ESA BIC NORTHERN GERMANY ALUMNUS: ASTRAIT

Welcome to the ESA BIC Northern Germany Alumni Series, where we showcase the remarkable journeys and experiences of our alumni startups. As prospective incubatees explore the possibilities within the ESA Business Incubation Centre  Northern Germany, this series offers a first-hand glimpse into the transformative impact of our incubation program.

Each instalment of the Alumni Series provides a unique opportunity to delve into the stories of startups like ASTRAIT, who have thrived within the ESA BIC ecosystem. Through the interviews, alumni share insights, lessons learned, and the support received during their time in the programme.

Today we talked to Lars Kesseler, CEO of ASTRAIT UG (haftungsbeschränkt), in Bremen. May his journey inspire you to join the ESA BIC startup community!

Each instalment of the Alumni Series provides a unique opportunity to delve into the stories of startups like ASTRAIT, who have thrived within the ESA BIC ecosystem. Through the interviews, alumni share insights, lessons learned, and the support received during their time in the programme.

Today we talked to Lars Kesseler, CEO of ASTRAIT UG (haftungsbeschränkt), in Bremen. May his journey inspire you to join the ESA BIC startup community!

1. Tell us a bit about ASTRAIT and what you do?

ASTRAIT’s core business is developing satellites: we create, and design modular satellites based on a configurator to achieve uncomplicated and low-priced space missions for our customers.

The idea of ASTRAIT can be compared to the automobile market: A Volkswagen, for example, is available in different versions – from the inexpensive standard to the high-quality premium version. However, the chassis and many technical functions, from lights to brakes to steering, are mostly identical.

We have now developed a micro-satellite that is standardised like a Volkswagen and at the same time can be equipped with accessories and cargo according to the customer’s wishes. That sounds unspectacular at first, but building and using this standard would be a revolution in the space industry. Until now, the industry has mostly built satellites, which were developed from scratch: building a Lamborghini rather than a Volkswagen to keep with the car allegory. But you don’t have to reinvent the wheel for every space mission. ASTRAIT is currently developing an online configurator that allows customers to explore the different configuration possibilities before taking a decision. These online configurators are also already utilized in the automobile industry. With ASTRAIT’s standardized micro-satellite NEMO, companies can save valuable development time and money.

2. Tell us about your team! 

I [Lars Kesseler] am the CTO of ASTRAIT. I was born in Cologne in 1991, and primarily have a technical background. I graduated from Aachen University of Applied Sciences in Aerospace Engineering and completed my master’s thesis at the ISAS Institute in Tokyo, Japan, focusing on the design of the landing feet of a lander on the Mars moon Phobos (MMX mission). As a technical project manager and systems engineer, I took on a wide range of tasks relating to the development of space applications and have been involved in the development of a small rocket, an asteroid lander, and a lunar satellite. My goal is to transfer my technical experience into a European commercial benefit for everyone. At ASTRAIT, I take care of the technical development of the modular satellite platforms.

The core team also consists of Ivan Ernesto Moreno Niño, the CSO of ASTRAIT. Ivan was born in 1979, is a creative mind and programmer from Colombia working with computer graphics, quantum computing and quantum physics at the intersection of science and art. His work focuses on real-time photorealistic rendering and parallel computing to achieve the next generation of “Imaginary composition”. He is the co-founder of Plus 360 Degrees, a successful Berlin-based web design company and developed an efficient web software infrastructure that is now used by major aerospace companies (Boeing, NASA, SpaceX). His goal in life is to elevate his digital arts into the world of space and make it accessible to many people. At ASTRAIT, Ivan takes care of the configurator development and its web implementation, caring about 3D animation, GUI, Front- and Backend development.

The ASTRAIT student Team and Founder Lars Kesseler pictured in front of their office, which is situated at the BITZ together with the ESA BIC Northern Germany HQ (© ASTRAIT).

3. How did you come to know about the ESA BIC Northern Germany business incubation programme and what motivated you to apply?

ESA is of course known in Europe to support new space ideas. I was actually made aware about the ESA BIC programme by seeing an online campaign.

ASTRAIT [formerly Levity] was founded on April 16, 2021, as a startup at Aachen University of Applied Sciences. It was an appealing option to pursue, besides other possible funding avenues open to startups. The decision to join ESA BIC Northern Germany came after our team had been successful at various space idea competitions and a successful funding campaign at the Aachen University of Applied Sciences. As the next step, we knew that the ESA BIC Northern Germany environment would be perfect for us – providing a caring and well-connected network. Space giants such as Airbus and OHB, as well as the numerous cooperating institutions, are based in Bremen, making the city an ideal location for an aspiring space company like ASTRAIT.

