Seraphim and JETRO Launch New Resilience and Growth Programme

Seraphim Space, the world’s leading SpaceTech investor, today announced the launch of its Resilience & Growth Programme in partnership with the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO). The programme is designed to equip participants with the networks, market insight and commercial foundations needed to establish and scale their presence across the UK and wider European markets.

Kicked off at SPACETIDE in Tokyo in early July 2026, the programme brings together ten advanced Japanese space and deep-tech companies. Over the next five months, participants will receive tailored support from Seraphim and a network of leading industry organisations, including ADS, Crowell & Moring and other ecosystem partners. Through a combination of expert guidance, strategic introductions and market access assistance, the programme will help companies:

• Navigate European regulatory and procurement frameworks
• Develop commercial relationships with leading aerospace, defence and industrial organisations
• Connect with institutional investors and strategic sources of capital
• Engage with senior decision-makers across government and industry

Following the launch in Japan, the cohort travelled to the UK for the Farnborough International Airshow, engaging with potential customers, investors, partners and policymakers from across the global aerospace sector.

Alexander Holt, Managing Director at Seraphim Space Enterprise, said:

“Europe is entering a period of unprecedented investment and urgency across space and aerospace capabilities. At the same time, Japan is home to some of the most advanced and scalable technology companies in the sector.

“Through this partnership with JETRO, we are bringing those two forces together — enabling a new generation of world-class Japanese companies to access European markets, capital and strategic partnerships.

“These are not early-stage startups; they are proven businesses with the capability to deploy and scale internationally. Our role is to help unlock that growth and build meaningful, long-term collaboration across allied ecosystems.”

The programme draws on Seraphim’s longstanding experience supporting specialist startups in the space sector through its growth programmes, which bring together key stakeholders across the SpaceTech ecosystem helping companies scale. Since its inception in 2018, 119 startups from more than 30 countries have been through Seraphim’s growth programme and raised over $1.6bn in investment. Designed specifically for high-growth, scale-ready businesses, this cohort includes companies already established in Japan with significant technical maturity, spanning areas such as satellite data and imagery, propulsion, advanced materials, precision navigation and maritime technologies.

The initiative comes at a time of accelerating investment in European space technologies, driven by shifting geopolitical dynamics and a growing focus on sovereign capability. European investment increased by 26% in 2025 as governments and industry ramped up demand for technologies that enhance security, resilience and strategic autonomy.

However, despite this growth, Europe’s SpaceTech ecosystem remains relatively nascent compared to more mature markets, with smaller deal sizes and less growth capital available. The programme will therefore also explore how advanced Japanese technologies and engineering expertise can play a critical role in supporting Europe to scale its next generation of defence and space capabilities — strengthening collaboration between allied nations at a pivotal moment for the sector.

Cohort Companies:

• Eight Knot – https://8kt.jp/en – AI-powered autonomous vessel technology providing navigation, control and maritime autonomy systems for commercial and defence applications.

• Errai – https://www.errai.co.jp – Developer of the world’s first Electron-Tracking Compton Camera (ETCC), making invisible radiation visible for nuclear, space and defence applications.

• Letara – https://www.letaranext.com – Developing safe, high-thrust hybrid spacecraft propulsion systems using solid fuel for next-generation space transportation.

• Minato Rocket – https://minatorocket.com/en – Japanese launch company developing hybrid rockets to provide safe, low-cost and high-frequency launch services for small satellites.

• Ookuma Diamond Device – https://ookuma-dd.com/en – Developer of diamond semiconductor technology for extreme-environment applications including nuclear decommissioning, space, defence and next-generation communications.

• Orbitorus – https://orbitorus.com – Building AI-driven orbital intelligence and space situational awareness solutions to enable safer and more sustainable satellite operations.

• Rumi Light – Developing high-speed optical interconnect technology to address data movement bottlenecks in AI, data-centre and mission-critical computing infrastructure.

• Solafune – https://company.solafune.com – Satellite and geospatial intelligence platform transforming Earth observation and multi-domain data into actionable insights for defence, infrastructure, energy and resource management.

• Vision IV – https://visioniv.co.jp – Developing and manufacturing synthetic diamond substrates for next-generation semiconductors, sensors and quantum technologies.

• Warpspace – https://warpspace.jp/home-en – Building an optical inter-satellite communications network to enable near real-time, high-capacity data relay from space.

The programme also reflects Seraphim’s growing presence in Asia and its role in facilitating cross‑border collaboration in strategically important sectors. By connecting Japan’s advanced technology base with Europe’s expanding demand, the initiative supports faster innovation, stronger supply chains and increased resilience across the industry.