Nvidia has become a minority investor in German satellite startup Reflex Aerospace. The news was announced at the Invest in Germany summit. The funds will help expand production in Bavaria and develop the company’s satellite platform architecture.
Nvidia has been steadily strengthening its presence in the space industry. Earlier this year, it unveiled new chips for space missions and signed agreements with companies including SpaceX on using its processors in orbit.
Reflex is betting on onboard computing capabilities. After raising €50 million in November last year, the startup is working on expanding its production capacity.
Reflex CEO Walter Ballheimer said Europe needs satellites that it can build, control, and deploy on its own terms, and that it needs them now. According to him, over the past year the company has proven the viability of its approach: from its first spacecraft in orbit to platforms for demanding constellations, including ultra-high-resolution projects for stereo imaging and orbital data centers. He expressed satisfaction that Nvidia has joined the ranks of investors as production scales up.
At the summit, Nvidia announced investments in four German startups. Besides Reflex Aerospace, funds went to robot developer Agile Robots, medical technology company Avelios Medical, and Mirelo, which specializes in AI for audio production. The financial terms of the deals were not disclosed.
Nvidia’s investment in Reflex shows that space is becoming a strategic direction for the chipmaker. For Europe, it is a chance to strengthen its own satellite industry, and for the startup, access to the technology and capital of one of the leaders of the AI market.
Source: Via Satellite
Image: Reflex Aerospace