4. During your time as one of the incubatees, what are some highlights or goals that you’ve achieved?

During the last two years of incubation, ASTRAIT has come a long way. We matured our commercial focus and business plan, we improved our go-to-market plan, started collaborating with local universities, matured our financial, commercial, and marketing model and developed demonstrators and mock-ups showcasing ASTRAIT’s core technologies and Unique Selling Points (USPs).

ASTRAIT adapted its business outline from a pure hardware manufacturer, to also offer services around space mission planning. As set out at the beginning, the fast delivery of hardware will be one of our main Universal Selling Points (USPs).

Additionally, more software focus was added to create and offer valuable USPs for ASTRAIT itself, and to secure customer and investor interests. This important transition was widely influenced by the support of ESA BIC Northern Germany and associated events and workshops.

Also as an incubatee, we overcame multiple team changes, pivoted, and did a market fit of the core product – adding another digital factor to it – the satellite configurator. Our online configurator guides future satellite customers step-by-step through a process that culminates in an individually equipped mini-satellite including costs and possible suppliers. Much like buying a car online, our satellite configurator allows to individually equip a satellite according to your own wishes. This way, both sides – customer and supplier – save time and money.

During our incubation we were able to establish a wide network of suppliers, partners, advisors, customers, investors and interested stakeholders. The participation at the SpaceTechExpo Europe in Bremen helped a lot with that. We were part of the joint ESA BIC booth at the fair. We still feel very welcome at ESA BIC events and are happy to be part of the ESA BIC family!

Valuable support from AviaSpace, the ESA BIC network and further private network of the founders helped a lot to achieve ASTRAIT’s goals. Having our office space in the same building as the ESA BIC Northern Germany, also helped us during our different stages of incubation. Especially the individual coaching and workshops conducted by Starthaus were very helpful. I am also very thankful for the meaningful support through the AviaSpace team and Starthaus Bremen. Thank you so much for accompanying us on our journey!

5. What is your advice for aspiring entrepreneurs and young startups?

My advice: A good team and stamina are all you need. Chances and opportunities will come to you if you keep your head up and your eyes peeled.

Involve student teams if you can! The investment of time is well repaid by innovative and clear-minded ideas, levity, and cheerfulness.

Do first what you feel uncomfortable with, save your comfortable work for more relaxed times. Your future self will thank you for it.

Take advice but be sure to hear more than one to the same topic. Don’t feel ungrateful – in the end, everything is just an opinion.

Try to avoid mistakes, but don’t regret if you make one. Mistakes and failing are one of the best ways to grow – they are the best feedback from reality you can get.

6. In one sentence, how would you describe ASTRAIT?

ASTRAIT does more than improve one aspect of Space Missions – ASTRAIT means Space Missions redesigned.

Learn more about Astrait under following links:

Website

LinkedIn

Youtube

#SPACETECH

As you embark on your entrepreneurial voyage, we invite you to discover the diverse paths taken by our ESA BIC Northern Germany alumni, from start to graduation. Their experiences serve as inspiration, illuminating the possibilities that await within the vibrant community of ESA BIC Northern Germany.

Join us on this journey as we celebrate innovation, collaboration, and the boundless potential of space-tech startups. Together, we shape the future of entrepreneurship and technological advancement, one success story at a time.

About ESA BIC Northern Germany

The Incubation Centre of the European Space Agency in Northern Germany (ESA BIC Northern Germany) is headquartered jointly with the Bremen aeronautics and space industries association at the Bremer Innovations- und Technologiezentrum BITZ as well as the Digihub Industry – two of the largest innovation and technology centres for high-tech companies and startups in the German federal state of Bremen. The ESA BIC Northern Germany brings new startup opportunities to the region and thus strengthens the aeronautics and space sector in the German federal state of Bremen. AVIASPACE BREMEN e.V. supports the incubatees with its network, public relations work and targeted coaching not only during the incubation period, but also afterwards as alumni. STARTHAUS Bremen & Bremerhaven s the central point of contact in the Bremen startup ecosystem and supports the startups on all issues relating to business development and financing. The ESA BIC Northern Germany is managed by Anwendungszentrum GmbH Oberpfaffenhofen (AZO), an international networking and branding company for the European space programmes that also manages ESA BIC Bavaria with three locations in southern Germany.

Since 2021, ESA BIC Northern Germany has also been offering its service to space-related startups in Schleswig-Holstein. The Technikzentrum Lübeck with GATEWAY49, AviaSpace Bremen and AZO jointly operate this extension of ESA BIC Northern Germany. There are also plans to extend ESA BIC Northern Germany to the northern German federal states of Hamburg, Lower Saxony, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Berlin-Brandenburg.

Technical support of the ESA BIC Northern Germany, is offered by Fraunhofer IFAM, German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence DFKI, Alfred-Wegener Institute for Polar Research AWI, Bremen University, Center of Applied Space Technology and Microgravity ZARM, Airbus Group, ArianeGroup, AES Aircraft Elektro/Elektronik System, DSI Aerospace, and OHB.