Expansion Ventures

Expansion Ventures represents a strategic partnership between Audacia and Rymdkapital, establishing a significant €300 million venture capital fund dedicated to the European aerospace and defense sectors. This collaborative initiative aims to identify and nurture promising startups across the continent, providing crucial financial backing from the earliest pre-seed stages through to more established Series B funding rounds. The fund emerges at a critical juncture when European aerospace and defense innovation faces increasing global competition and rapidly evolving technological demands.

With its substantial capital base, Expansion Ventures positions itself as one of Europe's leading specialized investors in the aerospace and defense ecosystem. The fund's investment strategy emphasizes technological innovation, market disruption potential, and strategic alignment with European defense and space priorities. By focusing exclusively on these sectors, Expansion leverages the deep industry expertise and networks of both founding firms, offering portfolio companies not just financial resources but also specialized guidance through the complex regulatory and procurement landscapes characteristic of aerospace and defense markets.

The fund's comprehensive investment approach spans multiple development stages, allowing it to support companies from concept validation through to significant market expansion. This stage-agnostic philosophy enables Expansion to build long-term relationships with promising ventures, potentially participating in multiple funding rounds as companies mature. Portfolio diversification across subsectors including space technologies, advanced materials, autonomous systems, cybersecurity, and next-generation propulsion systems creates a balanced investment thesis that addresses various aspects of the aerospace and defense value chain.

Expansion Ventures distinguishes itself through its pan-European focus, actively seeking investment opportunities across the continent rather than concentrating on traditional innovation hubs. This geographic inclusivity reflects the fund's recognition that breakthrough aerospace and defense technologies can emerge from diverse regional ecosystems. The fund's establishment comes amid growing recognition of the strategic importance of sovereign European capabilities in aerospace and defense, with Expansion positioned to play a pivotal role in strengthening the continent's technological independence while fostering commercial success for its portfolio companies.