, and the investors are predominantly European entities, reflecting a strong European focus and ambition in the SpaceTech sector.
  • France – Look Up has its origins in Toulouse, France, and significant parts of its deployment, particularly the radar network, are planned in French territories like Polynesia.
  • French Polynesia – The funding will be used to deploy radar systems in French Polynesia, illustrating a geographical focus on these territories for strategic space surveillance purposes.

Industry

  • Space Technology – The article is centered around Look Up, a company specializing in space surveillance and safety, which is a critical component of the Space Technology industry.
  • Private Equity and Investment – The involvement of multiple investment entities such as ETF Partners, KFund, and the EIC Fund highlights the role of private equity and investment sectors in funding and supporting SpaceTech initiatives.

Financials

  • €50 million – Total funds raised in Look Up's Series A funding round, combining equity, bank debt, and EU non-dilutive funding.
  • €24 million – The amount contributed in equity funding led by ETF Partners.
  • €15 million – The amount provided by the European Union as non-dilutive funding for radar deployment.

Participants

NameRoleTypeDescription
Look UpTargetCompanyA European SpaceTech company specializing in orbital safety and founded by Michel Friedling and Juan Carlos Dolado Perez.
Karista SASInvestorCompanyA private equity firm that has invested in the Series A funding round of Look Up.
ETF PartnersLead InvestorCompanyA UK-based investment firm leading the €24 million equity component of the funding round.
KFundInvestorCompanyA Spanish investment fund participating in the Series A round to support Look Up’s initiatives.
EIC FundInvestorCompanyAn institutional EU fund contributing to the equity component of Look Up's funding round.
European UnionPublic FunderGovernmentProvided non-dilutive funding for the deployment of radar systems in French Polynesia.
Michel FriedlingCo-founderPersonCo-founder of Look Up and former General of the French Air and Space Force.
Juan Carlos Dolado PerezCo-founderPersonCo-founder of Look Up and former Head of Space Surveillance at CNES.
MIG CapitalInvestorCompanyA German-based investor partaking in the funding round after prevailing in the seed round.
Expansion (France)InvestorCompanyA French-based investor continuing to support Look Up after the seed round.